Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-08-02
The
DESTROYER
By BURTON E. STEVENSON

"At what hour was La Liberte
Destroyed he asked
1.-The first explosion was at
5 $50. There were two others. a
few minutes apart. The main
magazine exploded at very close
to 6 o'clock.
$50 that these signals began at
least an hour before and continued
nearly an hour past that timer
That is SO, SIR assented Mar
beau, in surprise; "but I can
imagine no connection"
do not imagine anything
broke in Delcasse quickly, his
voice quivering with excitement.
Perhaps there is no connection,
but nevertheless / think these sig
nails should have been reported to
me. Come in" he added, as a tap
sounded at the door.
His secretary entered and
handed him a telegram. Delcasse's
eyes were positively cleaning as
he read it.
Better and better!.. he cried.
ooh, this is a game after my own
hearth and he tossed the tele-
gram to Lepine. "Read it aloud!!''
he added, "that I may be sure my
eyes have not deceived mel"
And Lepine picked up the mes
sage and read:
Note Bls2se4R, 100 francs, one Of
series OF 800 such notes sent to Imperial
Bank, Berlin. September 8.
Lime. Governor Bank Of France.
There was a moment s silence,
Marbeau staring blankly, but the
other three gazing into each
others faces with shining eyes.
Perfect, perfect" murmured
Delcasse, and seized the telegram
and read it again.
"The next step, SIR" said Gro
chard quietly, lis to instruct ev-
cry bank in France to report i'm
mediately the receipt Of any of the
other 299!"
Delcasse drew a deep breath,
pulled a pad Of blanks toward him,
and scrubbed a few words.
See that this is sent at once"
he said, and the secretary took the
message and fastened away.
Then Delcasse did something
which he had not done since that
night, five years before, when
word came that England had
signed the secret treaty: he re-
moved his great glasses, got out
his shandkerchief, and deliberately
wiped his eyes.
Your pardon, gentlemen he
said, with a twisted smile. "This
is for me a great moment. You
know my dream! l believed it
shattered; but now I think that it
may yet come true!' He snapped
his glasses on again and swung
around to Crochard. "If it does,o
he added, IT shall have you to
thank! Proceed with your ques-
tons"
There are no more questions,
sir, said Crochard; "but we have
q little excursion to make. It VIII
consume perhaps an hour, and II
think that you will find it inter-
esting. NJ. Lepine has a closed.
carriage at the private entrance. I.
would suggest that General Mar
beau accompany us. He will be of.
great service. Can we start at.
oncef"
For answer, Delcasse leaped to.
his feet and seized his hat. There
was no longer in his mind any!
question as to the Importance Of.
this inquiry, and the comparative
nnimportance of that other one,
opening with much pomp at the
prefecture. In fact, he had for
gotten all about it!
The private entrance, YOU
sayin he asked. ssThen come this
way, and he led the way down
the private staircase. The car
rage stood at the curb.
Crochard glanced at the
driver.
He IS your man, Of course ~
he said to Lepine. Good" And.
as the others entered, he stopped
to speak few words to him. Then
he too, leaped inside, and slammed
the door.
The driver spoke to his horses.
and they we're OFF, along the Rue
Rationale, across the Place ST
Roche, through the botanic par.
|dena, past the marine observatory.
under the Porte Rationale, and
through the faubourgs. III The end
Oh 2Omitlntes, the town was left.
behind, and Crochafd stopped the
carriage got out and mounted u.s.
Ne seAtbeside thesdriver.
~ Hnsi6f ~ -