Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-04-04

been accepted by the regent, since my
head belonged no longer to ME but to
him. and calling two guards, he had
me led to tho outer gate, which was
closed behind me-"
TN wage twas the hrst time in the
history of the sBastile that a prisoner
Come. monsieur. do not despair. The
regent has ~overleaped himself in re-
leasing you SD soon. The price may
have been accepted. but it is not yet
paid"
Not yet paid?"
be paid If you do not wish it."
You have a plan, them" cried
Richelieu, his face Frightening.
Perhaps
Come. let us have it," and he
clasped my hand again. II should have
remembered that I had your clear brain
and loyal heart still to rely upon"
Answer me one question, NJ. lie Due"
l said. Suppose the princess and your
self were in a carriage speeding to-
wards the frontier. Suppose your flight
was not discovered for eight or 10
hours. Do you think you would be
safe?"
Safe. de Brancas? Why, man. with
one hours start we should be safe.
1 have a dozen horses the like of which
are not to be found in France, not even
In the regents stables"
And where are these horses?" 1.
asked
lin my stables here"
Then, my dear friend" 1 cried,
spring to my feet. CONSIDER it done.
At 10 o'clock tonight Mile. de Valois
and yourself will set .out from Paris.
In two days you will be safe at Mons,
that is. If you are permitted to pass
the frontier"
Trust me for that" said Richelieu.
"a thousand pistoles will accomplish
wonders. The only thing 1 do not UNI
derstand. my friend. is how YOU will
manage to get Charlotte into the car
riage with me-"
IN. lie Due I queried, do you
imagine for ~ moment that the thought
Of this marriage pleases herr"
n more than it does myself"
Would She not. then. welcome an
opportunity of escaping it?"
oh. l believe sol" cried Richelieu.
We'll. trust me, M. lie Due, you shall
offer her hat opportunity tonight.
But we have no time to lose and there
Is much to do. Leave the details of the
plan to me-"
II do not understand. but / trust you
fully. my friend" said Richelieu, and
asked no further questions.
A relay of horses was started to ST.
Quentin and Il second to Nnpeigne,
to await h arrival of the carriage
containing the duke and his companion.
The lightest N most comfortable car
riage in his stables was brought out
saw that it was piled with cushions
and equipped with everything tina
could add to the comfort or convent
ence OF the travellers. l provided for
every possible contingency of which 1
could think. and personally interviewed
tho IA whom EinHo1ia,, l>n1 ~o1~1%o
to drive until 1 was satisfied thu he
was thoroughly acquainted With the
road and that he was NJ ware The
tun.ult caused by the. discovery of the
plot had qllieted down, and on inquiry
l found that the gates of the city were
Richelieu would have no difficulty in
passing the barrier. We decided that
the carriage should take the most di-
rect route and trust to speed, as it was
important above everything that it
should reach the frontier ahead of any
of the regents emissaries. Richelieu
collected together all the money he had
and stored it In the COACH. I added
a sword. a brace of pistols, and a mus
ket. and a similar equipment to the top
OF the coach for the use of the driver.
Tothe rear was strapped a case con-
To the rear was strapped a case con-
l could think of nothing more.
All this had taken time, and evening
had come before the final arrangements
We're completed. Then Jacques lighted
the candles n summoned us to dim
ner. a summons which 1 was not sorry
to obey. for the days work had wearied
me greatly. He had provided a feast Of
great e~laborateness as a farewell to his
master, but Rickelieu seemed too ner-
vous to enjoy 1t. AS for me, l was so
certain of success that l felt no great
anxiety.
Come. his will not do" 1 remon-
strated. seeing that he was merely
playing with the food. You must eat.
my friend. You will have need of cour-
age before you reach Mons. and / ne
OF nothing which so tends to make a
coward OF a man as an empty stom-
ach."
You are right he answered.. but
If you knew the anxiety 1 am suffering
at this moment you would not expect
me to eat. Do you really believe we
shall succeed?"
n. lie Due" I said. earnestly, sue
cess will depend largely upon yourself.
l agree to bring you into the presence
Of Mile. de Valois. II you can persuade
her to flee with you, well and good, we
succeed; but IL o cannot dc this. we
must retire defeated. Come. I drink to
your success"
And l to yours" he answered.. "For-
give me-, de Brancas. for again think
ing only of myself. I hope with all my
heart that you will be successful"
l bowed with brimming eyes. for he
had touched me closely.
1T may be long before we dine to.