Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-02-29
nDDG MYTH A Story Of the
I ONDO wv l. - Cell are
TILE ~ ATr Conspiracy by
4 III X T. ~ j Burton Egbert
Copyright by -J E Lipolncot COMPANY Stevenson
CHAPTER XIv-(Continued.>

'"Ni.Sicui, Salu one or them, VINO
see med to be in "The
w2t.ches were changed while you
s.e.>t."
And how long will you be on duty
! asked. carelcssly.
|i~else hours, or until 10 o'clock to-
Ais,t, monsieur" ne answered.
An. you nave long hours"
",NN lave always long hours in the
police, MONSIEUR
AZ tiat moment the outer door was
ope.3ed. and a servant appeared bring
ms my breakfast.
"h.Hceiient!" l cried, entering the
outer room and looking at the repast,
which was indeed elaborate. II see L
s!Ali nave no cause to complain of NJ.
Fie'au!ts hospitality. Have you break
tasted, lieut. enant?"
Two hours ago, monsieur"
Two hours ago. Great heavens,
nlaa. Jour stomach must be an aching
emptiness by this time! Sit down, l
beg OF you. There is enough here for
two and some to spare for Your men,"
saw that he ma was indeed hun
cry and looked at my breakfast with
eager eyes, but he shook his head at
my invitation.
All. come. monsieur l said, why
should we refuse TO be civil to each
you are guard? 1t seems to me that
a little good feeling will make the day
pass more quickly for both OF US.
Even if You cannot eat, bear me COM
pany. 1 beg of you, for l abhor sitting
down alone to table," and l gently
forced him into a chair and myself
ooh the one opposite. He yielded,
though still with u show of reluctance,
and l maintained a lively conversation
while We ate, carefully avoiding any
remark which could appear suspi-
cious. and finally succeeded in draw
ing the man out a little. ordered
another bottle of wine, and treated the
tesy which 1 saw they appreciated.
Breakfast was finally finished and we
arose.
What a charming view!" cried.
sauntering to the window and gazing
down over the river. IN. Herault's
house overlooks the Seine, it appears"
1T stands upon h bank. monsieur"
answered the lieutenant. who had fol-
lowed me.
Come, monsieur" l said turning TO
him and seemingly taking no further
interest in the view. Il nay not yet
asked your name."
Lieutenant Bernin. monsieur"
We'll. Lieutenant Bernin," I cried, II
foresee that we are going to pass a
very pleasant day together and I
turned again to IN apparently careless
of the scene. I could catch
a glimpse of the river below the
window. from which I Judged that the
house not only stood upon the bank.
but that the upper stories projected out
over the water. after the fashion Of
many of the older houses standing
along the Seine. In a moment I saw q
possible way of escape. A drop of 40
feet to q stone pavement "a not to be
thought Of; but a drop Of 40 feet into
the water swas another matter. I
turned QuyQv from tho Window <NA~.
bling lest by some motion I might be-
tray my thought. I examined the win
dow itself attentively when I could do
so unobserved, and saw that 1t was Of
the ordinary kind, with a sash which
could be readily broken by a blow with
problem was to keep my guards at q
distance during the moment 1t would
take me to break q passage and drop
into the water. 1t was q problem not
asy Of solution, and I retired to the
bed room and lay down upon the bed to
think 1t over.
The bed room was about 10 feet
square. without windows and with only
one door. that opening into the outer
room. This door was Of some strength
and had q bolt on the outer side, SO
that by merely closing 1t and throwing
h bolt they could make me q prisoner
in this small room. II It were only the
soldiers who were in the bed room and
I who were outside. an instant would
sufrice to bolt the door, and it would be
several minutes at least before they
could break 1t down-more time Ger
tainly than I should need to get
through the window. In a moment I
had my plan. and I spant some half
hour working u all its details.
The remainder Of the morning passed
quickly, and when my dinner appeared
Herault accompanied It.
II have been taxing myself with be-
Ing inhospitable. M. de Brancas." he
said, but / beg Of you to believe that It
was the most urgent business which
prevented my coming to zee you ear
Tier. a lieutenant OF police never gets
II "a well believe It," I answered.
you are going to dine with me, are
you not. MONSIEUR"
III 1t pleases you to have q compan-
ion."
Nothing could please me more"
said. heartily. for I really admired the
nan md az we sat down I.examined
his q with interest. Il, was q face
which. even animated az ct this mo-
iment, wa still AZ impenetrable as q
wall Of stone. The firmly ret lips and
aggressive chin showed q man not
wanting In decision. and I aid not doubt
that these cool. gray eyes could become
obtatpine Q confession from . prisoner.
- need not tell you. monsieur" I said.
after . moment. "how deeply your sys-
tenn Of police espionage Interests me.
|1shave already had two or three proofs
Of tho thoroughness OF it, work, ana Il
seenns TO- me . wonderful organization.
Do you object 20 telling ma Q shout
Not 1t all" he answered. smiling.
There 10 nothing secret about the Re1.