Las Vegas optic., 1913-10-01
CHAPTER YIN.
A Man to Let.


The train which bore me out of the
8arc Of the Prussian fire at Strasbourg
passed in between the Notifications of
Paris the next morning about eleven
O'Clock. Ten minutes later l was in
"a closed cab on my way to the head
quarters of the Imperial Military Po-
lice temporarily housed in the Lux
embourg palace.
did not enter my door or even
glance at it; l continued straight on,
down the corridor to a door, on the
ground-glass panes Of which was print
ed in red lettering:
HEADQUARTERS IMPERIAL
MILITARY POLICE SAFE DEPOSIT"
entered, passed rapidly along the
face of the steel cage behind which
some officers sat on high stools, writ
ing, and presented myself a. the gull
ehet marked, Foreign Division"
A very elegant officer strolled up to
the guichet as I laid my bag of dia-
monds on the glass Shelf languidly
tTecked the steel window-gate, and
picked up the bag of jewels.
The officer was Mornac, the Emper-
or's alter ego, or anne damnee, who had
taken over the entire department the
very day left Paris for The frontier.
Name and number?' inquired Nor
mac, indolently. I gave both.
You desire to declare?"
I enumerated the diamonds, and des-
ignated them as those lately stolen
from the crucifx of Louis XI.
Mornac handed me a printed certifi-
cate Of deposit. opened a compartment
in the safe, and tossed in the bag
without sealing it.
limped Off past the glittering steel
cage, thankful that the jewels were
safe, turned into the corridor, and
hastened back to my own rooms.
To tear off my togs, bathe, shave,
and dress in a light suit Of civilian
clothes took me longer than usual,
for was a trife lame.
Pondering, I slowly retraced my
steps through the bedroom and dress.
tng-room, and out into the tiled hall.
way, where, at the end Of the dim cor
ridor, the door Of Colonel Jarras' bu.
reau stood partly open
AS l sat down l glanced around and
saw my old comrade, Speed, sitting
in dark corner, chewing cigarette
and watching me in alert silence
"Yeu are present to report?" sug-
gested Colonel Jarras, heavily.
| began my report, but was immedi-
ately stopped by Jarras with a peey-
ish gesture: "4All right, all right; keep
all that for the Chief Of Department.
Your report doesn't concern me-"
+ Doesn't concern you!" / repeated;
~are you not chief of this bureau.
Colonel Jarras?"
NO" snapped Jarras; and there's
no bureau now-at least no bureau for
the Foreign Division"
Speed leaned forward and said
Scarlet, my friend. the Foreign Di.
vision of the Imperial Military Police
has been abolished"
who the devil did that?" asked
"Mornac."
MornacI The Emperors shadowI
Then truly enough it was all UP with
the Foreign Division. But the shame
Iof it!-the disgrace Of as faithful a
body of police, mercenaries though
they we're. as ever worked for any
cause, good or bad.
As we sat there in silence, a soldier
came to summon Colonel Jarras, and
ne went away, leaning on his ivory
headed cane, head bowed over the
string Of medals on his breast.
When he had gone, Speed came over
and shut the door, then shook hands
with me.
He's gone to see Mornac; it win
be our turn next Look out for Nor
nae, or he'll catch you tripping in your
report"
Look here" | said, angrily. how