The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-09-24


he stopped, saiuted, called a word. n
was not q day to bake anything for
granted: Colonel Couard halted the
regiment
THE arsenal" the man sasped.
They have taken Monsieur de Persigny
prisoner. Monsieur 10 General Voirol
Is on his way, but he Is distant. DIT is
a step from here. The Third artillery
could arrive there before him--they
would surrender-Monsieur de Persigny
would be released"-he stopped breath
less.
The colonel turned an inqulring look
on Francois. As the princes messen7
ger. as the man whom he had seen clos
est to the princes person, he deferred
to him, and Francois realized hat he
must make. and make quickly, a mo-
mentous decision.
The arsenal was immense and lightly
guarded. De Persigny had been sent
with q small force to take IL, for the
ammunition It held might at any mo-
ment be of supreme Importance. II
seemed that the detachment which
guarded It had been moderated, for IL
had made prisoners of De Persigny and
his men, and this aide-de-camp had
rescued, II the arsenal was 10 be gained
for the prince, this very m must
be seized. General Voirol, royalist, the
commandant at Boulonge. was on his
way with reinforcements and the
Third might well hold the arsenal
from him, with his whole being con-
centrated Francois thought. The orr
ders were plain-to lead the third artil-
lery to Join the Prince on the ramparts,
But there are times in history when I'd
obey orders Is treaehery. Was not thi4
moment heavy with the right or wrong
Of HIS decision, one of them? Vas II
not the part OF a mind capable of great
ness to know and grasp the flying Sec
ond OF opportunity? Would not tho
Prince reproach him, IL he stupidity let
this n chance In a thousand go by,
for servile fear OF disobeying ordersf
He had left his Highness safe with two
regiments at his back: this other could
do nothing at the Place dalton bar,
racks but swell the ranks; here. by
q turn of a hand, they might win for
the cause the very blood and bones ot
success, a mighty arsenal, and for
themselves honor n gratitude from
their Emperor. In Francois mind was
a touch Of innocent vanity that he
should have the power to render so sig,
nal q service. yet M thought at all for
himself or for h honor he might gain
or lose; whole-heartedly he weighed the
reasons why or why not it would be
best for the Prince.
The aide-de-camp's voice broke In,
my Colonel, I beg you, / implore you,
save Monsieur de Persigny. The Prince
loves him-he will be very angry II he
is left helpless-they threaten to exe-
cut him-I myself heard--I impIore
you, Monsieur lie Colonel. For the rest.
II is indeed the moment of fate to win
the arsenal"
Francois face lit with a fire Of de-
cision. my Colonel, It is for the
Prince-it would be his will we must
not let slip the gift of destiny. To the
arsenal"
And while orders rang out sharply
and the regiments wheeled into sliding
lines that doubled and parted and
flowed together again in an elastic
stream toward the looming arsenal,
Francois, with a quick word to De Per-
signy's aide-de-camp, was writing rap
idly on a bit Of paper.
you viii take this to the Prince at
once" he ordered, and the young Off
Ger saluted, for he, too, knew. as most
Of them did, this mans anomalous yet
strong hold IN Prince Louis.
Francois rode again to the coloneis
side, and he did not doubt that he had
decided rightly.