The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-11-18
NEW of us with red blood in our
n veins ever lose our interest in
deeds of valor and adventure.

deeds of valor and adventure,
and Dumas Is master in his delinea-
ton Of soldiers of fortune-their fatal
craftsmanship, their matchless WELD
ing of sword and rapier, and their
hairbreadth escapes.
In "Twenty Years After" he pre-
sents his "Three Musketeers" some
what more matured and not as rollick-
ing as when we met them in their early
manhood, but just as ready to cham
pion the needy and unfortunate.
Louis XIII Of France Is dead. His
son, the king, is but ten years Of age.
Xhe mighty Richelieu is in his grave.
Mazarin is cardinal, and though but a
ghost Of his illustrious predecessor, he
holds almost absolute control over the
queen-Anne of Austria.
The conditions are opportune for q
story Of personal daring and bloody en-
counter.
Mazarin is an italian and is uni
versally hated. Paris Is leagued
against the ministry, and the soldiers
of the royal guard are attacked and
their lieutenant - Cummings - Is
wounded. Everywhere there are fore
bodings and cries Of "Down with MAJ
arin." The cardinal DISCUSSES himself
and inspects the city. He finds the
"Frondeurs"-the insurrectionists-in
full sway. Somehow he must secure
trusty servants or downfall awaits
ri ~
the musketeers, Is recommended, to-
gether with his three sturdy col
leagues. Count de Rochefort is brought
from confinement in the Bastile to tes-
tify to D'Artagnan's allegiance, and
Is freed by the mob while being taken
back to prison. Mazarin is In despair
and tells the queen that "the whole
world conspires to break their bonds,'
and D'Artagnan Is directed to find his
three friends and attach them to the
royal service. Aramis-Abbe D'Her
blay-is an ecclesiastic in love with
Madame de Longueville. He hates the
cardinal and refuses.
- Porthos-the giant-living in lux
ury as Monsieur de Valon de Bracieu1
de Pierrefonds, desires above all elst
TO be baron. He enlists.
Athos-Monsieur de la Fere-re
formed from drink and devoted to ,
young ward-Viscount de Bragelonn,
is still, as of old, noble-minde,
lover Of the people, and will not serv,
the cardinal.
Two for and two against Mazarin
therefore the musketeers make thei
way to Paris, where there is grea
excitement because Of a prophecy tina
Due lie Beaufort-the grandson Of
Henry Nv and the idol of the populac
will escape from the dungeon Of Vim
cennes before Whitsuntide. Beaufor
mates Mazarin and uses ingeniou
means Of ridiculing him. Grimaud,
servant Of Athos, Is set to guard hin
ana he, with Count de Rochefort, et
rect his escape; and D'Artagnan an
forthos. seeking to recapture hin
nave an encounter in which they ar
taken prisoner by Athos and Aramis
out are set free and the four pledg
mutual friendship. Meanwhile tn
preparations for insurrection are ir
,ehsified and new ally of the popr
iace cause Is found In Able Scarro
the queens invalid" who Is In cor
.rol OF the mendicaNs Of Paris, an
whose pension has been cut Off
Mazarin. Another important chara,
Is also introduced at this junctur
w wounded soldier calls for prizes
ana ne who responds proves to be tn
monk Mordaunt, desperate chara,
yer whose sole aim Is to avenge tn
, "rath OF his mother, in which tn
Ihree Musketeers" participate,
learning from the man to whom h
m'histered that he had been the e,
ecutioner Of Milady, Mordaunt stat