Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-07-12
CTIA1'rERoIv
THE ALLIES AT WORK.

made their way through the dark
and silent streets in the direction
of the Hotel du Nord. The peo-
pie who had leaped from their
beds at sunrise, wearied at last by
the emotions of the day and damp
ened by the fine rain which had
begun to fall, had gone to bed
again. Only about the harbor
were there any signs of life. There
the searchlights of the battle
ships still played about the
wreck, where squads of marines
were searching for the bodies of
their comrades.
The three men. their coats but
toned about there, their hats
pniicd down, hurried on in silence,
each busy with his own thoughts.
Crochard and Lepine were plan
ming the campaign; Pigot had not
yet recovered from his confusion
at the sight of these two working
hand in hand.
Five minutes brought them to
the door of the Hotel du Nord, and
Leplne applied to it a vigorous
fist. There was no response, and
he pounded again. At last there
came the sound Of a window being
raised, and a night capped head
was thrust out from the upper
story.
"Who is there?'' asked a voice.
Are you the proprietor?" de-
manded Lepine.
Eyes, sir"
"Then come down at once"
But what is wrong, sir?" STAN
mered Brisson, to whose fright
ened eyes those three dark figures
huddled in his doorway appeared
most sinister. "What is it YOU re
quireY'
"No NATTER" said Lepine,
sternly. "Come down at once
and open the door,"
The window was lowered and
some minutes passed. Had the
three men at the door been able
to see.inside the house, they would
have been amused at what oc-
Cured there, could anything have
amused them at that moment. AS
1T was, they merely stamped with
impatience and crowded closer to
the door, for the rain was falling
more heavily.
Brlsson retreated from the win
dow, his fat countenance fallen in
to creases of dismay, and plunged
back into his bedroom, where his
wife, who had also been awakened
by the knocking, was sitting up in
bed.
What is it, BrissonA" she
asked.
There are three men below, .
gasped Aristide, fumbling for his
trousers. They command that
descend at once and admit them.
There IS something which tells me
it is the police--the police at this
heur!'
The police?o and Madame Ga
Fbrielle cast a rapid mental glance
over their affairs. "Wal, admit
them we have no reason to fear
the police"
There is that little matter of
the wine from your nephew which
did not pay the octroi," Brisson
reminded her.
bah r. retorted Madame. who
was by Tar the stronger spirit lit
cannot be that! No one could sus-
pect that besides, even if they did,
they would not come hammering
here in the middle of the night. De
scend at once and admit them. AS
sumo a bold front, Brisson! Do
not let them suspect that you have
fear Go at once. Hasten! / will
coma as soon as have found a pet
)ticoat.H
Thus encouraged, Brisson de-
scended and opened the door, hold
ing a lighted candle above his head
and presenting as bold a front as
his not too courageous spirit could
muster. The three men crowded
past him, without waiting for an
invitation or saying q word, and
one of them took The door from his
hand and closed and bolted It. The
horrible thought flashed through
Brisson's head that were rob
lbers, bandits, ard he had opened
his mouth to cry for help, when
one Of them, the little, lean, grey
bearded one, with the fierce eyes,
spoke.
We belong to the police, { be
said. I'VE desire d few moments
conversation with you.
Certainly, sir, stammered
IBrisson, thinking, asS he met those
Ieyes, that perhaps he would have
lpreferred the bandits. Corne this
rN%tF = stIt