The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-07-02
PRoLoGUE-(continued.)

PROLOGUE-(continued.)
p
Genius that he was in the reading
Of mems minds, he felt that he knew
the result of that ten minutes deiiber-
alton. :. . And then What then?
/. In his Imagination he saw him
self supreme in power, glutted with it
"a king. an autOcrat, who had only to
lift his finger to plunge his kingdom
into destruction and humiliation. g.
And when he had done 1t, and the
country he hated was in ruins, then he
would claim his million and enjoy 1t as
a great man should enjoy q great re-
ward. -. Thus for the space of ten
minutes did the Count see visions and
dream dreams. That the force he pro-
posed to tamper with was a dangerous
force disturbed him not at all: he was
a dangerous man. That this scheme
would bring ruin, perhaps death, to
thousands of innocent men and women
caused him no quaim: he was SUI
preme egoist. All that appealed to
him was that he had seen the Oppor
tunity that existed, and that he had
the nerve and the brain to turn that
opportunity to his own advantage.
. and :. With quick movement
ne pulled out his watch. They had
had their ten minutes The matter
was settled, the die was cast. -.
He rose and walked across the
lounge. For an appreciate moment
the Count paused by the door, and a
faint smile came to his lips. Then
he opened 1t, and passed into the room.
The American was still chewing his
toothpick; Steinemann was still
breathing hard. Only Won Gratz had
changed his occupation and he was
sitting at the table smoking a long
thin cigar. TIL Count closed the door,
and walked over to the fireplace. -.
swell, gentlemen" he said quietly,
-swhat have you decidedT
1t was the American who answered.
at goes. With one amendment
The money is too big for three of us:
there must be a fourth. That will be
a quarter of a million EACH"
The Count bowed.
"Have you any suggestions as to
whom the fourth should be?"
"Yep," said the American shortly.
these two gentlemen agree with me
that 1t should be another of my coun-
trymen-so that we get equal numbers.
The man we have decided on is COM
ing to England in few weeks-Hiram
G. Potts. If you get him in, you can
count us In, too. If not, the deals
of"
The Count nodded, and If he felt any
annoyance at this unexpected develop
ment he showed no sign Of 1t on his
face.
II know Of Mr.. POTTS." he answered
quickly. "Your big shipping man, isn't
he7 / agree to your reservation"
"Good." said the American. LET'S
discuss some details"
without a trace of emotion on his
face the Count drew up a chair to the
table. II was only when he sat down
that he started to play a tattoo on his
Knee with his IeIt nanu. -
Half an hour later he entered his
auxurious suite of rooms at the Hotel
Magnificent.
A girl, who had been lying by the
nre reading a French novel, looked up
Mt the sound Of the door. She did not
sneak, for the look on his face told her
all she wanted to know.
He crossed to the sofa and smiled
down at her.
successful on our own terms.
Tomorrow, Irma, the Comte de Guy
dies. and Carl Peterson and his daugh-
ter leave for England. A country gen.
tleman, think. is Carl Peterson. He
might keep hens and possibly pigs"
The girl on the sofa rose, yawning.
"Mon Dieu what a prospectI Pigs
and hens-and in England! How long
is it going to take?"
The Count looked thoughtfully into
the fire.
perhaps year-perhaps six
months. +. 1t is on the lap Of the
gods