The Arvada enterprise., 1915-04-01

|
ing the French iron.clad fleet 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 Brest. On
the 9TH the Hirondelle 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 a
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 | could not imagine. unless
some plot had been discovered in To-
RENT which had made it 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: 30 I
walked down to the bridge, where the
crowd had gathered and where II tall
gendarme stood. his blue.and- whit
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 shufiiing
single rank. began to call OF:
"Roux OF Bannalec!"
| Here. monsieur"
Don't say. Here. monsieur Say.
| Present. Now. Roux?"
Present. monsieur"
Idiot! kedrec?"
| Present"
''Garenne,"
There was silence.
Robert Garenne!" repeated the on.
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.
y am organizing IA franc corps" he
said.
You can explain that at Loricnt, +"
replied the Lieutenant. Fall In therc!"
But /"
Fall in" repeated the lieutenant.
The poachcr's visage became In
fiamcd. He hesitated. looking around
FOR an avenue OF escape. Then he
caught my Disguised eye.
For the last time" said the lieutcn.
ant. coolly drawing his revolver. II
order you to fall In"
The poacher backed into the stray.
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 Mt 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,
elinched 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 II !hc air, there was
n sharp click, n crash. and the saua..
echoed.
March" cried tho ofIicer. The
crowd pressed on into the dusk. Far
up the darkcniny road the white coli.
les or the women gliDmcred: tn.
drum'roll softencd to u distant hum.
ming.
shape skunk near mo through the
dusk. furtivc. uncertain. Lizard" I
said. indi'iorontly, He came up, my
gun on his ragged shoulder.
You go with your class7" T nsked.
No. 70 to the forest" he said.
hoarsely. You shall hear from me"
! nodded.
Are you con.ent7" ho demanded.
lingering.
Tho creature wanted sympathy.
though he did not know II. ! gnvs him
my hand md told him he WIN n brnv,