The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-04-27
Chapter 38 RAISUL'S PLAN

some funny tricks. Surely one ol the funniest was to bring Raisul looking for just such a tool, across the path of Riccoli," Le Sage con- 1 tinued.
 'Raisul, who can pass as a Span- iard in Spain, an Englishman in England, and almost as 6 French man in France, is really clever really subtle, and therefore inf nitely more dangerous than his father, who is merely a first-class Robber Baron of the old pattern.
 And there again, strangely, 1t was Riccoli who brought Raisul under our more particular notice for he was watching and culti- vating Riccoli when was doing the same thing. have kept my eye on him ever since the year he be- came captain; for even then he was a very remarkable man. And even then had amazing boundless ambitions, and made no secret of them.
 You won't be too deeply cha grined and hurt, am sure, if ] disclose to you the fact that he of fered my own wife the same high destiny which he laid at your feet tonight"
 Margaret smiled
 T am a little disappointed, Colo nel Le Sage" she said. Tt takes a little of the gilt off the ginger bread for me"
 "Yes, but I am going to take the gingerbread from under the gilt for him." answered L,e Sage, and quite soon, hope.
 Yes" he continued. "A Corsican officer of Chasseurs d'Afrique, who thinks in kingdoms and empires is worth watching. Especially later, when his partner is the interesting Raisul, son and heir of the Kaid Of Mekazzen; and most particularly so, when later still, he intrigues hard, moves heaven and earth, we may say, to get posted to the least desirable spot in the French Afr can Empire, and that spot hap pens to be on the borders of Me4 kazzen."
 T wonder the French authorities didn't arrest Raisul,' said Mar garet.
 "Oh, no, my child, that would never have done In the first place there were no grounds for doing so, for it is not a criminal offense to be the son of ones papa; and in the second place, once I was on his track and had a pretty clear idea of what was on, should have been very sorry if the game had been stopped at that stage. Well Raisul fooled Riccoli, and Riccoli fooled Raisul, or each one thought he was fooling the other. Raisul saw his way to give France a hideous shock as well as gather ing in some very solid material advantages in the shape of the latest guns-very difficult to get hold of-rifles, and a large number of European-trained soldiers. Also officers and specialists, engineers, signallers, gunners and so on.
 Doubtless Raisul hopes that Ric- coli will be a perfectly invaluable tool and weapon until the time comes to break it-and that will be the time when the tool begins to turn in it's masters hand, the weapon to be two-edged. It may happen at once. Riccoli may show his hard now
 And then exit Riccoli." And where did Riccoli fool Raj sul?" asked Margaret.
 By pretending to be the tool while intending to be the master He hasn't the very faintest inten- ton of really serving the Kaid of Mekazzen. DO you know what he has come here to do? Nothing more nor less than to seize this Citadel ? "What?" asked Margaret. Cap ture the castle?'
 Yes. And whoever holds the Git adel holds the town And, of course the country. But Riccoh is not doing this for France. It is for himself"
 How do you know? How could you prove it?' asked Margaret.
 Know and prove? We'll, I know because I have known Riccoi and the workings of his mind for very long time; and because, thanks partly to you, Margaret, I know that his mind is working today as it worked when first he brought himself to my notice, through his proposals to my wife. But working now far more violently. That is how I know.
 And as for proof, the fool has convicted hi m self not only in speech and in writing, but in act.
 When he left his base and came to the borders of Mekazzen, he was able to pick certain subor- dinates to go with his column. So was I. And one or two of the peo- pie whom he has corrupted were planted there to be approached and. corrupted. -s
 Tt seems hardly believable," said Margaret.