Las Vegas optic., 1913-09-27
or Of Cardigan" The Conspirators
sSr1aids alarms etc.
Copyright 1904 BY RobtWChambers
Myers CopYnGht Igo2 By PECdLer6 Son
oIrwIN Myers


instructions to successful finish
The colony at La Trappe was, as far
as ! could judge, a product of condi-
tions which had, a hundred years be-
fore, eliminated in the French Revolu-
ton. Now, in 1870, but under different
circumstances, all France was once
more disintegrating socially Opposi-
tion to the Empire, to the dynasty, to
the government, had been seething for
years; now the separate crystals which
formed on the edges of the boiling un-
dercurrents began to grow into masses
which, adhering to other masses, in
terfered with the healthy functions Of
national life. First among these came
the International Society of Working
men, with all its affiliations-the "In-
ternationale," as 1t was called. In its
wake trailed minor societies, some
mild and harmless, some dangerous
and secret, some violent, advocating
openly the destruction of all existing
conditions.
With one exception, all those whom
the police and the government regard
ed as inclined to violence left the
group. There remained, with this one
exception, a nucleus of earnest,
thoughtful people whose creed was in
part the creed Of the Internationale,
the creed of universal brotherhood,
equality before the law, purity of in
dividual living as an example and an
incentive to a national purity.
To this inoffensive group came one
day a young widow, the Countess de
Vassart, placing at their disposal her
great wealth, asking only to be re-
ceived among them as a comrade.
Her history, as known to the police,
was peculiar and rather sad: at six
teen she had been betrothed to an ell
derly, bull-necked colonel of cavalry,
the notorious Count de Vassart, who
needed what money she might bring
him to maintain his reputation as the
most brilliantly dissolute old rake in
Paris.
Her dossier--for, alas! the young
girl already had dossier-was inter
esting, particularly in its summing up
Of her personal character:
ITO the naive ignorance of CON
vent pensionnaire, she adds an inno-
cence of mind, purity of conduct, and
a credulity which render her an easy
prey to the adroit, who play upon her
sympathies. She is dangerous only as
a source of revenue for dangerous
men"
It was from her salon that young
Victor Noir went to his death at
Auteuil on the 10th of January; and
possibly the shock Of the murder and
the almost universal conviction that
justice under the Empire was hope
less drove the young Countess to seek
a refuge in the country where, at her
house Of La Trappe, she could quietly
devote her life to helping the desper-
ately wretched, and where she could
in security, hold counsel with those
who had chosen to give their lives to
the noblest ofsall works charity and
the propaganda Of universal brother
hood.
And here, at La Trappe, the young
aristocrat first donned the robe Of
democracy, dedicated her life and for
tune toe the cause, and worked with
her own delicate hands, for every
morsel of bread that passed her lips.
But the simple life at La Trappe,
the negative protest against the En-
pire and all existing social conditions,
the purity Of motive, the serene and1
inspired self-abnegation. could not
save the colony at La Trappe nor the
young chatelaine from the claws Of
those who prey upon the innocence
Of the generous.
And so came to this ideal commuAi-
ty one John Buckhurst, stranger.
quiet, suave, deadly pale, finely
nodded man, with delicately fasilioned1
hands and feet, and two eyes so color |
less that in some lights they appeared
to be almost sightless.
In a month from that time he was
the power that moved that community
even in its most insignificant machin-
cry. With marvellous skill he con.
structed out OF that simple republic
Of protestants an absolute despotism.
And he was the despot
An intimation from the Tuilcrias IL
terrupted a meeting OF the council Il
the house in Paradise; an arrest was
threatened that of Professor Reclus
land the indignant young Countess
was requested to retire to her chateau
Of La Trappe. She obeyed, but invited
her guests to accompany her. Among
those who accepted was Buckhurst
About this time the government be-
gan to take a serious interest in John
Buckhurst. On the secret star Of the
imperial Military Police were always
certain foreigners among others, my /
self and a young man named James
peed and Colonel Jarras had already I
decided to employ us in watching Buck
hurst, when war came on France like a
bolt from the blue, giving the men
Of the Secret Service all they could at
tend to.
There is no reason why it should not
be generally known that the crown