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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 1918)
^ , me I DESTROYER « ■" —■* By BURTON E. STEVENSON CHAPTER XXXI.—(Continued). “To attack the fort at Stras bourg will not be easy,” said Cro chard, at last. “The Germans are no doubt already on their guard.” Delcasse smote bis forehead with his open palm. “Thai is it!” he cried. “Lepine, that is the explanation! It is not for war they prepare; it is in ter ror they withdrew their fleets into mid ocean and throw cordons of soldiers about their forts! At this moment, in spite of their hold front, the emperor and his minis ters are trembling! For of course they know that Paehmann failed —and that we succeeded!” “Undoubtedly,” Crochard •greed. “Paehmann would notify the emperor of his failure as soon •8 he regained consciousness!” “Not a pleasant task,” chuckled Delcasse. “He has my pity. What happened to the prince?” “The prince was released next morning.” “You have friends, then, in New "York?” asked Lepine, curiously. “I have friends everywhere,” •nswered Crochard quietly. “When I think of the kaiser trembling!” cried Delcasse. “Ah, what anguish must be his! I have tasted it, and I know!” Crochard took from his coat a long pocket hook. “This belonged to Admiral Paehmann,” he said. “I paused long enough to secure it, because It contained a document which I was most anxious to possess. Tt will interest you, sir,” and he drew out a black scaled envelope •nd passed it to Delcasse. The latter opened it, took out the stiff sheet of paper he found within, read it, re-read it, and then • stared at Crochard stupefied. “That is what one might call an Imperial power of attorney,” said Crochard, with a little laugh. “Tt Is sufficiently comprehensive, is it not?” “It is unbelievable!” cried Del casse, and handed the paper to Le pine. “And this was really given "by the emperor to Paehmann?” “I see no reason to doubt it. Though, ” Crochard added, with a smile, “I am of the opinion that Paehmann put it to uses and went to lengths which the emperor did not contemplate—perhaps would have forbidden.” Delcasse’s eyes were glowing 'With an infernal joy. “That does not matter,” he waid. “That was because his hand was forced. It is the emperor who Is responsible—it. is a risk he took. If he chose his instrument badlv, it is he who must suffer for it. 'You permit me to retain this •paper?” “Certhinly. Use it as you think best for France!” Delcasse was out of his chair, •triding upand down the room. “So the wheel has turned!” he cried. “You may not remember it M. Orochard to you it may bave seemed a small tiling—but six years ago, the emperor caused me to be driven from the foreign office because I did and said cer tain things which displeased him. Such was his power even here in Paris! You will scarcely credit it, but so it was. And now it is my turn! With this in my hand, all tilings are possible! He must have been mad to put his hand to such a paper but, after all, it does not Astonish me. lie is always doing mad things; he has no balance, no •elf control. Ten years ago. with An imprudent telegram, he almost pluliged his country into war with England and at a moment, too, ■when it. was wholly unprepared! Two years ago, a wild speech of .bis brought Germany to the brink of revolution. Last year, he near ly upset his empire by an indis creet interview which was sup pressed just in time. lie is always iu hot water, but heretofore his ■good fortune has been amazing. He has always succeed in extrieat ing himself. This time, it seems, .be has tempted the gods once too ■ oftben --the game is in our hands. •Our ultimatum I will prepare to ■ «?ay. and I will invite to my office •"the German ambassador, and 1 will band him that ultimatum, and 1 will say certain things to him which have long been biting at my throat for utterance, and then I will give him a glimpse of this doc •nment, and finally I will send him • away. Ah, there will be constcrna •tion at Berlin tonight!” Suddenly Delcasse stopped in front of Cro •chard’s chair. “My friend,” he «a*id, in another tone, “you have 33 I saved France. You must name your own reward. I grant it, be fore you ask it.” “Well, yes,” said Crochard smiling, “1 shall not refuse. At Toulon, on the quay opposite the spot where lies the wreck of La Libertc, a friend of mine conducts a cafe. It was he who noticed the two Germans—it was he who gave me my first clue. So he deserves a reward on his own account. He is an honest man, who has suffered unjustly. Four years ago he was condemned to prison for killing the betrayer of his daughter. He is called Samson. M. Lepine will no doubt recall the circum stances.” “I recall them very well,” said Lepine. “Samson escaped the day after he was sentenced. I could find no trace of him, until I saw him at Toulon.” “But you did not arrest him!” said Crochard cpiickly. “I promised to take no action until you and I had talked to gether.” “Thank you, M. Lepine,” said Crochard warmly. “I have al ways respected you as a man of your word. It was I who assisted Samson to escape, since his punish ment seemed to me undeserved; it was I who secured false papers for him and established him at Toulon. He has done well, but he dare not have his family with him. He loves his family, and without them he finds life sad. M. Delcasse, you have told me to name a re ward—1 ask that Samson may be pardoned.” “It is granted,” said Delcasse, in a low voice; “but is there noth ing else'/ Is there nothing I can do for you, my friend?” Crochard had risen and he and the great minister stood face to face. “Yes, there is something, sir,” he said, “which you can do for me, and which will make me very proud. You are a great man, and 1 admire you. There are not many men to whom I raise my hat; but 1 salute you, sir, and I hope you will accept my hand!” Delcasse’s hand shot out and seized Crochard ;s and held it close. “It is 1 who am honored!” he said thickly. But at the end of a moment, Oroohard drew his hand away. “Do not idealize me, sir," he said. “I am outside the law; you and I go different ways. If for once, M. Depute and l have worked together, it was because France demanded it. We admire each other: we found that we possess certain qualities in common. But now 1 have done my part; the rest is in your hands. So I say adieu; our alliance is over; we are ene mies again—” “Not enemies,'’ broke in Del casse, quickly. “Antagonists per haps; but not enemies. I wish “No, do not wish,” said Cro chard. “My life satisfies me.' I have a certain work to do, and 1 am happy in doing it. But 1 ac cept your word -— henceforth we are antagonists, not enemies. Adieu, sir.” The door closed, and Delcasse, dropping heavily into his chair, gazed mutely into Lepine’s inscru table eyes. CHAPTER XXXII. STRASBOURG. A mile or two back from the Rhine, on the banks of the 111, stands (lie fair city of Strasbourg.1 Once she was proud as well as fair; but her pride has been trailed in the dust. For four centuries a free city, defending herself virgin like against all comers, for two centuries more the happy capital of tlie loveliest of French prov inces, she has borne for 40 years tlie chain of the conqueror and bowed her head beneath the lash. Hut she is French still—French to the very core of her; anil though her hands are bound, her soul is free! The oldest part of the town has changed but little with the cen turies. There are the narrow crooked streets, the tall half tim bered houses with their many dor mered roofs, and there is the grey minister, which has looked down on the city through all her for tunes. To the north lie the newer quarters of the town, spick and span, and to the south are great arsenals and barracks, guarded by a mighty fortification. For Strasbourg is now one of the great strong holds of the Qer 'man empire. Haunted by tbe fear that France may one day come pouring up from the south to re gain her lost city, the engineers of the kaiser have labored with their every talent for her defense. Far flung, a circle of 14 forts girdles her round, and within them ram part follows rampart, culminating in the mighty citadel. What hope can an army, how ever great, have of capturing such a place? In the mind of every German engineer there is hut one abjective, and always one, asso ciated with it—impregnable. And yet, in this mid-month of October, there was in the air a; feeling of uneasiness,-impalpable, ] not to be defined or even spoken of—but present, ever present. From far distant posts of the em pire, troops had been hurried southward, until the usual garri son of 15,000 had been more than doubled. Every rampart was manned, every wall had its sentry, and through the streets patrols moved constantly, their gaze directed at the house tops. Their orders were to see that no one stretched a wire to any building; to arrest any one found doing so, and send him at once to Berlin, under guard. The restaurants, the hotels, the cafes—every place where crowds assembled—swarmed with strang ers, speaking French, it is true, but with an accent which, to acute ears, betrayed their origin and made one wonder at their pro-Gal lie sentiments. The French and German residents of the town drew imperceptibly apart, grew a little more formal, ceased the ex change of friendly visits. No one knew what was about to happen, but every one felt that a crisis of some sort was at hand. The commandant changed, in those days, from a bluff, self con fident ami brave soldier to a shrunken craven, trembling at shadows. If he had known where the danger lay, or what it was, he would have met it valiantly enough; but he knew scarcely more than did his humblest sol dier. He knew that the peril was very great; he knew that at any moment his magazines might blow up beneath his feet; he knew that what he had to guard against was the stringing of wires, the estab lishment of a wireless plant. Ev ery stranger must be watched, his registration investigated, his bag gage at all times kept under sur veillance. A stranger carrying a bundle in the streets must always be followed. Every resident re ceiving a roomer, a boarder, or even a guest from anotlirt1 city must make immediate return to the police. llow many times had the com mandant read these instructions! And always, at the last, he read twice over the paragraph at the bottom of the sheet, underlined in red; At all hours of the day or night, two operators will be on duty at every wireless station, their receivers at their ears, their instruments adjusted. Should they perceive any signal which they are unable to explain, especially a series of measured dashes, they will report the same immediately to the commandant, who will turn out his en tire command and cause a thorough search to be made at once of all house tops, hills and eminences of every sort within a radius of five miles. All wires whose use is not fully apparent will be torn down and all persons having access to such wires will be arrested and held for interrogation. SHOULD THE SERIES OF SIGNALS BEGIN A SECOND TIME. ALL MAGAZINES WILL AT ONCE BE FLOODED. This last sentence, printed in capitals to give it emphasis, the commandant at Strasbourg could not understand. To flood the magazines meant the loss of 1,000, 000 marks; besides, why should it be necessary? What possible dan ger eoidd threaten those great am munition store houses, buried deep beneath walls of granite, protected from every conceivable mishap, and whose keys hung always above his desk? He was complete ly baffled; worse than that, he felt himself shaken and unnerved in face of this mysterious peril. A copy of this order was sent to every fortress in Germany, and it is therefore not remarkable that, three days after it was issued, it should be iu the hands of M. Del casse. He read it with a lively pleasure. He was beginning to en 1 joy life again, lie knew that the i tone of his ultimatum had aston ! islied the German ambassador; ! but hi' also knew, that, while the German press still talked of the j national.honor and of Germany’s duty to Morocco, the inner circle about the emperor was distinctly ill at ease. The emperor himself 1 had been invisible for some days, and was reported to be suffering with a severe cold. After reading the order, T)el casse summoned Marbeau. “How do your plans shape themselves?1’ he asked. “Admirably, sir,” answered the wireless chief. “We shall be ready to start tomorrow.” “When is the test to take place!” “If everything goes well, one week from yesterday, at noon.” “You must use great care. The Germans are on their guard. Here is something that will interest you.” Marheau tool: the order and read it carefully. “If the magazines are flooded,” Delcasse pointed out, “we can do nothing.” “It will he something to have occasioned the destruction of so much ammunition,” Marheau re joined: "hut we are not taking that chance. All our instruments will be tuned and tested before we start. The Germans will hear those signals but once.” A little treinour passed across Delcasse’s face. “You believe in this invention,” he asked. “You have investigated it?” Marbeau shrugged his shoul ders. “I know nothing more of it than you do, sir. M. Yard tells me noth ing, shows me nothing, persists in working alone. He is most jealous of it. But yes—I believe; when I remember the 25th of September, I cannot but believe.” Delcasse was pacing to and fro, his hands behind him. “Sometimes I doubt, Marbeau,” lie said. “Sometimes I doubt. The destruction of La Liberte may have been one of those strange co incidences which sometimes hap pen. And sometimes I hesitate; sometimes I draw back before the idea of this demonstration. For Morocco Ave no longer need it; I have in my posession a paper Avhich Avill Aviu that battle for us. But then, when I falter, the thought of France's future nerves me. So I stand aside and let the test proceed. But I Avarn you again, Marbeau, to be most care ful, Do not neglect to provide a way of escape. Failure this time is of little consequence—Ave can al Avays try again; but under no cir cumstances must this machine fall into the hands of Germany; and for you and for Vard it must be dcatli before capture. He must not be taken alive.” “1 understand, sir,” said Mar beau, quietly. “If you think Strasbourg too difficult, it is not too late to draAv back. It. Avas, perhaps, unwise for me to select it.” “The more difficult it is, the more it will dismay the enemy,” Marbeau pointed out. “Let us try Strasbourg, at least. If Ave fail there, avc can try again some Avhere else.” “Well, I agree. Remember, you are not to spare expense.” “We have had to purchase tAvo houses in order to be quite se cure. ’ ’ , “Purchase a dozen, if you need them. The date, you say—” “Is one Aveek from yesterday.” “And the hour?” “The hour of noon.” Dclcase turned to the day on his desk calendar, and Avrotc a largo “12” upon it. “Adieu, then, Marbeau,” he said, and held out his hand. “My prayers go with avou.” (Continued Next Week.) t * * * * * * * * f * * * * * * * * * * * * ^ ^ *♦ ♦ THE GENEROUS THOUGHT. ♦ 4 - + 4 John Greenleaf Whittier. 4 4 God blesses still the generous 4 4 thought. 4 4 And still the fitting word He 4 4 speeds. 4 4 And Truth, at His requiring 4 4 taught, 4 4 He quickens into deeds. 4 PUTS HAWAII ON SUFFRAGE MAP Mrs. B. F. Pitman. Mrs. B. F. Pitman of Boston, known as the financial genius of the partv because of the numerous suc cessful bazaars she has conducted, watches eagerlv the Hawaiian suf frage bill in congress. It was, she ! who dug it out of its hiding olace i» committee and she has t.upu« w iu , early passage. H MB’S EREET1HGS The Heads of Canada’s Western Provinces, and Their Message. The United States having been in file great world's war for about nine j months, the touch of war’s spirit lias permeated the great commonwealth, and in every hamlet and district is felt and shown the interest that was to be expected from a people whose love of liberty and justice rises supreme to all else. Day by day their appreciation of what it means to give up now for the future liuppiness of themselves and the generations that follow grows greater and greater. There will be losses of loved ones, but there will be no badge of mourning to indicate the great sorrow that will be felt. It is realized that the sacrifice is the toll that is demanded for making the whole world better, and, sensing this, there Is preparation and willingness to sac rifice until tlie goal—the defeat and downfall of despotism—is assured. When the people look back, and see what Canada has done, and learn that Canada today is bigger and better than ever, they will take heart, and with in creasingly growing vigor carry on with a greater courage. Canada has been in the war for three and a half years. She lias sent 400,000 out of a popula tion of eight million, she has sub scribed to Victory Bonds over and over again and there is no sound of a whimper. At each demand that is made upon her resources, she meets it, and gets ready for the next. Recently her people were asked to subscribe 1300,000,000. She handed over $400, 000,000. Having already contributed 4utt,uuu soldiers, Canada was recently asked to approve of sending another 100,000. With a sweeping majority, consent was given. How the war affects Canada Is best shown by tlie willingness of the people to contribute. They, too, realize the great and noble part they are taking *n this great conflict. They are a unit :>n making the world better. Canada’s wealth was never shown to better ad vantage than in the present struggle. It possesses great wealth in the soli, in Its mines, its other natural resources, and wonderful riches in the tenacity and courage of its men and its women. The soil and the climate, and the har dihood and determination of the farm ing class to win. by cultivating and cultivating, growing wheat and raising cattle to build up the resources so necessary to carry on the war. are fac tors that will count. Probably the best word of encour agement conies from the Premiers of tile three great provinces where the bulk of the food products will come from. When one reads what these men, prominent In their country say. il gives inspiration. If there are any who may bo pessimistic of the future. th(> message that these gentlemen send forward should remove all doubt. Three anti u half years in the war, able to speak as they do, the future should look bright to those who may have their seasons of doubt ! Hon. T. C. Norris, Premier of Mani toba, says: “Manitoba has prospered exceeding ly during the year 1017, and (lie new year finds us not only still ready and willing, hut unceasingly able to hear whatever burdens the fourth year of the war may bring. ‘‘Manitoba farmers, generally speak ing, have never been in better condi tion to carry on. Out of her prosperity Manitoba is giving lavishly toward the winning of the war. Every appeal for funds lias met with quick and generous response. The people of 1lte Province are well settled into the collar in all war efforts. There’s a spirit of deter mination. of willingness to make sttc rlflces, of confidence in the certain out come, of which there is no room for pessimism. Manitoba will carry on." Saskatchewan laid a prosperous and successful year in 1917. and when Pre mier Martin sent out his New Year message it was tilled with an optimism that was fully warranted. “There is no doubt that (lie province today is in a better condition linnn cially than ever before. True, the ef fects of the town and city real estate boom have not altogether passed away, but speaking generally, the farmers on the plains and the merchants in the towns are in a better financial position today than at any previous time. Our people are industrious and progressive. “While wo have in some portions of I the Province a mixed population, edu cation and seieniiiie methods are mak ing rapid strides and we are looking forward with every confidence to a glorious future and the development of a people on the central plains of t'nn ada. of which the whole dominion and the Hritisli Umpire will have every j reason to be proud." While Alberta has given over to the war thousands of her virile.nhood, j thus taking from the farmer a large I percentage of its producers, it still stands up big ami buoyant. Tin* farm help thus temporarily removed means a demand for farm help and increased farm effort to till its highly productive acres, lion. Chtts. Stewart. Premier of Alberta, in it message to the people on the 1st of January, speaks with such buoyancy and hope of the future and so highly of the work of the past year. *luit his statement is reproduced. He ;ays: “The prosperity of the farming coin nullities is reflected in the towns and When Your Eyes Need Care Try Marine Eye Remedy woShui in k nuot go., Chicago cities by Increased wholesale business anti bank clearances. Wholesalers re- 1 port increases from 20 per cent to 2.> per cent and their collections the best in the history of the Province. Alberta being essentially an agricultural Prov ince at the present time, these condi tions are a source of great gratification in our people, and no doubt will he to < 'anada as a whole taking into consid eration the fact that Alberta forms no small part of the granary to which the Kmpire at present looks as the source of its food supply." Advertisement. -^ BROUGHT THEM UP STANE^yGr American Soldiers Misunderstood Cockney's Announcement and Wanted a Cut of That “Pie.” Stories of the Thanksgiving day din ner which certain tea shops and res taurants prepared for American sol diers in Paris are still current with guesses as to how many turkeys with their “fixings” were consumed. One of the best yarns is told of a party of Uncle Sam’s engineers who had their spread at an English tea place near the Madeline, where an elaborate menu at a fixed price had been advertised. The soldier boys came early afltt ate steadily and thoroughly. Their per sistence and failure to show any signs of faltering begat* to get on the nerves of the little cockney waiter. 4 After serving the second or third round of dessert and filling the coffee cups several times he became quite jumpy as the boys showed no signs of their intention to leave the table. Then he had an idea—such as it was—lie would suggest it was time to settle for their dinner. "Py at the end !” he shouted. i*"^**» Every American soldier was on his feet in a flash. “Where’s that pie, cockney?" they demanded. But that waiter had started for Blighty. More Conservation. “In times like these when food Is so high,” remarked the Obsexver of Event» and Things, “a man thinks tw-ice be fore ‘casting Ids bread upon the wa ter.’ " The Quinine Thit Does Not Affect llcsd Because of Its tonic and laxative effect. Laxative Bromo Quinine can be taken by anyone nltbout causing nervousness or ringing In the bead. There Is only one "Bromo Quinine.” M. W. GBOt SB signature Is on box. SOc. A bushel of fun is sometimes fol lowed by a peck of trouble. When you climb a water wagon don’t ask for a transfer. ^ A WOMAN’S WAR TIME DUTY Every woman should help with bandages, socks or “kits” for the soldiers who are our defense on the tiring line. But many women are not strong enough to carry on their ordin- ' < ary household duties. You get strong, if you’re a tired-out or "run-down” woman, with Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Pre scription. And, if you suffer from any "womanly complaint” or disorder, you get well. For these two things —to build up women’s strength, and to cure women’s ailments—this is the best medicine to benefit or cure. Send Dr. V. M. Pierce, Buffalo. N. Y., 10 cents for trial package of tablets. Councii. Bi.uffs, Iowa.—"Through over-work I developed woman’s weak ness. 1 became all run - down, weak, nervous, could not oat nor sleep, suf fered with severs A pains in my bac^r and side aud beaF ing-down pains. For my ailment I took Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescrip tion and it was tlit means of restoring _ me to health and strength. It is a fine medicine.’’— Mrs Mary Yus, 3619 Avenue A. Ottumwa, Iowa.—"I had a bad easa i of nervous prostration. I was that waj I about four or five years. I took Doctor ! Pierce’s Golden Med i ical Discovery for about one and one half years when I stopped taking it be cause I was about well. I took no other medicine so it must have cured me. I have taken it several times since for other ailments, and have always been benefited by it. : I think it saved my life.”—Mrs. S, H ; Owkxs. 410 E. Fourth Street. Tok® Care of Your k orsrsi^l Nothing else will do a* much to h Keep them in flue condition as Dr. David Roberts’ R PHYSIC BALL and HORSE TONIC •>neo overy three months—makes i sleek coat, prevents worms, etc. 'Head the Practical Home Veterinarian s*nd for fre.- b««kM en Aborthiu In tom, If no dealer in your town, writ*' Or. Dju4 tiuoe ts’ Vet. 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