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

"Impossiblc!' he said. "The
board Of inquiry is to convene at
that hour, and / must be present
to address them"
Perhaps it would be possible
to adjourn the meeting until after
noon" Lepine suggested.
Delcasse stared at hi min aston
ishment.
Possible, yes," he said; most
things are possible. But do you
know what it is you are propos-
ing?"
Il am proposing" said Lepine
boldly, '::that you permit nothing
to Interfere with the conference
which Crochard requests"
But Crochard-who is Gro
chard that | should disturb all my
arrangements for him?"
II will tell you who he is, SIR"
said Lepine, gently; she is the
man whom, next to yourself, I con.
slider the most remarkable in
France"
Delcasse softened. The compli-
ment was, perhaps not delicate,
but it was at least deserved.
You believe that?" he said.
Yes, | do believe it. | must
tell you more of Crochard, some
day. Beside him, l am a mere
bungler-I realize it more deeply
each time | meet him. And | as
sure You that | am not one to un.
derestimate myself"
Delcasse looked at him with a
little smile.
1T seems to me that your note
has changed he said. This
morning"
II have seen Crochard since
them" explained Lepine, simply.
'And you are in earnest about
this conference?"
I'm deadly earnest, sir. So is
Crochard."
Delcasse pondered a moment.
You may bring him here at Z
O'Clock tonight" he said, finally.
"That is the first moment 1 have
at leisure"
ut will not do, M. Delcasse,"
said Lepine, firmly. "The other
inquiry must wait. 1t is not that
inquiry which is important, it is
this one"
Again the minister stared.
But it seems to me that you
are telling me what I must do, he
said. Explain yourself"
"Your official inquiry" an
swered Lepine boldly, ''for all the
famous men who take part in it,
will discover nothing-it will be
like that other inquiry into the af-
fair Of the Jena"
"And what will yours dis
cover"
ut is not mine-it is Gro
chard's," Lepine corrected. "It is
he who is in command. And it
seems to me that he has already
made a beginning. | am con
WINGED that he has something more
to tell us. He has charged me to
secure answers to two questions"
What are they?"
whether there are any wire
less stations in the town, or in the
neighborhood. and whether there
has recently been any peculiar in
reference with the working of the
instruments on our battleships."
"Ah!' said Delcasse, whose X
preston had changed from irrita-
ton to n of absorbed attention.
$50 he has thought Of that, also!'
and he fellin a moments revery
Very we'll, Lepine," he added.
II believe that you are right. I
will arrange for the president to
open the sitting, and | will sum
mon the man who can answer the
questions.
He rang for his secretary, and
5Lepine fastened away to secure
the closed carriage. He smiled to
himself as he did so. How incredu-
lous Pigot and all the rest would
be should they ever hear that their
chief had obeyed blindly the in
structions of The Invincible, and
that the first minister of France
had altered his plans in accord
ance with them!
The carriage engaged and one
of his own men placed in charge
of it, Lepine took his station at
the principal entrance. to watch
the crowd until Crochard should.
appear. The corridors were
thronged with people hurrying
in and out. Lepine knew many Of
them, for a whole stat had been
brought from Paris to carry on
the business Of the state, and more