Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-02-13
copTR1CHT %

the man. undervalued me, he had taken
me at my own figure, and now, hold
ing me in absolute contempt, he was
going to begin on me.
Scarlet" he said, in English, "let
us come to the point. am merce-
nary American; you are an American
mercenary. paid by the French gov
ernment. You care nothing for that
government or for the country; you
would drop both today if your pay
ceased. You and are outsiders; we.
are in the world to watch our chances
And our chance is here.
"The time is coming when the rich
est city in Europe will be put to the
sack. You don't believe it? Yet you
shall live to see Paris besieged, and
you shall live to see Paris surrender,
and you shall live to see the Interna-
tionale rise up from nowhere, seize the
government by the throat, and choke
it to death under the red flag of uni
versaI- -ahem license"-the
faintest sneer came into his pallid face
land every city of France shall be
a commune, and we shall pass from
city to city, leisurely, under the law
our laws, which we will maKe-ane i
pity the man among US who cannot
place his millions in the banks of Eng
land and America"
He leaned forward in his chair, idly
twisting his crumpled bit of paper in
one hand.
81 am not, fool enough to believe
that our reign will last" he said. "It
may last a month, two months, per-
haps three. Then we leaders will be
at one another's throats-and the
game is up! It's always so-mob rule
can't last--it never has lasted and
never will But the prudent man will
make hay before the brief sunshine
is ended: expect to economic a
little, and set aside enough-well,
enough to make it pay, you see.'
Hes bound to get to Paradise.
Why?' wondered. and said. aloud.
What do you want of me?"
Il want immunity from the secret
| police. Mr.. Scarlet"
! There is one thing l want to ask
you," said l. why do you desire to
go to Paradise?"
WELL" he said, slowly, 81 shall not
! tell you"
why not?" demanded.
But I'll say this" he continued
81 want you to come to Paradise with
me and that fool of a woman. / want
you to report to your government that
you are watching the house in Para
disc, and that you are hoping to catch
| me there"
eYou refuse to tell me why you wish
| tc stay at the house in Paradise?"
"Yes, -. .. / refuse. And, by
the-way, the Countess is to think thai
III have presented myself in Paris and
that the government has pardoned
4 me-
He rose and walked to the window;
at the same moment heard the sound
of wheels below.
Il believe that is our carriage" ht
said Are you ready to start, Mr.
Scarlett?"
i Us the Countess de vassart to gt
with us~ asked, trying to find rea
son for these events which were sue
ceeding one another too quickly to sui
| me.
He gave me an absent-minded nod
moment later the Countess entered
i Buckhurst aided me to rise, the Count
ess threw my hussar jacket over m.
shoulders and buttoned it. IL congrat
luate you on your convalescence," sh,
{ said, in low voice. Lean on me
monsieur"
BY head swan; hips and knees wer
without strength; she aided me dow
], the stairway and out into the pal
sunshine, where stood the same mud
splashed, rusty vehicle which ha
brought US hither from La Trappe.
As / stood beside the carriage, wor
dering how was going to get in,
felt an arm slip under my neck an
another slide gently under my knees
. and Buckhurst lifted me.
The Countess stepped into the cal
riage and took her place beside me
Buckhurst followed, seating himsel
opposite us, and the Alsatian drive
, mounted to the box
Your safe-conduct carries you t
the French outposts at Saverne," sal
the provost dryly. IF there are n
: longer French outposts at Saverne, 20
: may demand a wise for your pass an
! continue south to Strasbourg."
. Buckhurst half turned towards th
: driver. "Allez," he said, quietly, an
9 the two gaunt horses moved on.
$ "Is there railroad at Saverne?"
asked.
you will take q train at Stra
bourg," replied Buckhurst.