Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-04-06
CHAPTER XXI.
Eiation and Cesnair.

abroad attfred in frock coat and shin.
ing topper, or lending the dignity OF
| his presence to some formal function
which appertained unto his office, NJ
| Hector Ducroy cut an imposing figure
Abed-it was sadly otherwise.
| Lanyard switched on the bedside
light, turning it so that it struck full
| upon the face Of the sleeper, and as he
| sat down he smiled.
The minister of war lay upon his
| back, his distinguished corpulence Sc
verely dislocating the chaste simplicity
| Of the bedclothing. Athwart his shelly.
| ing chest fat hands were peacefully
| folded in gesture affectingly naive
His face was red, noble high-light
shone upon the prcmontory Of his bald
| pate, his mouth was open.
| To the best Of his unconscious abil
| ity he was giving a protracted imita
ton of dog fight; and he was really
| exhibiting sublime virtuosity-one
readily distinguished individual howls
| growls, yelps against an undertone
made up of the blended voices of ex
cited noncombatants.
| AS suddenly as though someone
wearying Of the entertainment, had
| lifted the needle from that record, ii
was discontinued The minister OF
war stirred uneasily in his sleep, NUT
| tered naughty word, opened one eye
! scowled, opened the other.
| He blinked furiously, half-blinded
| but still able to make out the discom.
posing silhouette of man. seated just
beyond the radius of glare-a quiet
presence that moved not, but eyed him
| steadfastly; an apparition the more
arrestfng because of it's very immo
bility
Rapidly the face of the minister OF
war lost several shades of purple. He
moistened his lips nervously with a
thick, dry tongue, and convulsively he
clutched the bedclothing high and
| tight about his neck, as though labor
| ing under the erroneous impression
that the sanctity Of his person was
| threatened.
| What do you want, monsieur| he
| suffered in still. small voice which
| he would have been the last to &C
knowledge his own.
| 4 desire TO discuss a matter Of bust
ness with monsieur" replied the in
| truder after a small pause. IF you
will be good enough to calm yourself
| -"
Il am per4ectly calm"
But here the minister of war verified
with one swift glance an earlier i'm
preston, to the effect that the tres
passer was holding something that
| shone with a metallic luster, and his
soul began to curl up round the edges
There are eighteen hundred francs
in my Ocketbook-about," he man
aged to articulate. My watch is on
the stand here. You will find the fam
lily plate in the dining room safe, be
hind the buffet-the key is on my ring
and the jewels of madame, my wife
| in small strong box beneath the head
of her bed. The combination"
Pardon; monsieur 1abors under a
| misapprehension," the housebreaker
| interposed dryly. Had one desired
these Valuables one would readily have
| possessed oneself of them without
| going to the trouble of disturbing the
rest Of monsieur. | have, however, al
| ready mentioned the nature of my er.
rand"
"Eh?" demanded the minister of war
What is that? But give me of your
mercy one chance to explain I have
never Willingly harmed you, monsieur
| and if | have done so without my
| knowledge, rest assured you have but
to petition me through the proper
| channels and l will be only too glad to
make amends"
"Still you do not listen!" the other
insisted. Come, NJ. Ducroy-calm
yourself. 1 have not robbed you, be-
| cause | have no wish to rob you.
have not harmed you, for I have No
| wish to harm you. Nor have / any
wish other than to lay before you, as
| representing government, certain
matter of state business
There was silence while the minis
| ter of war permitted this exhortation
| to sink in. Then, apparently treasured
he sat up il bed and eyed his untimely
visitor with glare little short O. true.
| uIent.
Eth? What's that?" he demanded
| Business? What sort of business? II
you wish to lay under my considera.
ton any matter Of business, how is it
you break into my home at dead of
night and rouse me in this brutal fash
| ion-er-" here his voice faltered-
with lethal weapon pointed at my
head?"
Monsieur will admit he speaks I'M
der an error, returned the burglar.
! have yet to point this pistol at him
| | should be very sorry to feel obliged
to do so. | display it, in fact, simply
| that monsieur may not forget himself
| and attempt to summon servants in
his resentment of this-I admit-un-
usual method of introducing oneself to
his attention. When we understand
each other there will be no need for
such precautions, and then | shall put
my pistol away. so that the sight OF it
may no longer annoy monsieur
ut is true, do not understand you,"
grumbled the minister Of war why
If your errand be peaceable-break in.
! to my housed"