Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-08-01
f. ole MINISTER
Xk q POLICE
R> By HENRY MoNTJ0Y
YM cssisAt 1912. y. ssss.1e Company

Franchise" Then to the baroness,
Madame, I will do as you say. But
the invitations must be dispatched ear
~ tomorrow morning."
Write them;~lnonsieur," said she,
when l am gone, and your servant
a deliver them tomorrow early. Make
the invitation urgent. so that 1t may
override any Encouragement these
people may have"
Leave that to me, madame. I shall
make 1t little short OF a command"
All" said she., you. are a man of
spirit n sense, and I promise you,
monsieur, n thing: you shall have
Rue du Faubourg st. Honore tomor
row at 1890"
And after?" asked De Richelieu.
She laughed.
II always pay my debts. And this
is for earnest" She held out her lips
and he kissed her.
Her extraordinary frankness, her
golden voice, her beauty and personal
magnetism had completely bound this
old libertine in their pentagram; the
thought that he was getting the better
or DE Lussac, q man SO much his jun
Tor, did not lessen his satisfaction.
And now, monsieur, 1 must go. To-
morrow at 1890, expect me-"
He followed her as she passed into
SAAo Wv llA SllC 0CIOSS IXlc great
hall, where they parted. On the steps
before which her carriage was drawn
up, who should be waiting for her but
Placide!
What" cried she. "You here!"
Yes, madame. Rosine told me tina,
you had come here, and 1 took a ca
hriolet and followed you, as | have
your ear"
"And your information"
Madame. what l have to say has to
do With Monsieur. de Lussac."
Then get into the carriage with me
and you can tell me as we drive"
She made him get in and take the
front seat. Then the carriage started.
All the way from Paris Placide had
been racking his head for ~an>excuse
for having followed her.
Well said she, when they had
cleared the avenue gates, your infor-
mation?"
Just this madame" said the old fell
low bluffly. II am not blind"
sc you posted all the way from Par
is to tell me about the state of Your
eyes! Well, then, monsieur Placide,
you shall pay your own expenses for
n journey, and you can, now that YOU
nave relieved yourself OF your informa-
ton, get out and sit beside the coach
man."
Placide noted her gaiety and ANNA
ton: more than ever he felt certain
n whatever business had brought
her to De Richelieu's, 1t was of a most
important nature and that she had
been successful in 1t. He had come
with the idea OF trying to pick up news
from the majordomo, but at the last
momen he determined to adhere to
the baroness.
Madame" he went on, quite un
moved, Il am not blind and it has been
easy for me to see that you are not
dlslnterested in anything concerning
the welfare of Monsieur de Lussac."
All. Monsieur lie Lussac!"
Yes, madame. He has been i'm
p%risoned. heard the news this v e
ming from the footman Of Monsieur
de Duras."
And you came after me to.Ter-
sallles to inform me of this!" The lit
tie lamp that lighted the interior Of
the carriage showed him that her ewes
were moist. His fidelity had evidently
moved her to the heart; he had not
reckOned on this.
oh. madame. that~was nothing. Just
a summer evenings drive"
MY good Placide.' she replied, "fdel-
ity Is a great deal in this world, where
all men are unfaithful. But you have
been a grumbling servant, you have
set Rosine by the ears. and I doubt
even If you have been satisfied with
your mistress. In short. my good
Placide, you are an i%ntolerable servant
and as a recompense for your fidelity
my service"
What nova" thought Placide, at this
unexpected turn.
Il discharge o an a servant and re-
engage you as q friend, q salaried
friend. Well, what do Q say to that.
grumbler 2"
Placide said nothing for a moment.
touched the old scamp's heart.
"Mordieu! madame" grumbled he. at
last, you are making a lot out OF
nothing. ! am just your servant"
And my friend"
All the way to Paris behind ma
DANES triumphant gaiety was the fear
Of pursuit. II Richelieu opened that
fatal drawer before she had put suf-
ficient distance between them to make
her. 1t was. therefore, with a sigh OF
relief that h passed the toll gate
and the gates Of Paris, and heard the
familiar grinding Of the wheels on the
pavement of the city.
It vas long after midnight and the
deserted streets lay under the moon.
The hungry city slept, guarded by the
bastile standing like a mailed giant
In the moonlight.
At the house in the Rue Coo Heron
the carriage stopped. Piacide descend
ed and helped his mistress to alight
AS he did so his hand. BRUSHING heI
dress. felt something in her pocket; the
folded parchment of the document
could be distinctly felt through the
brocade. His hounds instinct told
him that here lay the secret Of the
journey to De Richelieu.
He followed her into the house
where she babe him good night and
went to her room.
Having locked the door, she tool
tho precious document from her pocket
and read It carefully. from the first