Charlevoix county herald., 1912-03-09

\ ~ fS./ great deeds as those oil
G2 past centuries. Such
\[% wishes are made in ig-
norance. I wonder how much or the
secret history of the present century
will ever come to light, whether tu-
ture generations will ever know some
OF the events that really transpire In
the capitals of the world today and re-
main hidden from the prying eyes OF
the most skilful investigators.
Well, l started out to moralize, but
this reminds me Of a story, one OF the
last of the man adventures that hap
pened to me while was employed as a
courier of his majesty, King Edward
WI, and sent by him upon important
omissions to various capitals of the
world. l was living in my lodgings in
IItalf Moon street, Piccadilly, with Tai
ibot, my sp}1ier servant, when Sir
tFrancis Koawles Cor Lord Knowles,
rather-I an always forgetting that the
lold gentleman has won the reward Of
imany years of faithful service as his
lnajesty's secrctaTy)-Lord Knowles
lsent for me to come to Buckingham
palace. On my arrival there l found
him pacing the floor nervously.
His majesty" be began fussily.
but just then the king entered and dis
missed him. Then his majesty led me
o table and, opening a secret drawer,
took out a folded yellow parchment
which he opened out fiat. l could sec
that it was written over in French and
. seemed to be design or plan.
Captain Adams" his majesty be-
gan, "of all the missions which you
have ever undertaken on behalf of my
government, this is one of the most
important. You have heard that Louis
IJonaparte has arrived in Paris?'
had not. ! was startled. That q
plot for the restoration of the Bona
partes had been under way, l knew.
was aware also that the disestablish-
nent of the French church had leagued
together all the clerical and reaction
AIRY elements. But that the claimant
10 the imperial throne, who was a gen
eral in the Russian army, had dared to
enter France was news to me.
And the Seine is rising. Half the
lower districts of the capital are under
water, and the city is completely isola
ted so far as telegraphic communities
ltion is concerned" His majesty contin
iued, as though he read my thoughts
Prince Louis has 5000 malcontents
under arms, all carefully drilled anG
ready in anticipation Of revolt. The
garrison is infected with seditlon, and
only a couple Of companies, my ambas
sador writes me, can be relied on fol
the defense of the republic. And il
the republic falls, goodby to the Fran
c0-British alliance"
The king paused and looked at me
earnestly.
He will strike tomorrow night, Sc
cret information reaches me- he con
tinued
''Rut-how can 5000 men hide il
Paris aud defy the government"
cried. where could they drill?"
In the catacombs," his majesty an
swered.
uttered an exclamation of surprise
He continued:
You and l and many tourists have
descended into these famous ancient
and subterranean passages" he said
But we have never gone very fan
from the entrance, for the fact is that
nobody knows their exact extent or 10
cation, running as they do in all direc
;ions and intersecting the complicated
sewerage system, which is further en-
aangled with arched-over subterranear
streams that constantly shift theil
course. In fact, one with a map o
The subterranean portion Of Paris
might defy the entire nation TO expe
him. And that is what Prince Loui.
does.
1T appears that the first Napoleon
possessed q map of this region. Two
copies of this were known to exist
One was left to his son, Due de Reich
stadt, through whom it passed tC
Napoleon Ill. and thence to Prince
Louis. He has already thrown hi;
coasarators into the catacombs BY
meanH of this secret, and, when the
time comes, he can strike where ht
pleases, and none will know where the
blow is going to fall. except the mar
who owns the second map"
Where is it, sir?" / cried.
'Here!" said the king, placing th,
parchment in my hands. Hasten L
Paris tonight. Deliver this to Presi
dent Fallieres in person. Waltz" HI
scribbled a few words of introduction
upon one of the royal cards-a large
pasteboard the size of lady's. "Thi.
map was found in a volume present
ed to her majesty my mother b!
Emperor Napoleon Ill.," he contin
ued. And now, goodby. l have ever!
confidence in you, ADAM" he con
cluded, Shaking me by the hand.
i hurried home and directed Talbo
10 pack my grip for an immediate jour
ney. When he learned that l was go
ing to Paris, nothing would satisfy hin
but that he should be permitted to &C
company me.
Begging your pardon, sir" he said
1T do Seem ard on me, after standing
over yoaI corpse among them blood,