Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-06-26
By HENRY MONTJOY

.s,,s... 1919. =. Bsss..xsnin c.-,.ay.
Monsieur de Lussac is in prison and the
matter is ended"
Mon dieu, monsieur!'' cried La
venue, what is this you tell me-? Mon
sieur de Lussac In prison ?"
Silence! wish to have no more
to say to you. Col"
to Just one word ~
Not half word! Begone!''
Lavenne dropped his head, contem-
plated the pattern OF the parquet for
moment, then. with the ghost Of a
smile on his lips. he bowed profoundly
70 the minister OF police. turned. and
left the room. q.
De Sartines went to the bureau,
opened his snuff box and took pinch.
q pity, too, tor the fellow was not with
out cleverneSs''
He turned. for German had Just en-
tered the room
Il beg your pardon, monsieur"
Whatever German was about to say
was cut short by knock at the door
leading to the corridor. The door
opened and the usher appeared.
lady has called, your excellency,
and desires an Interview
can see no one" replied De Sar-
tines glancing at the clock 81 have
q letter to write before supper What
is her name ~
Madame la Baronne Linden. mon
sieur.'' "a
Madame Linden!" cried De Sartines.
starting slightly. TELL her" He
paused for moment as II undecided.
Then ne made up his mind.
Il will see her.
The 1l0hop y
Now. what can this mean?" He
turned to German, who had not left
the ROOM
Which. monsieur"
This visit?"
y don't know, monsieur"
Blockhead! Go. leave me- He
turned. and as Germain vanished into
'usher's voice announced: MADAME la
Baronne Linden"
Never had the door of the octagon
chamber formed SO perfect q picture
az that which now greeted De Sar-
tines eyes :, :.
He had seen Madame la Baronne sew
eral times before this. but always at a
distance: now, close to him, he could
appreciate fully her charm. He bowed
low as the usher closed the door.
Good evening, madame"
Good evening. monsieur. I must
apolosize for this late visit. but my
business is of so urgent nature that
Madame said De Sartfnes with
that perfect falseness which was one
OF his charms, II have had three pleas
ures today. The first was an inter-
view with his majesty, the second an
act OF charity which heaven graciously
permitted me to perform, and the
third
yes. rnonsieurc"
The pleasure OF seeing SO charm
Ing 9 lady In this grim room"
On. monsieur, not so GRIM"
Since you entered it," replied he,l
Madame Linden took the chair to
and cast her eyes about her.
Perhaps. indeed, monsieur. it will
be grimmer when leave 1t. For they
say that even the ugliest woman takes
something charming away with her
from place where she Is no longer
Madame" said De sartines. a wom-
an can never take anything more
charming away with her than that
which she brings
Then, monsieur" replied she, "in
my case you must reverse your opin-
lon, Tor bring very uncharming
thing with me-
An accusation
'tAn accusation against whom. ma
dame 2"
Your agents OF police, monsieur
Il De Sartines paused for moment as
g chessplayers pauses over move. He
pushed an armchair from the wall then
he took his seat.
From your lips. madame" said he,
even an accusation fs charming. And
what have my poor police been about
that you should accuse them?"
Monsieur, replied the baroness ito
day, In my absence at CompiegnG they
ransacked my house In the Rue Coo
Heron, upset the furniture, turned my
escritoire inside out. and, a. q mat =
ter Of fact. 100, 900 francs worth OF
jeweiry Is missing. Neighbors saw the
police agents enter the house. and they
can testify. &
The amaxing impudence Of this move
struck De Sartines like blow under
the belt, which, in fact, 1t was
Madame" he cried, forgetting pru-
|denGe Tor the moment. my agents up
set nothing, There were no Jewels
stolen.
That Il to say. IL there had been
levels they would have been stolen"
laughed the baroness. Take care.
monsieur: you are making confessions.
Oh, monsieur. why try subterfuge with
me Listen! can prove that your.
agents came to my house today and
entered It like thieves; I can prove
tnaf op .sd,. my n sssritoire only t.
monsieur, to be laid before his ma
|jesty. ut whose feet 1 am quite prepar-
FED to cast myHelf, assured az am OF
Ills Justice, n
III Sartines checked the anger that;
Was ffSin4 N his heart He felt him
tself an the presence Of q most formid-
ssNfy police did not enter yonr l,nilsa