The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-12-10
TIE Pieces ola Fan

NJ
BY VINCENT SHEEAN
Published by Special Advancement With The
Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate
Incorporated
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO
Norton never could remember exactly
what was said on these points. The
whole thing had the imprecise but
positive effect of a scene played out
in a dream; it happened as a whole,
but it was impossible to tell what its
details were: no doubt some of the
events to which reference seemedsto be
no doubt, had occurred too long ago
to be nationally the subject of talk be-
tween the Marquise and the Foreign
Minister.
This telescope and anachronistic
quality, tissue-like but vague, gave the
thing it's essential unhealthy and thus
enabled Norton to contend, as he did
afterwards contend when he told me
about it, that he was constantly aware
of the barman inviSibly working out
crossword puzzles behind the appear
ance of the red lacquer cabinet.
The Marquise was fearful owe Can
ada, agitated over Germany, and
trembled with indignation against the
states Of Holland: At n point she
a table in the middle Of the room.
From her writing desk she took a small
gilt box containing tiny black patches
for the face-mouches de toilette. She
stuck these onto the map at strategic
points, as a general sticks flags, to i'm
press upon Bernis the military necessi-
ties of the situation.
"These," she said, 1--WE cannot afford
to lose"
threatened provinces in the east of
France she took her fan from a chair
beside and ~gesticulated at Bernis with
it. Here it wa that Norton saw the
fan, in its ordinary shape and size,
intact for the first time.
IF that wretched Richelieu keeps
on ~retreating," said the Marquise, 1--WE
shall lose Alsace, and Lorraine, and
the Franche-C omte."
She counted the provinces on the
sticks of her fan, pointing a long ex-
quisite finger at each stick and frown-
ing with concentration.
1T is possible" Bernis said, that
the Marshal has no choice. His army
is without food, ammunition or shoes"
ping her fan together with decision.
TT is impossible. Send for Paris
Duyerney. Send for his brother. It is
their business to see that the army is
supplied"
Bernis coughed d~eferentially. He
knew land Norton knew much better,
having read the works of authors on
the subject, whereas Bernis knew only
the facts, that the Paris brothers sup
those of the Marquise, the require
ments of the arm coming far behind.
But any protest more violent than a
cough was beyond the Abbe's powers.
Even the cough was interpreted amlsS
by the lady, and she shook her ivory
fan at him fiercely.
and our enemy. You know this as well
as I do. If his army were the pest
equipped on earth he would still! say
that it had no means OF flghtlng-
this to excuse his own incompetence;
I would give a great deal to get rio
of Richelieu."
For a moment, as h shook her 1an,
Norton seemed to see, agalnst n e!aD-
crate fireplace, the deliberately Laced,
painted and brocaded person OF the
Due de Richelieu, snuff o IN nana,
sneering in a manner worthy OF his
~quarterings.
And as this figure dissolved against
the carved marble, its place was taken
so rapidly that it was almost slmuh.
taneous, the impression OF a mn
by men in numbers, crawling over a
hillside under a lurid umlnatl tIieir
white uniforms gray with dirt n tat-
tered into a e their hungry faces
smeared with blood.
The shocking intrusion was gone IN
a flash and the red lacquer caolnet
was as it had been before; Norton
alone had seen it; the Marqu1se n
Bernis were as intent as ever upon tner
high subjects of converse.
It was the Marquise,. of course, Who
introduced the n subject upon Whlch
frankness between them was lmpos-
sible. Bernis had thought OF noth,ts
else since the beginning, but a dutl-
frliv and fearfully waited for her to
speak.
.Now." she said, tapping the ian
upon one pale blue brocaded knee, I
Want to know what you have done
about the disgraceful pamphlets, Inc
work of that monster in Prussia"
Bernis coughed again. From n port.
folio which had rested at ms t lee
throughout the conversation ne took
IT do not see how we can prevent
them from appearing, Madame. e
said humbly. "They are printed at tne
Hague. We have evidence that hey
were written by the King OF PIussia
himself-in fact. there IS no doupt u
the matter. I have brought the latest
Of them with me to show you II you
like" un cold
the Marouise grandly. She had already
ner,lsed them all in secret.
What I wish to know Tri is how " t ciTy
c1,iate- as I hear, very freely, and to
cause me to be laughed at and vilified
from one end of the country to the
other" ,dd.d.
and what is worse, they are said
to attack the majesty Of the Ysi 9ip Rgsrnis.
Il tnln nv i'rs ate oaiy indirectly. The
chief Of them are concerned only with With
you. The King Of Prussia is s a we
monster and seems MS to 6e have Z sReo1ei
S,,ch things are not in nature and we
cannot fight against them" 49,,