Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-04-30

Brest, and at the same time telegram
was directed to the admiral command
ing the French iron-clad feet in the
Baltic to send an armored cruiser to
Brest with all haste possible, there to
await further orders, but to be fully
prepared in any event to take on
board certain goods designated in
cipher. This we knew in a general
way. though Speed understood that
Lorient was to be the port of depar-
ture.
The plan, then, was simple: but, for
an equally simple reason, 1t miscar-
ried in the following manner: On the
4th of September the treasure-laden
trains had left Paris for Breet. On
the 9Th the HirondelIe steamed out to-
wards the fleet with the news from Sc
dan and the orders for the detachment
of cruiser to receive the crown
jewels. On the 9Th the news and the
orders were signaled to the flagship;
but the God of battles unclaimed
tempest which countermanded the or
der and hurled the ironclads into outer
darkness.
So. for days and days, the treasure
laden trains must have stood helpless
in the station at Brest, awaiting the
cruiser that did not come.
Speed and / already knew the secret
orders sent. The treasures, including
the crown diamonds, were to be stored
in the citadel. and an armored cruiser
was to lie off the arsenal with banked
fires, ready to receive the treasures at
the first signal and steam to the
French fortified port of Saigon in Co
chin China, by a course already deter
mined.
Why on earth those orders had been
changed so that the cruiser was to lie
off Groix l could not imagine, unless
some plot had been discovered in Lo-
rient which had made 1t advisable to
shift the location of the treasures for
the third time.
Pondering there at the tent door
amid my heap of musty newspapers, |
looked out into the late, gray after
noon and saw the maids and men OF
Paradise passing and repassing across
the bridge.
A few moments later drums began
| to roll from the square. Speed. pass
ing, called out to me that the con
scripts were leaving for Lorient; so |
walked down to the bridge, where the
crowd had gathered and where IA tall
gendarme stood. his blue-and.white
| uniform distinct in the early evening
light.
| Attention." cried the officer, a slim.
hectic lieutenant from Lorient.
The mayor handed him the rolls.
and the lieutenant, facing the shutting
single rank. began to call of:
"Roux of Bannalec?"
Here, monsieur"
Don't say. Here. monsieur! Say.
Present. Now, RoIx?"
present, monsieur"
idiot. Kedrec?"
Present"
"Garenne!"
There was silence.
Robert Garenne!" repeated the Off
Ger, sharply. Monsieur the mayor
has informed me that you are liable
for military duty. II you are present.
answer to your name or take cOnse-
quences!"
The poacher, who had been lounging
on the bridge. slouched slowly forward
and touched his cap.
81 am organizing a franc corps" he
said.
You can explain that at Lorient.
replied the lieutenant. Fall In there!"
But l."
Fall in" repeated the lieutenant.
The poacher's visage became in
famed. He hesitated. looking around
for an avenue of escape. Then he
caught my disgusted eye.
For the last time" said the lieuten-
ant, coolly drawing his revolver. II
order you to fall in!"
The poacher backed into the strag-
CLING rank. glaring.
Now" said the lieutenant, you
may go to your house and get your
packet. II we have left when you re-
turn. follow and report at the arsenal
in Lorient. Fall out! march,"
The poacher backed out to the rear
of the rank. turned on his heel. and
strobe away towards the coast.
clinehed fists swinging by his side.
There were not many names on the
roll, and the call was quickly finished.
And now the infantry drummers raised
their sticks high IL she air, there was
sharp click. a crash. and the square
echoed.
march," cried the officer. The
crowd pressed on into the dusk. Far
up the darkening road the white Golf
fes OF the women glirHmered; the
drum-roll softened to a distant hum
ming.
A shape SUNK near me through the
dusk. furtive, uncertain. Lizard" |
gun on his ragged shoulder.
"You go with your class" asked.
NO, go to the forest" he said,
hOarSely "YOu shall bear frprp mo