Middletown transcript., 1914-07-25

weeks There is but one steamer a
week from Marseilles. And in ten
days!-Mon Dieu! Nothing except a
swift aeropIane could cross those wa
ters and bring him back in time"
I caught at his words with mad ca
gerness.
"It shall be DONE" 1 cried. 81 shall
go to Corsica, In the Chevalier's air
ship. And in ten days l shall return
with Zeuxis."
you are insane, GIRL" cried the
banker, angrily. THE science of fight
is in its infancy. Even If you reached
Marseilles you would be swamped in
the gales of the Mediterranean. mo" !"
he continued craftily, I'VE can devise
some scheme by which the Chevalier
shall get OF lightly. l will give evil
dence as to his monetary needs. l
will say he needed the money from
the sale of the treaty to save Clichy
for his father. That will touch the
judges hearts, that filial piety. And
you shall be freed. l will withdraw
my charge he went on, watching my
face eagerly. "And l will pay you
the fifty thousand francs l promised
you, even If you do not obtain the
bonds. You will be rich, you will"
l could not feel any sentiment but
pity at the aspect of this miserable old
man, desperately striving to free him
self from the meshes of his own net
Monsieur Magniff," 1 said quietly,
you will go on my bail at once, and
l shall depart for the Lparis. Other
wise your son shall be arrested within
an hour Which shall 1t be-"
He fell to pleading then; he offered
me double the reward, fabulous gifts.
His love for his son seemed stronger
than his cupidity. At last he was COM
PEELED to face the issue.
you swear to give the government
no warning about Leopold before your
departure?" he asked, cringing before
me. you will allow him the six days
in which to fleeT'
HE can go to the ends of the earth
for all l care" l responded. Il do
not want vengeance upon him, miser-
able scoundrel that he is. Leave him
to the future Some day his evil
deeds will recoil on him. Come, you
agree?"
Magniff drew in a deep sigh and
submitted.
Il accept" ;" he answered. But ma
demoiselle, you will remember that
the bonds are miner"
X "Assuredly," answered.
He stumbled weakly from my pres
ence and out of the room. The woman
seized my hands again and kissed
them passionately.
"At Scouto, OF the coast Of Cor
sica," she whispered. HE Will go
with you eagerly, If he is promised
immunity"
"And what is your reward?" asked
curiously.
The woman looked at me strangely.
"Is it not enough that shall see my
man again and win him from that
woman who stole his heart from me?"
she asked, with pathetic dignity. you
do not understand, lady? All, but
when you are married-then you will
know"
She followed Magnifr out of the
room.
Within an hour my bail had been
formally accepted and l was at lib
erty. Magniff obtained hasty inter
view with the Minister of War, at
which immunity for Zeuxis was prom
ised, in case he should offer satisfac-
tory evidence against the principal
conspirator, whose name the banker
did not diYulge. Magniff was a power
in France, and his word was ample.
The sun was not yet high when
walked out Of my prison doors.
had seen nobody; the magic Of Mag
niffs word had suficed to set me
free After all, though 50 much had
been done, the government had no
special interest in me. They were
sure that they had in Charles the
real traitor; was but an accessory,
and. they shrewdly surmised, 1 think.
that was to turn states evidence and
bring the rest of the confederates to
justice.
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