American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1914-01-17
CHAPTER YIN.
A Man to Let.

The train which bore me ont of this
arc OF the Prussian fire at Strasboure
passed In between the Notifications OF
Paris the next morning about eleven
O'Clock. Ten minutes later was In
closed cab on my way to the head
quarters OF the Imperial Military Pc
lice, temporarily housed in the Lux
embourg palace.
did not enter my door or even
glance at 1t: continued straight on
down the corridor to door. on the
ground-glass panes OF which was print.
ed In red lettering:
HEADQUARTERS IMPERIAL
MILITARY POLICE SAFE DEPOSIT"
entered. passed rapidly along the
race OF the steel cage behind which
some officers eat on high stools. writ.
ing. and presented myself at the gui-
chet marked, Foreign Division"
a very elegant officer strolled up TO
the guichet as ! laid my bag of dla.
monds on the glass shelf, languidly
unlocked the steel window-gate. and
picked up the bag of jewels.
The officer was Mornac, the Emper.
ors alter ego, or anne damnee, who had
taken over the entire department the
very day | left Paris for the frontier.
Name and number?" inquired Nor.
mac. indolently. gave both.
You desire to declare?"
enumerated the diamonds. and des.
ignated them as those lately stolen
from the cruciflx OF Louis xI.
Mornac handed me n printed certia.
cate OF deposit, opened a compartment
In the safe, and tossed In the bag
without sealing IT,
iimped off past the glIttering steel
sage thankful that the jewefg- were
safe. turned into the corridor. and
hastened back to my own rooms.
To tear of my toys, battle, shave.
and dress IN u light suit OF civilian
clothes took me longer than usual.
for was n trllle lame.
Pondering. slowly retraced nv
steps through the bedroom and dress.
ing-room, and out into the tiled hall.
way, where, at the end OF the dim cor.
ridor, the door OF Colonel Jarras' blu.
reau stood partly open.
AS sat down glanced around md
saw my old comrade. Speed, sitting
In dark corner, chewing a cigarette
aud watching me in alert silence.
"YoN are present to report?" sug.
gested Colonel Jarras, heavily.
! began my report, but was immedi-
ately stopped by Jarras with a peey.
ish gesture: ".\ll right, all right: keen
all that for the Chief of Department.
Your report doesn't concern me-"
Doesn't concern you'll" repeated:
are You not chief OF this bureau.
Colonel Jarras?'
NO" snapped Jarras; "and there's
no bureau now-at least no bureau for
the Foreign Division"
Speed leaned forward and said:
Scarlet. my friend. the Foreign Di.
vision OF the Imperial Military Police
has been abolished"
"Who the devil did that?" I asked
savagely.
"Mornac."
Mornac! The Enperors shadowl
Then truly enough Il was all up with
the Foreign Division But the shame
OF it!-the disgrace of as faithful a
body of police, mercenaries though
they were. as ever worked for any
cause. good or bad.
AZ we sat there In silence, soldier
came TO summon Colonel Jarras, and
no went away. leaning on his ivory.
headed cane, head bowed over the
string OF medals on his breast.
When he had gone. Speed came over
md shut the door, then shook hands
with me.
He's gone to see Mornac; It will
be our turn next. Look out for Nor,
iac' or he'll catch you tripping In your
'eport."
Look here" | said, angrily, how
IAN Mornao catch me trlpplngY I'm
rot under his orders"
"You are until you're discharged.
You see, they've taken II into their
heads, since the crucinx robbery, TO
suspect everybody and anybody short
II the Emperor, Mornac came smelling
around here the day you left He's
It the bottom OF all thisZa nice bust.
less TO cast suspicion on our division
because we're foreigners. Cad, he |
ooks Ike pickpocket hlmself-he's
got the obllque trick of the eyes and
he restless finger movement"
Perhaps he is said.
speed looked at me sharply. !