, 1912-04-25
tcepy-'sht, 1910. by sspb.-M.--m c.mp.n,1

eys will be equally divided. Then Tor
the work" His voice was cold. an
%thoritative.
Two millionsr' unused Picard from
behind a fresh cloud of smoke He
picked up a bottle and gravely filled
his glass. reckoning to the others to
follow his example. At another sign
all rose to their feet. Breitmann alone
remaining seated. ITO the dayr'
Breitmann's lips grew thinner That
was the only sign.
Outside. CHANGING obliquely though
the grilled window. stood M. Ferraud
He had not seen these worthless to.
gether before He knew all of them
There was not a shoulder among them
that he could not lay a hand upon
and voice with surety the order of
the law Courage of a kind they all
had. names once written g%loriously In
history. but now merely passports into
dubious traffic Heroes of boulevard
exploits. duelists. card players-could
1t be possible that any sane man
should be their dupef After the
strange toast he heard many things
some he had known. some he had
guessed at and some which surprised
him. Only loyalty was lacking TO
make them feared indeed Presently
he saw Breitmann rise He was tired.
he needed sleep. On the morrow. then.
and in a week the first blow of the
new terror. They all bowed respect
fully as he passed out.
The secret agent followed him till he
reached the Place des Painters He
put a hand on Breitmann's arm The
latter. highly keyed. swung quickly.
and. seeing who 1t was 1.-THE man he
believed to be at that moment a pris-
oner in the middle country. he made
a sinister move toward his hip NJ
Ferraud was in peril. n he realized it.
Wait a moment. monsieur There
is no need of that l repeat. | wish
you well. and this night | will prove
it Whatf Do you not know that !
could have put my hand on you at any
moment? Attend Return with me
to the little house in Rue st. Charles"
Brietmann's hand again stole toward
his hip.
You were listeningT'
Yes. Be careful. My death would
not change anything. 1 wish to disil.
fusion you ! wish to prove to you
how deeply you are the dupe of those
men. All your plans have been re
markable. but not INT of them has re
maine unknown to me You clasp
the hand of this duke who plays the
sailor under the name of Picard. who
halls you as a future emperor and
stabs you behind your back Howl
Double face thai he is. have | moi
proof that he has written detail after
detail OF this conspiracy to the QuaI
dorsay and that he has chung to you
only to gain his share of what is
yours2 Come Jack with me and let
your own ear testify. The fact that
! am not in the mountains should con
vince you how strong l am
BreitmanD hesitated. wondering
whether he had best shoot this med
der then and there and cut for 1t or
follow him.
IL will go with you. But | give you
this warming: If what | hear is not
what you expect me to hear / promise
TO put a bullet into your meddling
head"
Il agree to that" replied the other
He did not underestimate his danger
Neither did he undervalue his init
uate knowledge of human nature.
With what emotions Breitmann re
turned to the scene OF his triumph his
self appointed companion could onl!
surmise. He had determined to save
this young fool in spite of his mad
ness, and never had he failed to bring
Ills enterprises to their f~orearranged
end And there was sentiment be
tween all this. sentiment he would not
nave been ashamed to avow Upon
chance, then tickle inconstant chance
depended the success of the seven
years labor If by this time the wine
lad moi ioosened their tongues or II
they had disappeared
But fortune favors the persistent no
less than the brave. The profigates
were still M the table. and there were
ifesh bottles OF wine They were
aughing and talking In all not more
.han fifteen minutes had elapsed since
nreitmann's departure NJ ferraud
stationed him bv the window and kept
a hand lightly upon his arm. ~ one
might place n finger on a pulse
vi whit were they talking Ostend.
'ne ballet dancers. the races In May.
Tue shooting at Monte Carlo. gaming
aDies, empty purses and again ballet
dancers?
T divide two millions" cried n
ihat will clear my debts, with a lit
lie for Dieppe"
hundred and fifty thousand
Frahcs' Princelyw
ana then the voice Of the master
rpnll pitiless and ironical Picard's,
was there nrar Snnh n dnnat And