The Detroit times., 1913-09-10

next morning. ri : --- ~ &
A deferenrial knock sounded ct th13
door OF the breakfast-roOm. FrAuco,oz
sprang to II. and the landlord stooQX
In the opening, bowling eiaboratsiy-
a soldierly old man with thick, grtss
zled hair.
"A thousand pardons for disturbing
miladi and the messieurs." and milad) y
smiled forgiveness. Might an Old NJ
soldier OF the Emperor dare to say 5
that one could not help knowing thqu
Empsror's kinsmen?" He bowed low
again TO both boys alike, and agAins
Hortense smiled at him. II Was COM y
forting to know that the two seemed
brothers 10 the world In general, ana 4
she was SO used to recognition anu rs
loyalty now that they appeared TO be-
long together. Might an old soldier
Oh the Emperor dare to show mtladt
her Majesty--and the Highnessesst
the sword which the Emperor himself I,
had touched, the sword which he, Jean Z,
Gredin, an old cuirAssier Of the
guard, had carried in four battles =
There was little story of the sword,
a story also OF the wonderful good
ness OF the Emperor, which mtladi-
her Majesty--permitting. he would
like TO tell to her. as also TO the High
nesses"
And. her Majesty permitting, and
the boys pleased and interested, the
old cavalryman brought the sword
and drew it from it's sheath and gave
II to each OF them TO handle. and cali
ed on them TO remark how 1t was ~
keen and bright as it had ever BEEN I
A.,ef nrlft nj "
throat, strongly, for the tale.
''Miladi--her Neutrality-suspicious. ni
he began, 1T was on day two days
after the great battle OF Austerhts.
'fhe country. as her Majesty and the
Highnesses will remember. was In q, I,
most dangerous condition. Desperate
bands" Why was 1t the landlord
stopped?
The party, caught by the fervor %
his manner. stared at him. annoyed
as the tale of the Emperor. promising
SO well. halted at its beginning. The
man stood as II drawn to his ttptOess
every muscle tense. his head turned
toward the doorway, listening.
And suddenly they were aware OF J
stir, a growing noise; there were ga:
looping horses; there was jingle OH
harness, and voices coming nearer.
5sicfs.ss, rsIS
q |s.seIs. 4 s,a,.sg -. rsa-S.si BIZ
.brows down the corridor. through the
open door at the end, which gave on
the court OF the, inn.
Mon Dieu," He faced the three.s
standing startled: He spoke fast ana
low. Madame. It Is q squad Of Aus,
trian soldiers; they are upon us-n
What can We dor He hesitated only
a second. "Bleu-bleu-my horse--
saddled under the tree yonder-if one
of the Princes--if the Prince ne.
glanced uncertainty from one lad to-
the other.
But the game was out OF his hands.
Quicker hands than his had. caught
the play. Francois Beaupre, the 50
Der of the old cavalryman cleaning
in his grasp, sprang to the doorway.
He swung about. his great eyes radi
ating earnestness.
1T is Monsieur there who Is the,
Prince" he explained rapidly to the
landlord. Hide him, take care OF
HIM will draw them away Wheh'
they are gone, see that the Prince ann
the Queen escape. That Is for you;
you are responsible ~
There was the rush Of flying ne
ure down the hallway, and out Fran,
co.'s flashed across q broken line OF
a dozen dismounted riders. straiente
toward the landlords horse held oy
a groom under the trees. There WAS
a shock of startled silence as the im-s
petuous apparitiOn. saber gleamhe
at wrist. shot across the court. TneH'
there was a hubbub OF voices, ana
mass of uniformed figures fell toward
him as he threw himself on the horse.
A soldier caught at the bride. Ine
naked sword twinkled and the man
was under Bleu-bleu's feet. For sec,
ond there was vortex OF men sn0
frantic horse, and riding the storm
buoyant figure OF fury, nasnine Il
blade. with infinite swiftnese, TINS
way and then. Then horse ana LAO
shot out from the living canvas,
streaked the background OF trees
second. and were gone, and the Aus
,r,an troopers scrambled into their
saddles to follow.
Through sun-spotted. breeze-tosseo
woods tore the chase; across roeo
and over low fence. and still Fran
co.'s led. but the heavy horses gained.
IL WAS "a HOptiVSS h"Hs, 80
lords mount was no match lot tne
mig cavalry horses, yet the rider
light weight and clever horsemanship
aaunted- and IL WAS fully four miles
from the inn when Bleu-bleu stumbled
and fell at a ditch, and Francois
nitched over his head. His lead Was
short BY now. and they were on MIN
in a moment, I'm mass; ne WAS
! seized by "a dozen burly Austrians.
The leader took a sharp look al MIN
az he stood painting, staring dehantiy
What is this?" the Austrian ae-,
manded sternly. and wheeled TO
trooper in a bunch. Friedrich. thon
knowest the cub OF the Bonapartes'
Is this lad he?'
And Friedrich lunged forward, gasp
ng. for he had run his horse hard',.
and shook his head. NO. my cap
tain. | have never seen this one.
The boy looked from one 10 an
other OF the threatening group. smii-
f! Ing composed In spite OF his quick
/ breathing. The captain took step
close 10 him and shook his INST In ms
! face.
You have fooled us. you young
same.cock. have you? But walt 10
,ou know what We will do to you, you
Il..