Evening star., 1924-02-27
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr

Captain" inquired Chouteau. at
length, your luggage, your boxes
where are they?"
Meriwetner Lewis pointed to a skin
parfleche and knotted bandanna
handkerchief. which George Shannon
carried for him.
THAT is all / have left" said he.
But the mail for the east-the mall,
NJ. Chouteau-we must get word to
.The President has long ago been
advised of your DEATH" said Chou
teau, laughing. "All the world has
said rssG to y yon M1
1--WE bring them better news than
that. What news for us?" asked the
two captains of their host.
"News" The voluble Frenchman
news. The entire world is changed
since you left. I could not tell you in
a month. The Burr duel"
Yes. we did not know of it for two
years." said William Clark. We have
just heard about 1t, up river"
"The killing of Mr.. Hamilton ended
the career of Col. Burr" said Chou
teau. but for that we might have
different times here In Mississippi.
He had many friends But you have
1t was the dark eye of Meriwether
Lewis which now compelled his at
tention.
NO? Well, he came out here
through this country once more. He
was arrested last summer on the
Washington. The charge is treason
against his government. The coun-
try is full of this trial is to be at
Richmond. Even now it may be go
ing on"
He did not notice the sudden change
n Meriyer her IxRWfS' face.
"And all the world Is swimming In
blood across the sea-" went on their
garrulous informant. Napoleon and
Great Britain are at war again. Were
would be at the gates Of New Orleans,
that is sure. This country is sun
discontented. There was much In the
plan of Col. Burr to separate this
valley into country of its own: IN
dependent-to force secession from
the flag. Indeed, he was prepared
for that: but now his conspiracy is
done. Perhaps, however. you do not
hold with the theory of Col. Burr?'
Hold with the theory of Col; Burr:
sir?" exclaimed the deep voice OF
Meriwether Lewis. Hold with it?
This Is the first time / have known
what X was. 1t was treason. III he
had any join him, that was In trea-
son. He sought to disrupt this coun-
try? Agree with him? What is this
you tell me? I had never dreamed
such a thing as possible Of hirn!>
He had many friends" went on
Chouteau; very many friends. They
are scattered even now all up any
down this country-men who WIZ
not give up their cause. All those
men needed was a leader"
But, NJ. Chouteau," rejoined Lewis.
Il do not underestimate cannot!
What Col. Burr attempted was an
actual treason to this republic. !
find il difficult to believe that"
Chouteau shrugged his shoulders: -.
There may be two names for 1t,
And every one asked to join the
cause was asked to join in treason
to his country. Is it not SOP" Lewis
smiled the other. still struggling.
HE was my friend" said Meri-
wether Lewis. Il trusted him."
Always. l repeat. there are two two
me is this" Chouteau continued.
What halted the cause Of Col. Burr
here in the west? He seemed to be
upon the point of success. His or
ganization was complete--his men
were in New Orleans-he had great
lands purchased as a rendezvous be-
low. He had Understandings with for
eign powers, that Is sure. Well, then,
here is Col. Burr at st. Louis, all his
plans arranged. He is ready to
march. to commence has campaign.
to form this valley into a great king
dom, with Mexico as part Of 1t. He
was n man able to make plans, be-
lieve me. Eut of all this there comes
Hnthing. Why? At the last point
something failed-no one knew what.
He waited for something no one
knew what. Something lacked-no
one can tell what. And all the time
this is most curious to mel
learned 1t through others-Col. Burr
was eager to hear something of the
expedition of Lewis and Clark into
the west. Why? No one knows.
Does no one know?"
The captain did not speak. and
Chouteau presently went on.
why did Col. Burr hesitate, why
did he give up his plans here-why,
indeed, did he fail? You ask me
why these things were? 1 say 1t was
because of you-messieurs, you two
young men. with your Lewis and
Clark expeditionl It was you who
broke the Burr conspiracy-for SO
they call 1t in these days. Messieurs,
that is your newsr'
CHAPTER XIV.