Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-07-26

Lepine gazed at him for q mo-
ment, then pushed back his chair
and rose to his feet. The patriot in
him had triumphed.
Where shall the conference
with NJ. Delcasse take place?" he
asked.
Crochard smiled at the question
and at the little mans impassiye
face.
"Lepine," he said, "on /, my
word you touch greatness some
times, and [ find myself admir-
ing you! Let the conference take
place at NJ. Delcasse' apartment.
Oh, yes; you will have a closed
carriage waiting at the private en-
trance"
At II o'clock, agreed Lepine,
AT IL o'clock" repeated Gro
chard, and waved his adieu. Then.
as the door closed behind that
erect little figure, he sank back
into his seat with a chuckle and
touched a bell.
An inner door, concealed so
cleverly in the wall that even Lee
pines sharp eyes had not per-
ceived it, opened and a man looked
in.
"He has gone" Crochard said.
Bring some wine, Samson, and
two glasses"
The door closed, but opened
again in a moment to admit the
man, with bottle and glasses. He
placed them on the table, went
back to make sure that the door
was closed, and then sat down op-
posite Crochard. Why he should
be called Samson, unless in deri-
sion, was hard to understand, for
he was a mere skeleton of a man,
with a face like parchment. But
the brow was high and the eyes
bright and the mouth as tender as
a woman's s.
Crochard glanced at the label
on the cobwebbed bottle, and
nodded as he filled his glass.
"You are good to your friends,
Samson, he said. "Your health!!'
"Yours!" said Samson, and
drained his glass. Everything I
have is yours, my master; you
know that!"
Gwen your life?
You have only to ask it,"
Crochard looked at him. with
smiling eyes.
II believe you, my FRIEND he
said. Some day l may have to
ask it-but not yet. Did you see
the man who just left met"
1T was M. Lepine," said Sam
son, quietly.
"Did he e you?"
"No; but if he had, it would
make no difference. He would
not know me now"
Perhaps not" Crochard
agreed, and glanced at the others
wasted face. "And yet he has
sharp eyes and a wonderful mem
ory."
II will keep out of his way
said Samson.
0At worst, it is only a question
of another rescue; but avoid him,
if you can. You have a good sta
ton here, the business pays; you
can lead a quiet life-and, from
time to time, be Of use to me-"
"The last is the most import
ant said Samson, and filled his
glass again.
Have you learned anything
more of the white haired mani"
No; but / will know more be-
fore evening.
IT wish especially to find his
lodging. If he is no longer there,
/ must know when he departed
and where he went"
All that you shall know / will
see to it."
No detail is too unimportant.' =
shall remember"
And perhaps" added Gro
chard, "if things go well-for this
is an affair of great Importance,
where for once l I'm working on
the side of the law-I shall be able
to secure for you that for which
you have longed pardon from
the state, rehabilitation, so that
you can. resume your own name
and live again openly with your
family. That is worth working
for, it is notf'
sAh!" cried Samson, his voice
quiyering with emotion. IF you
could do that But it is impossi-
ble!a
It is not impossible ~ said Gro
Ichard, and struck the table with
his open hand. promise it!''
Samson stared at him his }ins