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BY MARY EVEREUX
mTH ILLUSTEATION5 BY DOM C WILSON
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CHAPTER XVIII
When Lafitte and Greloire were
ushered into Napoleons cabinet and
tho formers eyes fell upon him ho
liad for so many years longed to see
Iris first sensation was that of pain
The slender form was gone lost
in tliepersonality of the stout middle
aged man who lounging in a velvet--cushioned
chair looked at Lafitte
carelessly coldly as at an entire
stranger
His appearance and attitude bore
out Greloires remark that it was
said the emperor was strangely in
different to everything Every line
of the listless face and relaxed form
Indicated this
As the ex soldier approached and
bowed low a faint smile lightened Na
poleons repellent expression and he
said graciously Greloire I am
pleased to see you and to know that
you have not forgotten one who
thought highly of you in more pros
perous days Who is this you bring
with you
Sire Captain Jean Lafitte of Lou
isiana answered Greloire after a
moments hesitancy and Lafitte com
ing forward bowed respectfully
Jean Lafitte Napoleon repeated
slowly looking not at the former but
at Greloire I have heard the name
before but not to the wearers credit
I ask you Greloire and his voice
took a yet icier note you who are
his sponsor why Captain lean Lafitte
of Louisiana dare present himself
before me
I Jean Lafitte will answer your
question Sire I Jean Lafitte of
Jouisiana And I say to the man
whom my boyish heart adored and
whom my mans heart loves that I
-dare present myself to him because
I have ships gold men at my com
mand and all these with my own
life are his if he can find use for
them
There was a short silence and one
Tut tut hoy replied Napoleon
with all his old air of affection and
tapping the shoulder upon which one
of his hands still rested when you
have reached my years you will know
better than to waste time and
thoughts in useless regrets Let the
past go Jean my lad and look only
into the future
The emperor resumed his seat and
resting his hands upon the arms of
the chair stared straight before him
while Lafitte stood looking down at
the seated form
j And may I not do something for
you urged Lafitte making a final
appeal
No no Go you and Greloire
you must leave me for I feel it un
wise that you remain another mo
ment You can do nothing nothing
for me But I am glad to have seen
you both of you and I thank you
Jean my valiant ghost from the past
for your offer and your love
The emperor as he spoke leaned
forward in his chair and there was a
caress in his smile and tone as well
as in his touch upon Lafittes hand
If ever a time should come Sire
when I can serve you may I have
the honor and happiness of receiving
your commands was asked longing
ly
And you would come to me
Come to you said Lafitte in a
tone so emphatic that the emperor
made a gesture of warning Yes
Sire through all the ships England
might seek to interpose
If this be so Jean then perhaps
you may some day hear from me
Meanwhile your adopted country and
I hope I may some time see it is at
war with England my most implac
able enemy and the conflict may af
ford you an opportunity for freeing
the name of Lafitte from obloquy
And when this is done I would ask
of you to assume again your rightful
name the one belonging to your
I Jean Lafitte will answer your question Sire
that seemed heavy after the passion
ate voice had ceased Then an icy
tone made sharp contrast as the em
peror said These ships men and
gold Captain Lafitte how is it that
you come to have them
Lafitte found it difficult to control
himself to make his voice and bear
ing accord with the respect he felt
and had but now expressed for the
man whose sarcastic calm turned
back the impetuous torrent of his
feelings But the tone in which he
replied was quiet although husky
with repressed emotion
Despite Sire the tales which have
distorted my name and acts and
which I perceive have reached your
ears to prejudice you against me I
claim that what I have of property
was personally gained by legitimate
means in trading and also by war
fare which was perfectly honorable
in its way I have come with the
same heart for whose love you once
cared to pray that you let me serve
you if I may and die happy in win
ning back the peace of mind a reck
less boy threw away
A new light swept like a softening
hand across Napoleons austere face
Captain Lafitte you are right he
paid with an entire change of voice
and manner He extended his hand
and Lafitte with a rush of new emo
tions bowed deeply and pressed it
to his lips
As he raised his head the emperors
fingers tightened their clasp and he
rose to his feet
A man whose heart can treasure
such love for me during all these
many years is surely one who should
not be misjudged he said looking
up into the younger mans face
most surely not by me and at such
a time as the present
As he uttered the final words he
placed his arms around Lafittes
shoulders and embraced him
Sire
A volume of emotions spoke in that
single word
Sire my whole heart is grateful
for these words of confidence and
esteem No one can realize better
than myself how grave was the
take I made and no man would make
greater sacrifices to undo it
tliers title and estates
My fathers name and estates
Sire Surely these are but phantoms
of the past with which I Jean La
fitte can have no connection
The speculative eyes turned a smil
ing glance upon him as the emperor
said It is scarcely a safe thing to
aver what may or may not lie in the
future You who seem so desirous of
serving me cannot you promise me
this
Indeed yes Sire was the fervent
answer as the speaker bent to touch
with his lips the hand pressing his
own
Be it so Now and the clasping
hand released its hold you must
leave me and be sure to remember
my wish that you remain with Murier
until you hear from me Good night
Greloire Good night Jean
The gray eyes and dark ones ex
changed a last fleeting glance of part
ing as Lafitte following Greloire from
the room paused an instant in the
doorway to look back
Lafitte quartered in one of Madame
Teches dimity hung chambers slept
little that night He reviewed again
and again the meeting with Napoleon
until his brain was in a turmoil of
thought that banished sleep
If the emperor would go to Amer
ica might not he Lafitte be the
means of getting him there in safety
It was late when Greloire went to
sleep still half conscious of the foot
steps in the room next to his own
and he awoke to see Lafitte standing
by his bedside
It is scarcely an hour after sun
rise Greloire and I- regret to disturb
you But a messenger has just left a
package with me together with a
written message from the emperor re
questing that you and I leave the is
land now as speedily as possible
So said Greloire rubbing his
eyes Then it is best that I leave
this comfortable bed Did you say
the emperor sent you a packet
Yes And when I tore off the outer
wrapping I found upon the inner one
his request that I should not exam
ine it until we had left the island
What do you suppose can he the
meaning of this
Wait mon ami wait until jou
open the packet Then I must tell
you something that has escaped my
mind until now
Breakfast was soon despatched
and after thanking Madame Teche
for her hospitality her guests took
their leave pursued until out of hear
ing by voluble farewells and urgings
to come again
Murier walked with them to the
beach which they found deserted
with the full tide rolling in over the
pebbled sand in a hushed way as If
its mood were depressed
Lafitte drawing a scarlet handker
chief from his pocket waved it above
his head and the master of the fishing-smack
replied with a speedy lml
loa that came faintly across the
water
The fisherman beached his boat
near Greloire who now called to
them and stood waiting as they
strolled along to join him
The captain of the smack was
easily induced to land his passengers
on the French coast and they were
scarcely under way before the former
asking Greloire to accompany him
went below to open the package
It was somewhat bulky and as his
fingers broke the last wrapping a
collection of papers some of them
discolored by years others evidently
of more recent date fell upon the
cabin table And in their midst shone
the dull gold frame of an ivory
painted miniature
For a second Lafitte stared at this
then picking it up he looked intently
at the gypsy like face of the portrait
Ah mon Dieu How came the
emperor by this he cried choking
ly the sight of the beautiful face
which Margot had taught him to love
as the mother whom he had never
known making the past more real
than the present
Greloire who was lighting a cigar
said dryly Examine the papers and
if they do not tell you perhaps I can
do so
Lafitte glanced at them hurriedly
They comprised his parents marriage
certificate and all the other papers
together with the jewels that had
been in the small iron box so many
years ago There were also more re
cent papers showing that the prop
erty in Languedoc had been released
from sequestration and held in trust
by Napoleon emperor of France for
Jean son and heir of the Baron
and sometimes known as Jean Lafitte
of Louisiana in North America
All the documents were there show
ing in detail the legal proceedings in
stituted and perfected under the Con
sulate and confirmed under the Em
pire
As the last paper fell from his
hand Lafitte buried his face in his
crossed arms amid the heap of pre
cious things upon the table
All the past was rolling in upon
him a sea of living reality so distinct
and intense that the present appeared
dim and vaporous
What had but last night seemed
to him legitimate in the light of his
every day world as he met its events
now looked honor stained when con
fronted with the appealing sweetness
of the pictured face that had repre
sented to his boyhood all that was
best and purest and the present sight
of which had brought so vividly be
fore his mental vision the dimmed
face of faithful Margot and that
proud stately man he had known as
father of whom he could recall no
word or act dictated by other than a
sense of the highest honor toward his
fellows
And Bonaparte the idol of his
youthful heart but for so many years
doubted and mistrusted he had ob
tained and treasured these proofs of
the wayward boys position as that
fathers son and heir while the son
himself was risking in alien lands the
sacrifice of his rightful name and
heritage
An anguished silence kept him
mute and Greloire as if understand
ing this said nothing
To be continued
SOME PRANKS OF LIGHTNING
Fantastic Tricks Played Upon Unfor
tunate Victims
One of the fantastic tricks which
lightning plays upon its unfortunate
victims is a kind of flashlight pho
tography There are numerous in
stances of this which are more or less
authenticated but they seem almost
too wonderful to be believed One
of these is of a young man in New
Jersey who was struck by lightning
and was taken in an ambulance to the
hospital at once There seemed to be
no wound except a small mark on the
back but while the doctors and
nurses were examining him a picture
becan to develop on the skin Soon
before the wondering eyes of the
watchers appeared a perfect picture
of the figure of Christ nailed to the
cross The explanation is that on the
wall opposite the bed on which the
young man lay was the picture which
was reproduced on his skin
Another instance is of a man who
was struck by lightning and on his
chest were red marks resembling the
tree with all its branches under which
the man was standing when he was
killed From France comes the story
of a peasant girl who was driving a
cow from the pasture when she was
overtaken by a storm and she and
the cow took refuge under tho tree A
bolt killed the cow and stunned the
girl When she recovered conscious
ness she found on her chest a picture
of the cow she had been driving
The chatelaine of the castle of
Benatonnaire was sitting in a chair
in her salon when the chateau was
struck by lightning She was quite
uninjured but on the back of her
dress was found a perfect copy of the
chair on which she had been sitting
down to its minutest ornament These
are a few of the many strange pranks
which lightning plays upon us
GRAIN RATES CUT
BURLINGTON GOES BELOW THE
EQUALIZING BASIS
MEETS RATESJO THE SOUTH
The Evident Intention Appears to Be
to Make the Fight So Warm That It
Will Speedily Be Brought to Final
Determination
CHICAGO Charges for carrying
corn from Omaha to the Atlantic sea
board reached the lowest figure in the
history of the rate war Late in the
afternoon the Burlington announced
the following tariff for export
Cents
Omaha to New York per 100 lbs 14
Omaha to Philadelphia 14
Omaha to Baltimoie 13
Omaha to New Orleans 11
Omaha to Chicago 6
Omaha to St Louis 5
The Rock Island announced through
rates 1 cents higher than these
When the warfare between the lines
leading to the Gulf of Mexico and
those leading to the Atlantic sea
board by way of Chicago started the
Burlington tariff was 11 cents to Chi
cago The through rate was 25
cents to New York After the east
ern trunk lines had given authority
to their western connections to make
figures to get the business the Mil
waukee St Paul Great Western
Burlington and Rock Island issued
tariffs of 18 cents to New York
from Omaha and 17 cents to Balti
more The last slasn is a full 4
cents and shows the desperate char
acter of the struggle in progress for
the traffic of the corn belt The cut
is just twice as deep as had been ex
pected
On Wednesday the Missouri Pacific
reduced its rates from Omaha to New
Orleans from 13 to 11 cents It
was expected that the Chicago lines
would cut their figures to the Atlantic
seaboard to correspond but the Bur
lington not only meets the figure but
goes 1 cents better
At the cilices of the Chicago Mil
waukee St Paul it was said that
the cut of the Missouri Pacific had
not been met Considerable surprise
was expressed when the freight offi
cials were informed of the action of
the Burlington From the outset the
freight officials of the Burlington have
been opposed to demoralizing rates on
account of the attitude of the Mis
souri Pacific They believed the
trouble would blow over after a few
days but when the other lines made
a rate of 18 cents in connection
with the seaboard roads the Burling
ton followed The ast cut of the Mis
souri Pacific caused numerous con
ferences and the reductions an
nounced late in the day showed that
the Burlington people were bent on
bringing the contest to a close by
making it so extremely hot that every
one would be willing to drop
Committee Considers Legislation
WASHINGTON The republican
members of the house committee on
interstate and foregn commerce held
a meeting to consider railroad legis
lation
HAS HOPE FOR BILL
Judge Ncrris Wants Terms of Office
Changed
WASHINGTON Members of the
Nebraska legislature no doubt will
read with interest the full text of
Congressman Norris joint resolution
to extend the presidential term to
eight years as well as that of sena
tors to elect senators by direct vote
of the people and to extend the con
gressional term to four years This
bill is approved by the members of
the house committee on elections by
the president and by other congress
men The measure follows
Section 1 President and Vice
President The president and vice
president shall be elected for a term
of eight years No person who has
held the office of president at any
time within one year prior to the se
lection of electors for president and
vice president shall be eligible to
that office for the succeeding term
Sec 2 Senators Senators snail
be elected by the people of the sev
eral states for a term of eight years
Qualifications to vote for senators
shall be same as for members ot the
house of representatives One sena
tor from each state shall lie elected
at a general election held at the same
time electors for president and vice
president are chosen and one sena
tor from each state shall be elected
at a general election held on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in
November four years thereafter Pro
vided That this aemndment saai not
be construed as vacating the office of
any senator elected prior to its adop
tion
Sec 3 Members of the House of
Representatives The term of office
of members of the house or represen
tatives shall be four years and they
shall be elected at the same genciai
election at wliich senators are
elected
The Case of Tom Dennison
WASHINGTON D C The su
preme court of the United States af
firmed the decision of the supreme
court of Nebraska in the extradition
proceeding against Thomas Dennison
who is charged with having received
stolen goods in Iowa
H C Brome attorney for the Jew
elers Protective association and W
J Connell attorney for Tom Denni
son were in Washington last week
and presented the briefs of the differ
ent sides of the extradition case be
fore the supreme court
ADDRESS BY CZAR
Talks to a Large Delegation of Work
ingmen
ST PETERSBURG Personal as
surances of his intention to amelio
rate the conditions and remove the
causes insofar as they are economic
which led to the recent strike wero
delivered by Emperor Nicholas to
workingmen representing all the
leading factories of St Petersburg
who at his invitaaion journeyed to
Tsarkoe Seloe and were received in
audience in the hall of the Alexander
palace where he has his winter
residence
This interview race to face with
their little father in whom their
faith has not been shaken by tho
events of the bloody Sunday of Janu
ary 22 has had a far greater and
more assuring effect than any num
ber of proclamations by ministers
and governor generals and the work
men of St Petersburg are now gen
erally inclined to accept the prom
ises of Governor General Trepoff and
Finance Minister Kekovsovoff at their
face value
The gift of the imperial family of
25000 to aid the families and vic
tims of the conflict of Januuary 22
also has had an excellent effect and
as the news slowly permeates the la
boring classes of Russia it is expect
ed that it will make them content to
wait for the promised reforms
Like a wave caused by the falling
of a stone the strike movement how
ever is spreading over the great sea
of Russian industrial life and while
St Petersburg and Moscow where
the troubles began are now placid
the workmen of Poland and other
provinces are not yet calm and the
ripple has reached to far off Irkutsk
and other Siberian towns
Following is the czars address to
the delegation who represented the
employes of factories and workshops
at St Petersburg
I have summoned you in order
that you may near my words from
myself and communicate them to
your companions The recent lament
able events with such sad but inev
itable results have occurred because
j ou allowed yourselves to be led
astray by traitors and enemies to our
country When they induced you to
address a petition to me on your
needs they desired to see you revolt
against me and my government They
forced you to leave your honest work
at a period when all Russian work
men should be laboring unceasingly
in order that Ave might vanquish our
obstinate enemy Strikes and dis
graceful demonstrations led tho
crowds to disorders wliich obliged
and always will oblige the authori
ties to call out troops As a result
innocent people were victims I know
that the lot of the workman is not
easy Many things require improve
ment but have patience You will
understand that it is necessary to be
just toward your employers and to
consider the conditions of our indus
tries But to come to me as a re
bellious mob in order to declare yoirr
wants is a crime In my solicitude
for the working classes I will take
measures which will assure that ev
erything possible will be done to im
prove their lot and secure an investi
gation of their demands through legal
channels I am convinced of the
honesty of the workmen and their
devotion to myself and I pardon their
transgression Return to your work
with your comrades and carry out the
tasks alloted to you May God assist
you
No Talk of Peace
WASHINGTON The German em
bassy upon receipt of a cablegram
from the home government authoriz
ed the statement that there had not
been even so much as an exchange of
ideas between the Berlin and London
governments regarding the ending of
the war in the far east
General Matsumara Dies
LONDON General Matsumara ac
cording to the Tokio correspondent of
the Daily Telegraph has died at tho
front from congestion of the brain
He commanded the operation at Two
Hundred and Three Meter hill and
was decorated and promoted for hero
ism
May Replace the Drawback
WASHINGTON Senator Hans
brougi introduced in the form of an
amendment to the sundry civil jill a
measure which if adopted would have
the effect of repealing the drawback
provision of tho Dingley acf m so iar
as it applies to wheat
A War For Independence
ROMIi Prince G Hica of Rou
mania who has been elected by the
Albanian committee as supreme head
for Albianan independence was inter
viewed regarding his plans and the
purposes of the committee The prince
said his election meant the beginning
of a general revolution in Albania and
a bitter struggle to achieve the liberty
of that country He said he would in
person assume command of the Al
banian forces which he asserted
would be reinforced by 12000 Euro
pean volunteers
Postal Conspirators Lose
WASHINGTON The supreme
court of the Unittd States today de
nied the application of Machen Lo
renz and Groff for a writ of certiorari
in the case against them charging
conspiracy to defraud the govern
ment in connection with the Post
office department irregularities Tho
effect is to leave standing the deci
sion of the court of appeals of the
District of Columbia finding them
guilty as charged Machen Lorenz
and the Groffs were sentenced to two
years imprisonment
AN OLD MANS TRIBUTE
An Ohio Fruit Raiser 78 Years Old
Cured of a Terrible Case After Ten
Years of Suffering
Sidney Justus fruit dealer of Men
tor Ohio says I was cured byDoans
Kidney Pills of a severe case of kid
wm
ney trouble of
eight or ten
years standing
I suffered tho
most severe
backache and
other pains in
the region of
the kidney s
These were es
pecially severe
when stooping
Sidney jlstus to lift anything
and often I could hardly straighten
my back The aching was bad in tho
daytime but just as bad at night and
I was always lame in the morning I
was bothered with rheumatic pains
and dropsical swelling of the feet The
urinary passages were painful and the
secretions were dibcolored and so free
that often I had to riso at night 1
felt tired all day Half a box served
to relieve me and three boxes effected
a permanent cure
A TRIAL FREE Address Foster
Milburn Co Buffalo N Y For sale
by all dealers Price 50 cents
By taking revenge a man is but
even with his enemy but passing It
over he is superior--Bacon
In Winter Use Allens Foot Ease
A powder Your foot feel uncomfort
able nervous and often cold and damp
If you have sweating sore feet or tight
shoes try Allons Foot Eise Sold by all
druggists and shoe stores 121 cents Sample
sent free Address Allen S Olmstod
Le Roy N Y
The American Ankle
Our transatlantic cousins have cer
tainly cultivated to perfection the
art of looking dainty as they cross
the street Somehow they always con
trive to look attractive while engaged
in this usually unbecoming action
London World
Eye Strain in Children
If one remembers the fact that not
more than 10 per cent of all persons
have normal eyes and takes into con
sideration tho sensitive organism of
the growing child it is not difficult to
believe that many children suffer
from eye strain
Millinery Trade Not Popular
While women are invading nearly
all of the employments heretofore
belonging to men milliners both
here and abroad report a growing
difficulty in finding girls willing to
devote themselves to the art of mak
ing hats
London Policeman Is Fined
For unnecessarily striking a man
with his club a London policeman
has been condemned to pay his vic
tim 5100 and costs of court The
man had resisted arrest violently but
was on the ground when struck
Adulteration of Liquors
A New York physician says Tho
greater part of the whisky brandy
and beer sold in New York today h
chemically prepared and is absolute
ly unfit for the human stomach
A FELLOW FEELING
Why She Felt Lenient Towards tho
Drunkard
A great deal depends on the point of
view A good temperance woman was
led in a very peculiar way to revise
her somewhat harsh judgment of tho
poor devil who cannot resist his cups
and she is now the more charitable
She writes
For many years I was a great suf
ferer from asthma Finally my health
got so poor that I found I could not Iie
down but walked the floor whilst oth
ers slept I got so nervous I could not
rest anywhere
Specialists told me I must give up
the use of coffee the main thing that
I always thought gave me some relief
I consulted our family physician and
he being a coffee fiend himself told
me to pay no attention to their ad
vice Coffee had such a charm for me
that in passing a restaurant and get
ting a whiff of the fragrance 1 could
not resist a cup I felt very lenient
towards the drunkard who could not
pass the saloon Friends often urged
me to try Postum but I turned a deaf
ear saying That may do for people to
whom coffee is harmful but not for
me coffee and I will never part
At last however I bought a pack
age of Postum although I was sure 1
could not drink it I prepared it as
directed and served it for breakfast
Well bitter as I was against it I
must say that never before had I
tasted a more delicious cup of coffee
From that day to this more than two
years I have never had a desire for
the old coffee My health soon re
turned the asthma disappeared I be
gan to sleep well and in a short time
I gained 20 pounds in weight
One day I handed my physician
the tablets he had prescribed for me
telling him I had no use for them He
stayed for dinner- When I passed him
his coffee cup he remarked I am glad
to see you were sensible enough not
to let yourself be persuaded that coffee
was harmful This is the best cup of
coffee I ever drank he continued
the trouble is so few people know
how to make good coffee When he
got his second cup I told him he was
drinking Postum He was incredu
lous but I convinced him and now he
uses nothing but Postum in his home
and has greatly improved in health
Name given by Postum Co Battlo
Creek Mich
Look in each package for the fa
mous little hook The Road to Well
Yiile
