Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-08-09

! at least half an hour afterwards
We know that the signals were
sent automatically. Whyi Partly.
no doubt, because it was necessary
that they be absolutely regular
but also because the man who did
this thing-who is himself, per
haps, the inventor of the method
chose to make no confidants. to
have no accomplices, and he could
not himself be in the hut to send
the signals. Again you ask why.
Not because the danger Of discov-
cry, since there was no such dan
ger. / believe it was because il
was necessary that he be some
where else, directing from an
angle, perhaps, that other force,
so mysterious and SO deadly. |
seem to see two forces, travelling
in corfverging lines, as two bullets
might travel, their point Of meet
ing the magazines of La Liberte.
5At the instant of their meeting.
there is a shock, a spark as
though flint and steel met--and
the magazine explodes-first the
forward magazine, then the after
magazine, then the main maya
zlne-one, two, three! This is all
mere guesswork, you under
stand, Sir" Crochard added, in an
other tone, "but SO | see it. And,
after all, it is susceptible of
proof"
"What proof" demanded Del
-casse.
If my theory is the true one
Crochard explained, ''there must
have been, somewhere, another in
s%tallation to create the intercept
ing force, which, of course, must
also be transmitted by ether waves
as wireless is, if it is to penetrate
wood and steel. 1t must have
been within an hours walk -
probably half an hours walk-of
the hut in the grove. For remem-
ber, the mechanism there was set
going an hour before sunrise, and
the man had then to reach his
other mechanism, and have it
ready to start at sunrise. It is for
us to discover the place where this
second mechanism was installed
and where it probably still re-
mains"
Yes, that would be proof
agreed Delcasse thoughtfully /;
"and for myself, / will say that /
believe your theory the right one.
But you have not yet explained
the part played by the two watch
ers on the quay.
Their part was that of watch
ers merely said Crochard. nThey
were sent there to observe and to
report to their masters-as they
did"
As they did?s'
nurelyslt is evident, Crochard,
explained, that, if our theory is
true, they would hasten to report.
Imagine their masters anxiety UNI
til he heard from them As a mat
ter Of fact, their report was filed.
within Is minutes after the ex-
plosion- M. Lepine has it in his
pocket"
Delcasse stared, uncomprehend-'
ing; but Lepine, his face suddenly
illumined, snatched out his pocket.
book and produced the sheets Of
yellow tissue.
All, yes, certainly he cried.
WAS blind not to see it! The
report was in form agreed upon:
We continued our trip as planned.
AL well. You will understand.
now, SIR he added, to Delcasse.
the reason for the high opinion i
entertain Of this gentleman
But that message was sent to
Brussels objected the minister.
1T was sent srestante.' A man
was waiting at the postoffice to.
receive it and forward it instantly
to Berlin"
Delcasse's face was q study, as
he turned this over IN his mind.
What IS your reading Of the
other messagef" he asked. at last
MY reading, answered Gro.
chard, slowly, is that, at the last
moment, the emperor, appalled, at
the possible consequences. de.
|cided to forbid the atrocity. to
which he had, perhaps, been per-
suaded against his better iudp-
ment, or in . moment Of passion,
And il the message had ,not
been delayed, Ia Liberte would
have beep savedfD
Precisely that, sir
Delcasses lips were twitchinp.
You may be right he said
[thickly you may be right; but
~ seems incredible. After all, i =
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