Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-06-28
him, and that the others spoke in
Vyhyc~a~c 80 noxo 81 III E-

about the middle of the afternoon,
there vas a tremendous crowd,
thronging the long platforms and
pressing against the barriers,
which threatened at every moment
to be swept away. The president
went out to say a few words to
them, but at the first sentence his
voice failed him, and he could on
ly stand and look down upon
them, convulsive sobs rising in his
throat. Suddenly a little red
legged Turco, weeping too, snatch
ed off his fez and shouted "Vive la
France!" and the cheer was taken
up and repeated and repeated, I'M
til it swelled to a vast roar. AS
the train rolled out of the station.
the crowd, bareheaded, was sing
ing the Marseillaise.
M. Delcasse's eyes, behind his
heavy glasses, were wet with
tears.
1T is the same people still" he
said, pressing the presidents
hand. "They are as ready to
spring to arms as they were 100
years ago. Now, as then, they
need only to know that their coun-
try is in danger!"
His voice haa grown vibrant
with emotion, for the passion of
his life was and always had been
revenge upon Germany. He made
no effort to conceal it or to dissim-
ulate. Alsace and Lorraine were
always in his thoughts. To placate
indeed, France had once
been compelled to drive him from
the Quai d'Orsay, where, for so
many years, he had been to his
contemporaries a sort of Olympian
in the conduct of her foreign af-
fairs. But even in retirement he
remained the most powerful man
in France; and now he was back
In the cabinet again, a giant
among Lilliputians, building up
the navy, building up the army,
strengthening the forts along the
frontier, increasing the efficiency
OF the artillery, experimenting
with airships, devoting his days
and nights to the study of STRAIT
egg, the discussion of possibilities,
always with the same idea, the
same hope! And now, this catas-
trophe!
As he sat gnawing his nails, the
president glanced at him, read his
thoughts, and shook his head.
mo, my friend he said, sadly,
1.-THE country is not in danger; or,
if it is, the danger is from within,
not from without. This is an acct
dent, like all the others"
lyon believe so9 But it seems
to me that we have had more than
out share of accidents!n
$50 we have" the president
agreed. "Let us hope that this
will be the last-that it will teach
us to guard ourselves, in future,
from u own carelessness."
England, America, Germany"
Delcasse went on, speaking half to
himself, these nations, with
navies greater than ours, never
have such accidents. Small explo-
sions, sometimes, it is true, wreck
ing a gun or damaging a turret-
but never destroying a whole ship!
Is it merely because they are never
carelessf'
There was the Maine,' the
president reminded him.
Delcassess hand went to his
monstache to hide the ironic smile
upon his lips. In that close
cropped head Of his, along with
many other such secrets, was that
of the cause Of the catastrophe IN
Havana harbor. In all the chan
~cellories of Europe, it was agreed
that the Maine had been destroyed.
BY the spontaneous explosion OF
her own magazines. Four men
kne wthe truth, and Delcasse was
onesof them. there had been q fifth.
but an assassin s bullet killed him.
In an instant Delcasse face
was composed, and his eyes, be-
hind their immense glasses, as in
scrutable as ever. The president.
SO ingenious and child like, must
never suspect the truth! "a,
Trne!' Delcasse agreed.
sTheresw was the Maine had Tor
gotten that, and he relapsed in
81 thoughtful silence.
Evening came, and still the
tram rolled southward. pa
Macon past Lyons pesf vienre,
ieVeryMheres greeted by sarpine
crcWds.A a EAelatter placs bal
cmlearo1e md With Is almost
impereeptiiabl6 nod StO Lepins 81