The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-04-10
CHAPTER n-continued.

AZ was now night, and the trees by
the roadside. dimly lighted by a half
moon rising In the eastern sky, showed
up darkly against the silvery mists OF
the fields. |.
At the toll gate the carriage did not
stop, but passed at full speed and on
through the streets OF Paris. splashing
the passers with mud: Needless OF chill
cren, dogs, pedestrians who wished to
cross the way a perfect representation
or the government whose minister 1T
contained. The streets through which
~ was now passing were badly lighted
by oil lamps. badly paved, filthy with
refuse and mud, narrow, and like the
streets and passages one passes
through In bad dreams. Poverty and
hunger walked here in rags, not as
spectral figures, but figures OF flesh and
blood, Frightful faces were to be seen,
spectral faces, pitiable faces, men In
tatters, women In rags. INFINITE squat
ori 4 tnese poor streets all men and
All women seemed bent, like those trees
we see on sea coasts, by a bleak wind
always blowing from the same ular-
Ter, bent and stunted by the pressure
OF some heavy and chilling hand.
Splashing these with the mud OF its
wneels drove b carriage of Monsieur
de Sartines, Its occupant curled. scent
ed, dressed more gorgeously than the
lilies or the field, gazing through the
WINDOWS on h people he passed as
love might gaze on mortals.
the carriage crossed the poorer part
OF the city, making for the Faubourg
81. Germain, where al the gateway on
q large mansion they turned in, crossed
the courtyard and drew up at the steps.
IL was he Hotel de Sartines.
The footman opening the door. the
minister of police descended, went up
the steps = passing h saluting
guards at the doorway entered the
great hall, whence he took his way by
= flight of deeply-carpeted stairs to his
official bureau on the first floor.
This room, still haunted by the shade
or Monsieur d'Ombreyal, deserves a
word OF mention. Here the police po-
ntical business of the state was con-
Quoted; here the attained noblemen,
the common forger, the. suspect, the
mar being prosecuted, and the man
pursued am face to face with the
man In power. From here men went
TO Yincennes or the Bastile or death.
room was octasonaL witra pol,
about, for 1t was used by the minister
as q chamber OF audience as well as an
official bureau; II was lighted by wax
candles burning in silver m and
opposite the door stood the famous
bureau with a hundred compartments
and secret drawers, nee the property
OF his predecessor. A square table. half
covered by a cloth Of green silk, stood
near the bureau: on It were some dis
patches that had just arrived and
which De Sartines examined while
waiting for the agent Gaussin. for
He was standing reading, like this,
when the door opened and the agent
appeared ~ :
Gaussin was a big man with a head
that made n think OF the head Of a
horse he had a long face and only One
expression. He was less a man than
De Sartines turned. received his sub
~ordinate's salute, and taking the report
from the small portfolio he had placed
On the bureau, said: You wrote this ?"
The cautions Gaussin approached be-
fore committing himself as, If to ex-
anime the paper, but his master waved
"Pestei It is yours--the report on
Madame la Baronne Linden. The day
before yesterday I said to you: Fol
low this woman closely, get into her
house II o can. examine her papers
II possible, and IL possible intercept any
correspondence between her and the
Comte de Lussac.r How have you done
this p"
Monsieur" said Gaussin, without
moving a muscle of his face, 'since you
gave me the order / have adhered to
Madame la Baronne like a plaster
Put on by a quack or q fool"
Monsieur" ~" 81
silence" "' a- ..''
"Yes, monsieur"
you have found out nothing"
Monsieur. there was nothing to
find"
You waste your ink and paper on
every little trifling detail. I said get
into her house IL possible"
And I tried, monsieur" -!
"How?-sthrough a window"
No. monsieur; through a pretty
yervant-maid." ~ -
And you failed m-t
Gaussin scratched his chin.
Mot exactly failed, Monsieur"
Then you did get in?"
mo. Monsieur. She pushed me, out
with a broom, and the servant Placide
an old scoundrel with a white beard
locked the door In my face. But to-
night I will court her again. I have
thought of a new method. This time
] shall get n" $780, y .
you will not. You are dismissed
from the case. Take up something
simpler. Go report yourself to Mon
to be sent to me"
Gaussin saluted. turned. and left the
room, while De Sartines, grumbling to
himself. went on reading his dispatches.
III had finished them n had placed
them on the table when three raps on
shS nOOIp 8ANAH6 UJ .LlG hShSA nohA,
introduced Lavenne. ~ ~
Lavenne was a young looking man
with the pale face and jet black hair
one finds among the men Of the south;
he had eyes dark and luminous, pos
sessing that hrilliancy of the cornea;
that sparkle and glitter. which almost
invariably II found in men OF high In
te~nigence. His features were mobile.
changing in expression, seeming to be-
tray his inmost feelings and thoughts;
mus giving him an appearance OF in-
g~enuousness that was as fictitious as
MS appearance of youth.
"Ah. Lavenne," said the minister oi
police, you have come. ! have received
your report. and you are not making
much progress. It seams to me-" VI
Monster said LaveSue. Il have moi
had much time"
You have had three days"
"Oh, monsieur" replied Lavenne. 'tr
q woman's affairs what are three days
81 a creature who takes three hours tc
Dug q hat who takes an hoxN 9 write