Middletown transcript., 1914-01-24

I
cused of sheltering the individual Scar.
lett, late inspector Of imperial police;
the individual Speed, ex-inspector OF
imperial gendarmes; the individual
Eyre, under general suspicion; the
woman called Sylvia Elven, German
spy. AS war delegate Of the com
mune, am here to accuse!
Il accuse the woman Sylvia Elven
of communication with Prussian
agents; of attempted corruption OF
soldiers under my command. l accuse
the cheyenne Eline Treoourt, late
ly known as the Countess de Vassart,
Of aiding, encouraging and abetting
these enemies of France!"
He waited until the short, fierce yell
Of approval had died away. Then:
"Call the soldier Rolland!" he said.
My heart began to hammer in my
throat. 81 believe it's going hard with
u.s." muttered to Speed.
Listen" he motioned.
listened to the wretched creature
ROLAND while he told what had hap
pened at the semaphore.
"You say he bribed you?" asked
Buckhurst, gently.
yes; I've said It twenty times,
haven't I?'
"And you took the bribes?"
The wretch laughed outright.
And you believe that you deserve
well Of the commune?" smiled Buck
hurst.
The soldier grinned and opened his
mouth to answer, and Buckhurst shot
him through the face; and, as he fell,
shot him again, standing wreathed in
the smoke of his own weapons.
81 think" said Buckhurst, in a pleas
antly persuasive voice, that there will
be no more bribery in this battalion" Z"
He deliberately opened the smoking
weapon; the spent shells dropped one
by one from the cylinder, clinking on
the stone floor.
Mono more bribery" he mused.
touching the dead man with the care
fully polished toe of his shoe. BE
cause" he added, reloading his re-
volver, 'T do not like it."
He turned quietly to Mornac and or
dered the corpse to be buried, and Nor
nae, plainly unnerved at the murder
Gus act of his superior, repeated the
order, cursing his men to cover the
quaver In his voice.
"As for you," observed Buckhurst,
glancing up at US. where we stood
speechless together, you will be
judged and sentenced when this drum
head court decides. Go into that
room!"
The countess did not move.
Speed touched her arm; she looked
up quietly. smiled, and stepped across
the threshold. Speed followed; Jac-
queline slipped in beside him, and then
l turned on Buckhurst, who had Just
ordered his soldiers to surround the
house outside.
He motioned toward the door with
leveled weapon. / turned and entered
the tearoom, and he locked the door
from the outside.
The countess, seated on the sofa,
looked up as l appeared. She was ter
ribly pale. but she smiled as my heavy
eyes met hers.
"Is it to be farce or tragedy, mon
sfeur?" she asked, without a tremor In
her clear voice.
could not have uttered a word to
save my life. Speed, pacing the room,
turned to read my face; and l think he
read it, for he stopped short in his
tracks.
do they mean to shoot us?" he
asked, bluntly.
"Messieurs," said the countess, with
a faint smile, your whispers are no
compliment to my race. Pray honor
me by plain speaking. Are we to dieP"
We stood absolutely speechless be-
fore her.
"Ah. Monsieur scarlett," she said,
gravely, "do you also fail me
at the end? . You, too-even
you? Must I tell you that we
of Trecourt fear nothing in this
world?'
Are we to die?" she asked.
Eyes, madame"
Thank you," she said, softly. why |
do you look at me so sadly, Monsieur
Scarlet? Truly, you must know that |
my life has been long enough to prove |
its uselessness. had rather die with |
you than live without the friendship |
which 1 believe-which l knows
mine. You see 1 have nothing to re-
gret in death that brings me to you
again. Do you regret lifeT
Not now" l said.
you are kind to say So l believe
yes, know that you truly care for me.
Do your"
Yes"