Evening star., 1933-06-20
CHAPTER XXXXIV.
RiccoIi Cracks.

N 1CCOLI sat up suddenly.
- lie Sage!" he said sharply,
"did you talk of me to Pedro
l. Maligni?"
"Oh, quite lot. Oh, yes"
lie Sage, you'd never hand me, a
Fellow white man, a compatriot, O
brother officer, you'd never hand me
over to this devil, Raisul, to be tor
tured."
You're looking quite pale, Riccoli, "
lie Sage remarked.
Look here, lie Sage, for Gods sake
tell me plainly, and let me know the
worst"
"The worst, Maj. Riccoli, is that you,
a French officer, are, for your own pri-
vate gain, traitor to France"
Answer my question, LIE Sage Have
you betrayed me to Raisul? And are
you going to let him torture me?"
Betrayed you to Raisul! No, Maj.
Riccoli, not Intentionally. Nor do I
propose to hand you over to him. I
am going to deal with you myself"
A look Of cunning came into the eyes
of Riccoli.
"The Kaid" he said. "Raisul may
have told him? Warned him?"
Possibly" agreed LIE Sage. Almost
probably, in fact. But Raisul takes his
own line-and it may cross that of the
Kaid."
And you have an appointment with
the Kaid"
Tonight" agreed LIE Sage. Now.
in fact"
Riccoli said nothing, but his face
spoke volumes.
"Oh, no" laughed lie Sage in answer
to Riccoli's unuttered thought. He
won't get me- Riccoli-though I'm bank
d. l-ls - Iaf hn hi h n
will Now I really must CO.
Picking up Riccol's pistol from the
table, LIE Sage went to the door.
"Bellemei" he called.
Otho entered and saluted.
(Which of your three is the stanch-
est, steadiest man?" he asked. THE
man with the best head as well as the
coolest courage"
"Legionnaire Mummery, sir" replied
Othc.
Fetch him in
"You see this officer" said LIE Sage
TO Munlmery, as Joe halted, saluted and
stood rigidly at attention before him.
'Tie is not to leave this room-alive.
Lock the door after me. and do not
open it until knock-three times, then
twice. then once. like this If any one
else knocks in the ordinary way, take
no notice whatever. If force is used,
and the door is burst open-shoot this
officer instantly-and then defend your
self. Understand"
Eyes, sir"
lie Sage turned to Riccoli
You'll find this man incorruptible,
Mai. Riccol." he said "Also prompt in
executing-orders. SO let's hope none
of your friends or followers knocks the
door down, in search of you. If all goes
well with me, shall see you again
later. if not-I am afraid the door will
be burst open by some one or other,
eventually"
Follow me, and move quietly" or
dered the colonel and led the way to
the barrack room.
Attention" ordered the senior ser
geant, as LIE Sage entered, followed by
Mai Langeac, who had joined him at
tho door.
Absolutely all right. Loyal, to a
man. was the report Of the latter. II
don't say that few of them wouldn't
have thrown in their lot with Riccoli,
if he had brought it off and then de-
clared himself. Anyhow, they're spoil
ing for a flght-as always"
well, I want three more, for my
lob" said lie Sage. You, Belleme, pick
me the three best men here--men you'd
like to command for forlorn hope, or
have with you in tight corner"
Otho called three names. Petrovitch.
Poussin. Soft
Good. Fall In outside-the six Of
you
Garry on, Langeac, and good luck
to you The Kaid and Raisul think
Riccoli is not going to double-cross them
until the rest of his column arrives.
And as they don't connect me with
Riccoli's show at ALL think we shall
bring it of without firing a shot.
Got 1t all clear? go and collar the
Kaid and Raisul-before they collar
me; and you seize all strategic points
meanwhile, main gate, magazine. store