10 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY , AUGUST 21. 1898.
fiii vi ,
The Dciul llody.
The splendid success of Lo Breton's rldo
gave the millionaire n little relaxation from
his agonies of unrest ; for the present , nt
least , Wllkclm had bis work cut out , not
before but behind him. Vanslttart'a
breathing space was short. The frantic en
ergies with which the Germans threw them
selves Into the task of repairing their shat
tered bases warned him that what ho did
ho must do quickly.
And In order that the victory might bo
etrlklng nnd dramatic , ho himself must bo
there with the army , commanding It , he ,
Vansittart. Paris was no place for him.
His eagerness to set out became In a few
days a fever with him.
Iut he could not go.
First of nil , there was a whole world of
business , a whole cosmos of organization ,
which his tired brain had to arrange before
he could dream of leaving the capital. I
Secondly , by some perfectly organized and :
determined hostile agency , the chief railway'
lines cast of Paris were temporarily ruined
by viaducts and bridges being blown up.
Thirdly , Just as he was ou the point of
leaving affairs to take care of themselves
In order to reach the front by a circuitous I
route , the body of an unknown man was
found floating , all bloated and dlsflgurcd ,
la the Seine.
The body wag found at 9 o'clock on a
Tuesday morning. The same night Folllet ,
the prefect of police , was closotud with a
detective In ono of the small Inner rooms
of the prefecture. Ills sharp , angular fea
tures were bent In eager Inqulsltlvencss
close to the face of his aubordlnatc.
"Murder ? " ho said.
"Oh , I suppose that's It , " answered the
other.
"No marks ? No wounds ? "
"None. And the funny thing Is , the Ar-
rondlssemcnt doctor says the body doesn't
look to him as It death was duo to drown
ing. "
"Poison , then ? "
"No no poison , that's certain. "
"What was he ? "
"Ho looks to mo llko a German ; you
know those bullet-headed Germans , with
the back of the skull all flat like a board. "
"Only n llttlo piece of wet cardboard In
his pocket , marked in red Ink with a big C.
It may bo a C , or it may be a 9 , for that
matter. "
"This morning a girl came to give notice
that Bach , a lager beer seller , No. 1 rue
Musette , had disappeared. Bach's a , widower
ewer , nnd the girl's his sweetheart. A little
before that the body had been found , and
wo took the girl to see it. She said it
wasn't Bach , though it was like him. "
Folllct smiled.
"But I must point out that the girl also
Bald that Bach never dressed llko that.
The clothes were wrong. "
"Ah ! The corpse's clothes were peculiar ,
then ? "
"His hat was a little peculiar. "
"Then It was this hat the .girl meant.
In glancing in disgust at the bloated face
ho caught sight of the hat. That's it.
Tell mo about the hat. "
"It was a cap with a glazed peak , turned
down. It was found floating near him.
Stuck between the ribbon and the side of
the cap was a pigeon's feather. "
"And Bach never wore a cap with a
pigeon feather stuck In It , didn't he ? But
tell mo about Bach ; all the tame ho In
terests me. Did anything happen just be
fore he disappeared ? "
"No it seems not. At 7 on Friday even
ing the girl was with him In the parlor
behind the shop. Ho didn't seem , she says ,
quite at case a little fidgety , perhaps
rather a nervous kind of man she says
Bach is ho kept glancing at the clock.
At last ho Jumped up suddenly , and said
ho was sorry , but she must leave him
that night , as ho had an appointment which
he must keep. So she went ; nnd Bach has
not since been seen. "
"He shut up his shop to go , then ? "
"So it seems. Ho lived alone on the
premises. It's ono of those tiny liquor
shops UD Montmartro way. "
"It must have been a deuced important
appointment this of Bach's , Carnet ! " said
1 Folllet.
"So it seems , sir. "
"And in order to keep It , ho found It
necessary to put on a cap with a pigeon's
feather , eh ? "
"Yes If Bach and the corpse are the
fame. "
"They are , man. "
"And nbout "
this girl ?
"What's her name ? "
"Agnes Carbalx. "
"Where does nhe live ? "
"Hue Plgalle , No. 11. "
"Good. You nro to understand , Carnet ,
that this case is now in my own hands.
Come along with me. I am going to have
a look at Hcrr Bach. "
They proceeded nt once into a room be
hind , where the hat hung- among a host
of ghastly relics on the wall. Folllct took
it , nnd with n magnifying glass from his
pocket , commenced to cxamlno the feather
and every portion of the surface. Presently
an exclamation came from him. Ho had
found within the leather lining of the cap
a small piece of wet paper folded upon
itself several times.
"Ah , " ho said , "Bach's cap , you see , was
rather too largo for his head.Yet. . surely ,
this kind of cap will fit almost anybody's
head ! If ho took the trouble to stuff It
with paper , that chows that It must have
been not only too large , but very much
too large , and that again shows that M.
Bach did not purchase this particular cap
for himself. How think you , Cnrnut , that
this beer-seller of Montmar.ro came by a
cap procured by somebody else ? "
"Ah , sir , that I don't know. " replied Car
not.
not."No
"No , nor I cither , " said Folllct , "but that
Is what we've got to find out , you see.
Let's have a look at the paper. "
Fold by fold he opened the damp leaf. It
was ruled with red line and looked as
though it had been torn from an account
book ; on It were written some words whoso
blurred outline * were now all but illegible.
But by the aid of the glass. Folllflt was
ble to read them , nnd when ho read them
ho smiled. The words were :
"Three casks bock.
"Bottled , five dozen absinthe.
"Lager. 17 litres. "
"This , Carnot. Is a little bill of Bach'e , "
aid Folllet. "Suppose I tell you that It Is
a bill for beers and spirits will you still
doubt that the beer seller and the corpse
are the same ? "
"Well , no , sir , of course. "
"All right , then I do tell you so. And
now , the cardboard. "
Toll , too , he examined. It was small
bout an inch square dry and polling.
Out on it , quits legible was the red 9 or 6
with curving tall. Folllct put it Inta his
pocket.
"And now for Mr. Vansittart , " ho mut
tered.
CHAPTER VII.
Sfo. 11 Hue riKnlte.
It was now growing dark. Folllct de
scended hurriedly from his Interview with
Vansittart and in 'the place de la Concorde
sprang Into a flacre.
He told the coachcr to drive to the 'rUd
PJgallo , No. 11.
This street runs northeast and southwest
from the place do la T-lnlte , starting from
near the fine church of that name. The
Jalousled houses arc large , but decayed and
somber. There Is a certain mystery , a hint
of squalor.
No. 11 had a gloomy exterior. It was big
and the gray jalousies were every one
closed. In the courtyard there was no con
cierge.
But Folllet , penetrating a few steps be
yond the gate , was met by a girl , some 20
years of age , well figured , with dark face
and hair In disorder. She was quietly
dressed. Her eyes looked as If they had
been crying.
"I want to have n talk with Agnes Car-
hoix , " said Folllet.
"But I am she , monsieur , " said the girl.
"Good. I am of the police from the pre
fecture. You called there this morning , I
think. "
"Yes , monsieur , but "
"I just want to have a talk with you "
"Well , monsieur if that Is so "
Her eyes dropped. She was contused.
"What the devil , " said Folllot to himself ,
"is the matter ? "
"If monsieur will will step this way with
mo wo might sit together In the Cabaret
au Vrai Bruyant just yonder outside and
there talk. "
"Can't any one enter the house then , I
wonder ? " said Folllet to himself. Aloud ho
added :
"Really , but it Isn't worth all .that
trouble , you know. I wanted merely to ask
you a question or two about your sweet
heart , M. Bach. I may tell you at once
that wo have every hope of finding and re
storing him to you , it we can just get a tew
facts "
The girl's eyes leaped upon him.
"Of finding him really , monsieur ? " she
said. ,
"Yes , really why not ? These temporary
disappearances are quite common , you
know , In a place like Paris. Let us sit in
the room here a little and talk the matter
over. "
Still she 'hesitated a ooment Then
turned reluctantly and led 1he way.
As Folllet moved to follow her , something
slowly falling from above through the air ,
brushed past his nose. Ho caught It quickly
nnd quickly poked it into a pocket. It was
a feather.
The courtyard In which they had stood
was dark : but the room on the ground floor
Into which Agnes Carhalx row led him was
darker still. Folllet
placed his chair so
that , while ho remained In absolute shadow ,
a dim glimmer from the half-open door
made her movements and attitude dis
cernible.
But It was his nostrils and his cars ,
rather than his eyes , which were busy. He
had no sooner entered the room than a
singular odor greeted him. He bad no
sooner settled himself on the chair than a
singular sound fell upon his ears.
The odor was the fnlnt
, fetid odor of a
stable. The sound was a single one , re
sembling the stroke of a club thumping
upon boards. As It sounded through the
loom the girl winced.
"Well , now , about Bach , " said Folliet ,
with every sense on the alert. "You will
find that the questions I have to ask you
about him are not many , and easily
answered. First of all. how long have you
been ongagrd to him ? "
"I I " 8he said , In evident confusion.
"Come , now how long ? "
"About about two weeks. "
"That all ? "
Down In answer come sounding the club
upon the boards , a slnjjle blow.
"Yes ' "
that's all.
"And when were you to be married ? "
"In In a week. "
"So ? Really ? Not a very long engage
ment , then , all told. "
"No. But what has that to do with the
matter , monsieur ? "
"Well , in a case of this kind everything
Is of Importance , you know. Just answer
my questions you will find them easy to
answer. How long have you known Bach ? "
"About about three weeks. "
"That all ? He was anxious to be married
quickly , then ? "
"O , come , now , if the man Is to bo found ,
It Is clear that you must let mo know the
facts , you know. "
"Ah , monsieur , do not torment me ! "
She burled her face in her hands.
"Well , then , " ho said , "wo start with this
fact : That Bach was anxious , for some
reason or other , to cet married in frantic
haste. Bach or you. Which was it Bach ,
or you ? "
The mysterious sound of the club came
pounding In answer upon the boards. The
cowering girl was silent.
"Ah , you are not open nnd candid , you
see , " said Folllctt ; "how do you expect me
to find your lover for you ? Well , then , I
must nsk you something else. Was the
appointment which Bach had to keep on the
day ho disappeared an important ono ? "
"I suppose so , "
" ' ' "
"Only 'suppose ?
"I believe so. "
"Come , now ; that's bettor. You believe
so. Well , what has It all about ? "
"I don't know. "
"Very Well , then I shall leave you to find
your lover for yourself , that's all. "
"He was going to a meeting. "
"Really ? An assemblage of men ? "
"I suppose so. "
"He told you so ? "
"Yes , " In the faintest whisper came from
her.
her."An
"An assemblage of Germans ? "
"O , not necessarily Germans. "
"How do you know ? "
"He did not say they were Germans. Why
should you pitch upon Germans ? "
"Bach Is a German. "
"Yes a naturalized Frenchman. "
"And what was the object of this meet
Ing ? "
"You do not suppose that Mr. Bach told
mo his secrets. "
"It was a secret meeting , then ? "
"I suppose so. "
"Why ? "
"Because I do not know. I suppose I
was secret. "
"Ho told you it was secret ? "
"Well I suppose yes. "
"And you know nothing of Us object ? "
"How should I ! "
"When did you first meet Mr. Bach ? "
"Here , In this house. "
"So ? How came he hero ? "
"He was brought hero by a friend of his. "
"A German I'rimd ? "
"Well-yes. "
"Who knows you , also ? "
"Yes-bo lives here. "
"A "
lodger ?
"Yes. "
"Have you any other lodgers ? "
"About five. "
"All Germans ? "
t
"Most of thtm , I believe. "
"The house IB yours ? "
"Mine and my two sisters. "
"Havo you always lived here ? "
"Nearly always. "
"Your father's house ! "
"My unole's. "
"He Is alive now ? "
"He Is lately dead. "
"How long ago ? "
"Three weeks ago. "
"About the same time when you met Bach ,
then ? "
She lowered her eyes.
'
"Yes. "
Folllet rose. As he did so for the twen
tieth time , the club sounded its solitary ,
strange blow upon the boards.
"Well , all I can say , " he said , "Is that
you know a great deal more than you
choose to tell me. It Is very foolish If you
are anxious to find him , you know. I sup
pose you ore anxious ? "
'Ah , monsieur , find him. find him quickly
for me ! " she walled with hidden face.
"Well , " he said , "I won't hide from you
that we have a clew that his recovery Is
possible soon but "
He turned sharply In surprise. There
was the swift striking of a match behind
who marries flrct. You can guess the re
sult. "
" 1 seel" cried Folllct.
"Jeanne , at tlmo of uncle's death was
already engaged to bo married farmer , half
German , Lorralnor they say. She at once
writes to him to come Immediately ; some
thing prevents. Meanwhile Agnes , In great
hurry , goes nnd gets engaged ; man named
Bach know him well boor seller Mont-
martrc. What steps little Marie takes I
don't know , But the other two , frantic to
bo married , tearing out each Ciller's eyes. "
"That all you know ? "
"That's about It. "
"Thank you , Cazalcs. Shan't forget my
promise. Find out anything else of Im
portance to mo , and I make the tlmo six
instead of three months. Bon solr. "
Ho passed out. At the first street lamp
ho stopped , nnd drew from his pockut the
feather which had brushed past his nose.
Ho took out a magnifying glass , and bent
to cxamlno It.
"Yes , " ho muttered , "It Is a pigeon's
feather right enough. But the horse I the
horse living llko a Christian In the house !
What the devil can be the meaning of
that ? "
CHAl'TKIl VIII.
Thr Invention.
The three sisters Carhatx were very dif
ferent one from the other ; Jeanne was ugly ;
Agnes was attractive Marie the
; , 17-year-
old , had youth and beauty , but she did not
know of the clause In the will ; yet she , too ,
had n lover.
Why did not the Lorraine farmer fly as
with wings to claim Jeanne and the for
tune ? Day after day she wrote letter after
letter urging him to come to leave nil ,
and come , come. Ho answered , promising
ROUND FLEW Til E RACING TEAM.
him , and the room was flooded with light.
There approached him a girl , holding n
candlestick. Her face was long , thin and
ugly , and on her back was a hump. A look
of Intense malice was stamped on her fea
tures. Her left fist clenched with rage. Her
age was about 30. Folllet guested at once
that she had been listening In the dark to
the whole of their talk. Her eyes keenly
read her somewhat evil face.
"Why not tell the gentleman what you
know of this man Bach ? " she cried. "Your
lover ! Yes , and a flno lover for my father's
child was Bach ! "
The face ot Agnes was first blanched , then
encrlmsoned with rage.
"Look , you , Jeanne ! " she hissed , "one
word one little word against him and I
tell every syllable I know of whence the
pigeons come ! "
"Come , now , " said Folllet to himself ,
"this looks not ill. Between two sisters.
You are sisters , I suppose ? " he added ,
aloud.
"If you can call any ono your sister who
bates you , sir , " Bald Agnes.
"It Is you , " replied Jeanne venomously
"it li you who began It ! You covetous ,
greedy , mercenary "
She did not go any further ; t this point
her Invective was broken in upon by the
shrill whinny of a horse a whinny fierce
and high , and etrong ; it came from the
direction of the room where the club had
struck the boards , and where the stable
odor had arisen. Both the women started ,
with blanched faces. Folliet smiled.
He bad long since guessed that the soli
tary , slow , mysterious sound was duo to
the restive smiting upon the bare boards of
the hoof of a high-spirited horse. Now he
know. <
But be was infinitely puzzled. The plot
was thickening. He wished to be alone to
think.
"Well , I won't stay to witness your family
quarrels , " he said.
"Mile. Agnes , I can only promise that
we shall do our best ; 'and I think I can
give you the hope of seeing your fiance in
three or fo'ur days , at the furthest , "
He bowed and passed out of the room :
he reached the courtyard and became anx
ious ; he reached the gate and despaired ; but
as he was bending to pass through the
wicket into the street the expected hap
pened. Jeanne touched his arm ; she had
run otter him.
"Come tomorrow at 1 , monsieur , " she
said In a thick whisper ; "I will be here
alone and may tell you "
"Back quick ! " said Folllet. "your sis
ter "
"At 1 , " whispered Jeanne , and ran back.
Folllet looked up and down the street ,
then turned' to the left and walked Into a
small house , which bore on Its door the
legend"Knock and one will open. " It
was the Cabaret au Vrai Bruyant.
Folllct selected a seat in the least noisy
corner and ordered a glass of bock. He sat
trying to catch the eye of a big , burly fel
low with long black hair combed back stiffly
from his brow , dressed In black velvet , with
Wellington boots and a coarse jersey for
shirt. He was the brazen-lunged proprietor
of the Vrai Bruyant. Presently Folllet
beckoned with a flneer. The great swag
gerer approached him. They knew each
other.
"Sit down here , Cazales ; I want to talk
to you. "
Cazales sat near.
' 'Who ore these Carhalx young women ? "
"Carbalx ? Carbalx ? " sold Caialei , prod
ding remembrance.
"Yes they live three doors away , on
this side of the street , you know. You
must know them. "
"Ah , yes Carhalx ah. yeg. Three young
women. Uncle lately dead. "
"Tell me about them ; wby do they hate
each other ? "
"Hate ! Hate Isn't the word for It ! It's
the uncle's fault , too. They were always
good friends , till bo died. "
"Well , let mo hear It all you know. For
tip , I promise you that you shall find the
police all round the Cabaret pretty blind
for the next , ay , three months. "
"Well , you're welcome to what I know
about it from a party who should be In
the swim over yonder. The whole trouble
comes from the last will ot the uncle. An
old "hermit he was , crotchety , a ml er kind
of dog. There are three of ihem , iMarle ,
pretty little girl , flaxen-haired , about 17 ;
then Jeanne , the eldest , ugly , bitter-tem
pered ; and another one , I forget her
name "
"Agnes. "
"That's it. Lived happily , till uncle died.
Uncle In bli will left the bouse jointly to
the three , and In addition , 40,000 franca ,
which are to be ( be sole property of the one
1V
to be with her soon ; but he did not come.
There were affairs of far vaster importance
engaging , for the time being , this man's
attention.
Ho was a German , named Hans Schwartz.
Ho occupied , as he had told her , a small
farm and homestead In the neighborhood of
Gravelotte. A great part of his later lifo
had been devoted to the culture and train
ing of pigeons.
It was a nice question which of the sis
ters would marry first. Agnes had only to
discover that Bach was really dead in order
to seek and find a new and eager lover.
An hour after Folllet had left the Jhouso
of the girls Marie came In. She was en
gaged during the day at .1 vacherlo on the
other side ot the river. As she Bat down
she glanced at a clock in the room.
A lamp was on the table , and by It tat
Jeanne sewing with tight lips. She- did not
speak when the other entered , but she cast
upon her a look suspicious and evil. Marie
glanced secretly at the clock ; she said :
"Is there anything in the cupboard. May
I take something to eat , Jeanne ? "
"Hat "
off !
"I do not wish to take It off just now. "
At this moment Agnes entered the room.
"Don't you hear your elder sister talking
to you , you little Idiot ? " she said.
"It does not take two of you to oppress
a poor , miserable girl like me
"I am going out. "
"Out ! " they exclaimed together , In aston
ishment.
"Yes , out ! " she answered. "Cannot one
go out if one would ? "
"Well , this is coming to something ! " said
"BACH IS A GERMAN ? "
Agnes. "And whore , If you please , are you
going to at this hour of the night ? "
Marie averted her head. She did not
answer. Ten thousand elder sisters would
have found It difficult to keep her Indoors
that night. She had an appointment.
All this tlmo she held ono hand behind
her , on the handle of the door. In her
pocket was a note which she was longing to
finger and feel , and cover with kisses.
At the announcement that Marie was going
out Jeannle , the shrewder of the two elder
sisters , stood still nnd turned slightly pale.
Then she stepped near to Agnes and whis
pered In her ears these words :
"Let her BO. "
But the Injunction was useless. Even
while Jeannle was whispering Marie , who
had slyly and softly turned the handle , slid
fugitive- ] through the door.
The two women looked into each other's
eyes a minute. Then Jeanne , with in air
of conviction :
"She's , gone to meet a man ! Walt ! "
In half an hour Marie was running
lightly within the gates of the Buttes-
Chaumont. She had seen with alarm that
she was a minute late. Behind her , tolling
and panting , came Jeanne , running also.
The gardens lay sombre and umbrageous
under the moonlight. They are a little bit
of Switzerland In the heart of Paris.
This was not the point of Mario's aim.
Rising high from the water Is a bluff cliff ,
crowned at the summit with a little round
temple of open columns of ebony. From the
bottom ono ascends eomo rising ground , then
over a rather frail and very long wooden
bridge , then up some rude clone steps cut
through the heart of the rod. , then you are
at the top , and the tcmplo is there , with
Us circular wooden bench for scat , the very
home of Cupid , the sanctuary of Venus.
Here the moonlight was uupreme , The
silence and the solitude were complete.
Marie , when she reached the bridge , knew
that she stood exposed to two eyes that
watched for her coming. She no longer ran :
she even tried to walk slowly , but , In reality ,
her pace wo * very rapid , In sweet , re
luctant , amorous delays , her wild young
heart was not yet proficient. Behind her ,
crouching nnd bending , came Jeanne ,
"Marie ! Marie ! " said a man's voice.
"Aht" In a dying sigh , cjtno fluttering
from her lips.
She was on his breast. t
"My soul ! " ho said.
"My llfol" she whispered , but ho did not
hear her ; the words perished In their faintIng -
Ing utterance.
These two people had only known each
other a few days. They had met by chance
in the street.
They leaned together over the parapet of
the little temple , and saw the water , nnd
the woods , and discovered that heaven can
be nothing else than a moonlit earth , where
ono is always young and amorous. He , too ,
was young not 23 yet his forehead was
bald at the temples , and down from his chin
and cheeks spread a dark-red fan-shaped
beard , rough and thick ; nnd his body was
heavy and bulky. He was a ne'er-do-weel ,
a student , a musician , one of the wild ,
penniless , Latin quartlcr sort , named Armand
Dupres. At the conservatoire , everywhere ,
ho was a marked man ; one said : "Ho will
arrive he will bo famous. " But he never
knew whence his dinner would come , if It
came at all. If ho had known whence It
would come , life would have been Intoler
able to him , at his age. How the settled ,
the tame man the clerk , the artisan could
endure to live , he could not understand.
Armand reposed upon Providence ; God fed
him like a bird ; chance took care of him ,
lest at any time he dashed his foot against
a stone. In ono of his wild midnight rev
elries with his Bohemian student-friends ,
when coals failed to keep the fire going ,
they broke up one of the few old chairs
In the room and threw the pieces in thu
grate. One after another of the guests
would rise and sup standing. Armand
called this "moving out by way of the chim
ney. " Yet this llght-natured person could ,
when he was sober , touch a harp or a piano
or a violin at chance moments In such a
way that some hertvonly dream-Image would
hint Itself In melodious loveliness to the
soul that heard It. He had a brain as keen
and shrewd as lightning. And the whole
world was one poem to htm.
Of this poem , Marie , lately found , was
the climax. Here the poem swelled into
song and music was the universe.
"Marie , wo must go to the mayor. "
"Whatever you will. "
"At once , Marie. "
"Wo are poor , Armand. Wo have no
money. "
He laughed.
"Why , you housewife ! Money is of no
Importance. "
"Sometimes , Armand , I knew a grlsctte
whoso child died because she bad no
money. "
"Well , but Marie , I "am so clever ! I can
make money whenever I like. Why , last
week only I Invented something are you
Interested In the war , Marie ? "
"I was , " she said.
"But not now ? "
" 0 , now ! What is anything to me now
but you ! "
"Sweot ! Well , but the war. I , Marie , for
a week was frantic , all excited ; then some
thing happened I had a musical fancy It
changed the current of my Interest. But
during that week I worked , I can tell you !
That Vnnslttart , the American , he seems tome
mo so great a man. I said , 'I will invent
him something more deadly than death , with
which ho shall destroy his enemies. ' And
for days , Marie , for days , I kept at home ,
saw no one , thinking of that one thing. "
"And did you Invent the thing ? " she
asked , with wide , wondering eyes.
"But yes ! It was not so difficult. I made
a model , too or half made It. "
"And when It Is finished , " she said , rea
soning to herself "then I shall know what
to do. Leave the rest to me. "
"So ? and what will it do , the little sweet
manager , then ? "
"I will go straight to Mr. Vansittart , and
I will tell him ! "
Armand caught her to him , laughing , kiss
ing her eyes , and ears and hair.
Jeanne , who was crouching a little below
them at the stone steps , rose to go. She had
heard all.
CHAPTER IX.
The Home.
Folllet spent a sleepless night. Ho Bat
on a hearth rug In bis own bedroom In the
Rue de Maubeuge , with his arms round his
knees and bis wrinkled brow sunk low in
thought. The day stole Into the room and
found him sitting so.
He was absolutely certain now that there
was a conspiracy , an association probably
large probably of Germans with a secret ,
unlawful , political aim , within the city of
Paris. A man with the reasoning shrewd
ness of Folllet could hardly have falled.'wlth
his present knowledge , to come to that con
clusion. His chain of deduction started from
Bach or rather , from Bach's cap ; trom the
feather in it , especially , and from the cir
cumstance that the cap had been so very
much too large for Bach. The Inferences
which he drew from these facts seemed to
him quite clear. And they were these : The
cap. with the feather in it. was a badge , a
sign of membership , a symbol of associa
tion. It was very much too large for Bach ,
for the simple reason that It had never been
specially bought for him at all ; but was
merely one of a lot purchased In the gross
for the members of the confraternity.
A folnt Instinct of all this had passed
through his brain from the first sight of
the cap. When Agnes Carhalx Informed him
that Bach had gone to a "meeting , " and a
"secret" one , he was no longer In doubt.
But "a secret meeting" of Germans at euch
a time ? It could not bo but that its object
was political.
And the cardboard in Bach's pocket
marked with the 6 or 9 was now no
longer a matter of mystery ; 6 or 9 was
Bach's membership number.
But from this fact his mind went on tea
a new conclusion. Ho reasoned that an as
sociation whoso members were known and
admltled by numbered tickets must be a
largo and far-reaching ono ono so largo
and so far-reaching that Us members were
not all known to each other by sight one
requiring formality and organization and
numerical computation. Another mind
would have reasoned : Since Bach was C
or 9 , there must be at least six or nine of
them. Folllet reasoned : Since Bach was
numbered at all , there must bo at least 600
or 900 ot them.
But If there were 900 of them they must
be powerful , resourceful , strong ! u means
to effect their end. It takes many men and
much money to destroy railways. With
this fact , then , he , the prefect of police In
Paris , found himself confronted.
But what was their end ?
That it was hostile to Franco was certain ,
but whether this hostility was personally
directed against King Henri , or against
Vansittart , or merely as a general agent In
favor of the kaiser , ho could only guess.
All night his excogitation lasted , and at
the end , had bo computed the currents of
his thoughts , he would have discovered
that , In fact , it was the horse raoro than
anything else which had occupied and
puzzled and excited him.
The horse It lay motiveless , like lead , In
his brain. One thing only ho decided , that
he would see It that day with his own
eyes , and discover whatever was the secret
associated with It.
Sharp at 1 o'clock he was In front ot thft
Carhalx gate.
Jeanne was waiting In the court yard.
"No one In ? " said Folllet.
"No. "
"Where is Agnes ? "
"Shopping. "
"This her regular hour ? "
"Yes. "
Folllet took a mental note of that.
They passed inward , near the room where
the here had been stabled. Ho listened for
the t > ound of the restless hoof , but heard
nothing. Jeanne ascended n stairway be
fore him. The whole house was dingy and
close.
"Why do wo ascend ? " ho asked.
"Agnes may return , " she salJ. " 1 am
taking you to my own room. "
She led the way down a passage , and In
a rather small triangular apartment , where
there was a bed , pointed to a sent. At the
moment when Folllet eat , there began on
the other side of ono of the three parti
tions the troullng sound of some cooing bird ,
and at once the monody was taken up by
another , and presently a perfect chorus went
rolling through the air in soft rotcp-joy-
ance , with swell and fall and vlbrant\5et
volume. * *
"Well , now , wo nro In pigeon-land
proper , " muttered Folllet.
Jeanne sat opposite him , eyeing him with
half-suspicious gray underglance. Her long ,
olive colored face was somewhat pale.
"Can you give mo any news of M. Bach ,
sir ? " she said.
"Only this , " replied Folllct , "that wo as
good as have our hands on him. It Is only u
matter of a few hours now. nnd wo shall
bo able to restore him to you and your
sister. "
Jeanne's pallor Increased.
"Restore him to me , sir ? I have nothing
to do with the man. I could give you In
formation against him , which would mean
the guillotine for him the week after you
find him. "
"Very well , mademoiselle , go on. I am
willing to hear , as you see by my presence
here. "
"I am a patriot , monsieur , " sold Jeanne.
" " Folllct with lifted
"You are ? replied ,
eyebrows.
" 1 love my country , sir. "
"Is that so ? "
"What advantage should I derive if we
bo beaten by the Germans ? I am a patriot.
I prefer , on the whole , that Franco should
bo the victor. This man , Bach , is a con
spirator , monsieur. "
"You don't say that , now ? "
"He Is. I can prove it. "
"Well , tell mo. "
The cooing of the pigeons had somewhat
censed , and at this point a gentle sound
of some movement , apparently accidental ,
came from the other side of the partition.
They both heard it. Jeanne started and
turned white.
"Hold ! You heard a sound , sir ? " she
whispered.
"I ? No. It Is your fancy. Go on. "
"I thought wo were alone In the house ,
but some of the lodgers mav have come
back. They have that room there. They
are Germans they may listen "
"Well , why not open the door and see ? "
There was a door in the partition , and
the key projected Inward. Jeanne rose at
the suggestion , turned the key , and peeped
into the next room. At the first sound ot
her movements nt the key , two men on the
other side had hurriedly slipped into a
spacious cupboard. While Jeanne's back
was turned to him , Folllet , on his part ,
with the quickness of lightning drew out
the key , which he could reach without
rising , and pressed it deep Into a lump of
wax from his pocket. With swift skill ho
had replaced the key in the lock and the
wax in his pocket , before Jeanne again
faced him with the words :
"There Is no ono there , sir. "
"Well , now , about this conspiracy ot
Bach's , " be said. "I need not tell you that
any information you can give of Importance
to the government will not go unrewarded. "
"I am not seeking a government reward ,
monsieur. But I make this stipulation be.
fore I go any further : That you promlso
me that M. Bach shall not be allowed to
marry my sister until after I am myself
married. I am quite candid , you see , about
the matter. I stipulate that. "
"I see. You want him kept In prison , In
case be la not guillotined , till " '
"Yes. "
"Well , I promise that. "
"Then I will tell you. For , why should
not I be a patriot , I ? There is n con
spiracy of over 1,500 Germans In Paris. I
know it , because "
She bent her lies close to his car. But
she got no further. A violent knocking was
heard at the door of their entrance , a door
In one of the three partitions ot the room.
A cry of Mademoiselle Jeanne !
Mademoiselle Jeanne ! News ! News ! Are
you there ? " came from without.
Jeanne In a white scare took Folllot by
the shoulders.
"Quick , monsieur ! " she hissed in flurried
fright , "behind the bcdcurtalns later later
I will finish "
Folllet hurried to tbo hiding place ;
Jeanne to the door. She opened it , stepped
outside and closed it behind her. Two men
were there awaiting her the same two who
had run hiding at her opening of tbo other
door. To reach this side of the room ( they
had made a wide detour through the house.
They bad been listening to her promise of
disclosure , and hurried round in tlmo to
prevent It. They knew the means. One
in bis hand carried a pigeon and a narrow
strip of paper.
"Mile Jeanne , " he said In the lowest
whisper , "sorry am I to have to tell you
this "
"What , what Is it ? "
"This pigeon you see here has Just arrived
from the Lorralncr , and tied round its leg
this slip. "
He banded her the slip. She recognized
the writing of her loycr , Schwartz. But
she could not make out its meaning. It
was in German.
"What is it ? You know I can't read It , "
she said ,
"Ho says , " replied the man , "that the
Five Thousand sent out by Vnn
slttart have r Idden In their de
vastating career right through his
farm , and left the place a ruin ; all is
trampled , harried and desolate. He Is left
penniless , Schwartz. The message Is In
tended for you. For the present ho cannot
move , nor think of marriage. "
Joanne had heard of the rldo
of the Five Thousand ; she did
not stop to think that their opera-
tlons wore long since
over that this mes
sage was rather late In coming. She be
lieved ; and she tottered backward , with
bloodless face.
The farm of Schwartz had , In truth , been
scorched by the flying flame of the Five
Thousand In its meteor course of destruc
tion ; but the message mentioning It had
boon brought by a carrier pigeon from his
colombier many days before to the con-
plrators at No. 11 rue Plgallo. They had
not so much aa taken the pains to mention
it to Jeanne until they saw how it might
be useful to their ends. The sisters.
Carhalx , were. In fact , permitted to know
as little as possible.
"My God ! " gasped Jeanne , with clasped
hands. All her hopes at that moment per
ished. In a few days Agnes would know
whether or not she should marry Bach
speedily. If she could not marry him. what
was easier than the purchase of another
husband ?
In a moment or two her pallor vanished.
Her face flushed with brutal rage. Revenge ,
above every other passion , swelled In her
revenge against the hand that had struck
her this 'blow , the hand that had hurled
the thunderbolt of the Five Thousand
straight at her heart.
She bad just been about to do this man
a service , and all the tlmo ho bad been
crushing her , She bad been about to aid
France ! And Franco had been rulnliu ; her.
What did zho care for Vanslttart , for France ,
In comparison with her triumph over Agnes ,
her laugh of glee.
"Curse them ! curse them ! " she hissed
through her clenched teeth.
She rushed at once toward the room where
she bad left Folllct , mad with rage. Folllet
had crept from his hiding place mrainshllo
nnd had been busy. Ho had taken the key
from the door between Jeanne's room and
the conspirators' , then crouched peering
through the * hole of the lock. Tha nlfihl that
met his eye wns , first , a window , open ,
and looking out nt the back of a house upon
nn open space. Then ho saw the sldo walls ,
crowded from top to bottom with square
wooden cages , In every cngo a blnl. Thu
place was squalid , Uttered with feathers ,
crumbs , seeds. As ho looked , there alighted
on the window sill in winged urgency ,
glancing in quick query round the room , a
feathered messenger. Wrapped round her
leg. bound with nn clastic thread , was n
narrow slip of paper.
Ono of Wllhelm's pigeons ! Folllet would
have given his left hand to know what was
written In that far-homo message.
But aa he gazed , nil his soul In his peerIng -
Ing eye , his quick ear heard a hint ot
Jranno's returning steps. Ho slid back be
hind the curtains.
The woman had lost all control of herself.
She deigned no explanation. She simply
pounced upon him in Intense exasperation ,
with the words :
"Look Lcre , get out of my house , my
good man ! You have no right here , you
know. "
Folllct was not surprised. Ho was cer
tain , beforehand , that ho wns dealing with
men of cunning and resource , quite capable
of twisting to their own purposes the pas
sions of n woman llko Jeanne.
"I want you to go away out of my place ,
I tell you. Will you co ? "
Folllet thought a second. Ho would go
If Jeanne allowed him to descend the stairs
nlone ; ho wanted to Inspect the house. Ho
would not go If she went with him. lie
made three stcus toward the door to try
her. Good ! Jeanne sank upon her knpcs
before the bed , hiding away her face llko a
wretch without hope.
Folllot descended quickly. Ho touched
with his flneer the revolver in his pocket.
It might bo that the horse was guarded.
Ho met no ono In bis descent. The house
wns silent nnd seemed deserted. The lower
ho went the more the somber obscurity ot
the place deepened.
Ho came to thu door , feeling his way.
For a minute ho stoo'l listening for the
tramp of the restive L'iof. But ho heard
nothing. A vague fear began to fill hli
mind.
Ho put out his hand and groped for tht
handle. To his surprise ho found the dom
unfastened. It was even a llttlo way opuv
Ho intruded his head within the aperturtt
The reek ot the stable greeted his nostril *
strongly , but so dark was the npartmont
that for the moment bo could lee nothing.
Ho struck a match.
Now ho know the truth. The horse was
gone !
At the discovery n pang pierced hla
bosom , and at the same time- something llko
a flash of light illuminated his brain.
This fact stood out clear and prominent
in his consciousness : That the horse , kept
cabined in darkness for ho knew not how
long , had been removed on the same day
when Vansittart proposed to leave Paris
or , perhaps , during tbo night preceding that
day.
day.Ho
Ho rushed from the bouse and pelted him
self into a passing cab , shouting to the
driver to fly to the Tulllerles.
It was already 2:30 : o'clock.
This was the day when Vansittart had
proposed to Joavo Paris "la the after
noon , "
When Folllot reached the Tullcrles in the
cab , Vansittart bad already gone.
He heard the news from a footman. On
his brow broke out beads of sweat. A cor *
tain definite suspicion ot evil was by this
time working within him. Ho bad not de
duced , but ho had guessed the truth. Ho
rushed at once round in the direction ot
the 8tables. He thus lost another- minute ,
and Vansittart had set out fully five Juln-
utes before he arrived.
Half way to the stables ho met a jaunty ,
jockey-llko sort of llttlo man whom ho
know.
"Tell mo , quick , " panted Folllet , "in what
did Mr. Vansittart drive away ? " . " y - -
"A brougham. " < t > ( %
"Drawn by what ? " '
The two blood Arab * , Tom and Best. "
"They all right ? "
"So , so , Tom was a bit mad this morn
ing. "
"Mad , man ? "
"Pretty mad. Couldn't make him out- ,
kept blinking in the light , his nostrils going
wouldn't stand in the traces neither. 1
didn't harness him. It was Karl , and Karl
Is stupid with horses , aa all Germans "
Folllet heard no more. Ho went bound *
ing across the quadrangle. Ho took a
cab.
Through the rather wild traffic of th >
Parisian streets went Folllet.
Soon , however , bo found himself in a
regular Babel of disorder. His cab ran Into
the wheels of a backing cart , to be crushed
into fragments ; but by an agile leap in
time , he saved himself. Ho dived Into the
crowd , dashing it aside. He gained the
pavement , and recommenced his bawling ,
shoving and urging bis desperate way among
them. The people made way for tbo dis
tracted man. In less than a minute n wldo
circular space , with a vast columnar monument
ment In the center , opened before hfm. It
was the Place do la Bastille.
Round the circular space ho saw , as ho
looked , two frantic , staring , black horse *
dajhinn , and behind them a brougham
nnd looking from the window of this
brougham the astonished face ot Vansittart.
Folllct did not now lose his bead. Hli
plan of action wns already determined upon.
Something llko what ho saw he had ex
pected to 'sec. Ho had the revolver In his
hand. Out first ho bad to discover which
of the two was the untamed horse taken
from No. 11 Rue Plgallo and substituted In
the stables ot the Tullerlrs for the Arab
Tom. Bess , ho knew , was merely following
an example and was harmless. Round flow
the racing team llko a ( lash of swiftness.
Every ono of the wide-eyed onlookers stood
paralyzed. They saw that the attempt to
stem the avalanche of fury would hav
been mcro simplicity of mind. Fcllltt
stepped out nlone.
The substituted horse wns on the off
side. But by the tlmo ho had determlnrd
this fact , BO Intense was the Dace , they
had shot past him before he could fire. Ho
ran the other way to meet them.
This was tbo fifth revolution of the
brougham , and with every revolution It haJ
tended nearer , In a narrowing circle , to thn
central monument. Before It came around
again the carriage bumped. Vnnslttart , his
coachman and the two horses were sprawl
ing on the ground.
Vansittart lay rleht In the way of the
horses , which at once began to flounder
and struggle to their feet. But Folllct
lodged a bullet In the brain of the Arab
and tbo next moment was suportlns Van-
slttart.
"Ah. M. I'olllct , " said Vansittart , blithely ,
"you ? Ah , thanks. "
He held out his hand to Folllct.
The nex' moment ho fainted. The arm
ho had held out was dislocated.
Just at the corner of the Rue do Rlvolt
and the Boulevard Sebastopol someone , who
was not known , had struck fiercely at the
plunging and restive Arab ilalllon. Be
Folllct heard afterward.
( To bo Continued. )
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