The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-13

ARE you not chief of this bureau,
Colonel Jarras?"
NO" snapped Jarras; land 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
savagely.
"Mornac."
Mornac! The Emperor's shadow!
Then truly enough it was all up with
the Foreign Division. But the shame
OF 1.-THE disgrace of as faithful a
body of police mercenaries though
they were, as ever worked for any
cause, good or bad
AS we sat there in silence, a soldier
he 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 will
be our turn next. Look out for Nor
nae, or he'll catch you tripping in your
report"
Look here" 1 said. angrily, how
can Mornac catch me tripping? I'm
not under his orders"
You are until you're discharged
You see, they've taken it into their
heads, since the crucifix robbery, to
suspect everybody and anybody short
of the Emperor. Mornac came smelling
around here the day you left. He's
at the bottom of all this-a nice bust
ness to cast suspicion on our division
because we're foreigners. Cad, he
looks like a pickpocket himself-hes
got the oblique trick of the eyes and
the restless finger movement"
Perhaps he u.s." said
Speed looked at me sharply.
IF | were in the service now I'd
arrest Mornac-if | dared"
Then a soldier appeared to summon
us both, and we followed to the tenn
porary bureau.
At careless nod from Mornac |
muttered the formal Il have to report,
sir" and began mumbling per
functory account of my movements
since leaving Paris.
| told the truth as far as | went.
which brought me to my capture by
uhlans and the natural escape of my
prisoner, Buckhurst. | merely added
that had secured the diamonds and
had managed to reach Paris via Stras-
bourg
He listened very quietly while | told
of my encounter with Buckhurst in
Morsbronn, Of our journey to Saverne,
to Strasbourg, and finally by own ar
rival in Paris.
Where is Buckhurst?" he asked.
81 do not know" | replied, doggedly
That is to say that you had him
in your power within the French lines
yet did not secure him."
Yes. There was something more
important to do than to arrest Buck
hurst | had every reason to believe
that an important conspiracy was be
ing ripened somewhere near Paradise.
l had every reason to believe that the
robbery of the crown jewels might fur
nish funds for the plotters.
THE arrest of one man could not
break up the conspiracy; | desired to
trap the leaders; and to that end
deliberately liberated this man Buck
hurst as a stoolpigeon. If my judg-
ment has been at fault, | accept the
blame"
Mornac examined his carefully kept
finger-tips in detail.
You say he bribed you?"
Il said he atteHpte to do So"
replied, sharply.
with the diamonds"
Yes"
You have them?"
81 deposited them as usual"
Bring them"
Angry as | was, saluted. wheeled.
and FASTENED off to the safe deposit
The jewel-bag was delivered when /
presented my printed slip; | picked
it up and marched back, savagely bit
ing my mustache and striving to con-
troll my increasing evaporation
Never before had | endured insolence
from a superior officer.
Mornac was questioning Speed as |
entered, and he lolled in his chair with
an absent-minded expression like the
expression of cat who pretends to
forget the mouse between her paws.
CTO BE CONTINUED