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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 1905)
0 . Hi Hi Ml N lil? npntlm'nti in the Hue raven Horace lliilyftt was Ht l'i eakfast. Hulyett was iiii'ifTa-iaHy attached to the staff of the Aii"Tl-in r. pr. setitatte In the French capital. 1 11 (rnifWhTc . in his twenties, only the fewest were uware tli.it the pmsirtly groomed young mail. l'l PMlKeil as ii me ' " 1 win the lmmiieiial"ii ss uf'his collars and tin- set of his cravat, was a man who had repeatedly been In trusted with cut ipi-ises of the greatest moment and undertakings of the most desperate character a man who "from the nettle danger" hid orten "plucked the flower safely." when failure would have been a calamity to civilization. Leaving Yule at 17, llulyett had disappeared for live years. When he tin tie. 1 up again he was the mas ter of a number of accomplishments and rrammed with a variety of knowledge which he would soarrely have picked up at college. Hut for the work on which h was to be employed no better training could hav Ik.ii had. Taught to rely upon himself, to deride quickly and at promptly, his acquaintance with toe Held of human life was unique. He had served as a seaman before the mast and as a stoker. He had seen ninny men and many cities. He had picked Imps in Havaria and gathered oranges in Spain. Horn to wealth, he had been a workman by choice. An athlete as well as a linguist. lie could use his lives" like a professional, while his skill with the pistol a a marel to all who had seen lilm hand ling It. In I'nrls, where he was stationed, he was known familiarly a "the American of the Hue ravart." Hulyett was toying with some grapes when the stirring strains of the 'Marseillaise" and the steady tramp of marching feet brought Mm to the window, .lust as be had foreseen, so It had happened. The storm had burst, and the government was unprepared. "And but for that little girl In the Hue Mon taigne," he mused " but for Klisc de Ynl'ctincs, I don't Know that I'd move a muscle to help em nut of the mess. The fat headed fools luue chosen to play with lire, and it would only serve 'eoi right If they got burnt ! "And If I get killed?" He conveyed a few grapes to his mouth. "Klisc, I suppose, will cry her eyes out if she's alive, poor child, when till s over." And his fist clinched and his teeth shut with a snap as he thought of what might tie the fate of the pretty young granddaughter of the old count. "Hut my go eminent." he went on. "won't waste Mowers over inc. that's certain. It s not our quarrel. It's Just one of tho family rows Unit Ma belle' goes In for, urul rt'll be u risky business lor the stranger who Interferes. I'nrls has got its monkey up;, there isn't a regiment nearer than Ami. ns; and the ministers, In the exercise of what they are pleased to call their discretion, have given the show away. "No," he continued, "if it wasn't lor Kline " He stopped. The shouts were growing louder, the cries more threatening. The tumult was increasing. "Imbeciles!" be muttered, apostrophizing the min istry. "If there's a man amongst em, a man who's not afraid to give un order, 1'aris may be saved. " Rut what can you expect from a government that lets such a trick lie played off on "em? To show their conlidence In "the sovereign people, the fools have allowed themselves to be persuaded into sending the troops out of the city -Into sending them to Amiens, over eighty miles uwny. And now well, they've got to be brought back. But " The rabble was passing under his window. " Wonder, now," he broke off, "in what sort of temper these rowdies have waked up tills morning?" He took h bunch of grapes from the table, stepped on to the balcony, and stood munching them while he watched the scene below. "Death to the aristocrats!" roared n half drunken porter, shaking a huge fist at the figure on the bal cony. Hulyett smiled and snipped a few grapes from his bunch. "Vali'" yelled the porter. " Catch 1" cried the American. And before the fellow had quite grasped the In tention the grapes were deftly dropped In the cavern disclosed by his distended Jaws. The crowd cheered and set up a laugh, but the man looked daggers and went away muttering. "Tho beast's only Ushlng Itself at present," was Hulyetfs comment. "It won't be dangerous till It tastes blood. Then " Crack! Crack! Cra-a-a-nck! It was the even ing of the 23d of July, and the National guards were firing on the Tuileries. The mob was yelling encour agement. The tiger In the Frenchman was showing his teeth. In the private cabinet of Gen. Ijjmorler, the minister for war, two men were seated. "Give me the order, general," the younger of the two was saying, "and I'll have the ' redbreeches ' at the barrier before the "redcaps' know the order's left Paris the first battalions by midday tomorrow. Hy midnight I'll have 10,000 there. By dawn the next day " A volley from the Insurgents concluded the sen tence. " Power Is slipping from your hands with every tick of the clock," urged the speuker. "And you haven't a man nearer than Amiens eighty miles away. "You hear the "people's" answer to the pretty speeches of the government," he added, as cries of iar age exultation rent the air, punctuated by musket shots. "But my colleagues, m'sieu!" stammered the gen eral. "My colleugues! We met this morning " "And did nothing," said the other, bluntly. Tha general shrugged his shoulders. "We hadn't a man we could send." "I offered my " "Pardon. We are to meet again this " "Excuse me. It will be too late. Pee that?" Dense volumes of smoke were rolling past the windows. "Surely that should convince you that the time for talking is past. And that's only the beginning. This morning the mob was good humored. This even ing it is bad tempered. .Tonight, general, It will be cutting throats, outraging " The general protested and gesticulated. service via Amiens. You must go via Havre But you're too late tonight." he added, suspiciously. " He sent a couple of his men to see me safe ba. k. but 1 managed to shske 'em olT at a wineshop In the Rue Canfert. Then." said Hulyett. "1 doubled back to your shanty and met you at the door. l.uuky, wasn't I?" Menet shrugged his shoulders "The luckiest thing of all. ni'sieu. If you ask me. Is that you didn't succeed In getting Into the station. There are no railway men there. There Isn't an en gine nearer than l.a Chapt lie they ve had em all moved down to the sheds. And the station Is held by three companies from Belleville some of the biggest scoundrels In all Paris. They're patrolling the line as far as the bridge at Yillette. "This way. m'sieu. I'm taking you by n road that's only used by railway men: but I dare say we shall be challenged We shall have to drop Into the ditch by the side of the line and creep up to the shops I'm afraid, though, we shan't timi an engine with team up. The last that came in whs a goods, No. 31, but that was over an hour ago.'' "Qui va la?" It was the challenge of the In surgent sentry. " Bt. Denis!" answered Menet, promptly; and they were allowed to proceed. They dropped into the ditch and crept cautiously along. Menet leading. Hulyett could see the sentries patrolling the embankment. In bis pocket Hulyett carried a new weapon, a revolver. The six chambers were charged, but he had only three spare cartridges with him. At the point where the bridge crossed the ' by ceo WmmMM W&Mtom v ,.- TSIlSJS'timt II 1 ' """""" " z-,. .. .. ,-- :r:-. --.? I :-V .; ;.V." . . ' - -. f ' -:- - ... ' "gr : j I '. , V. , r C" i?fZl;" '-3 f0" ji ,mmmmmM . ,., .,.,. . ri,w IliiOH H "l Usui II III vmmH- M-::-';--:':'-2sv' - If - v;i I' 'tT'.V' n s u 1 :ft ;-V By W fcl V'r;v wh W Vi'f 13 iSMm And. knocking he pulled over ;! to pass on to "Well." said the other, rising, "I suppose Its really no business of mine to save Paris. My people In Washington would say so. "A moment, m'sieu u moment!" exclaimed the general, looking hard at the American. "You offer to carry this message yourself, m'sieu?" I offered this morning, but you separated with out coming to a decision, and the difficulties have In creased with every hour that has passed. Loss this chance and you lose the last. I am repeating the offer now to you personally, general, because well, frankly, t consider Gen. lamorler Is the only man In the government capable of making up his mind." The bit of flattery told. The general looked pleased. "And to be frank with you, m'sieu," he said, smil ing, "there Isn't a Frenchman In all Paris I would trust with such an order. He would betray tie." Hulyett laughed. "My sentiments exactly," he said. "That's why I'm offering."' "But the northern line, m'sieu? There ars no trains running. The station Is held by the 'reds.' How " "Pardon, general." Interrupted the American, Im patiently. "Give me the order. Time Is passing, and the minutes are precious." For an Instant longer Gen. Iamorler hesitated, then he scribbled the order to the officer commanding at Amiens, which the American had volunteered to carry. "There, m'sieu," he said, throwing It serosa to him. "It Is my, death warrant, remember, If you are taken. My own colleagues couldn't save me if they would. They would be too busy defending them selves." And he laughed sardonically. " If I am taken, general," said Hulyett, folding up the official slip of paper on which the safety of Paris depended, "I will see to It that this document does not fall Into hands that would use It to your disad vantage. If I succeed well, the credit will be given by Europe to the minister who signed the order." And, pressing the general's band, he ran down the stairs and was soon in the crowd In the street. "Ah. Monseer Boul, plotting with that old blood sucker kamorler against the sov-reign people, eh? That's your game. Is It?" muttered the surly porter of the morning, who bad seen the American leaving the ministry of war. "It was Lamorier who threatened us with the troops. Ah, he may bark, but he can't bite! Our leaders have taken care of that. They've druwn his teeth, the old dog! Amiens Is eighty miles line at Vlllette they had to come out of the ditch. Under the bridge a shot whlzaed past Hulyetfs ear, and Menet fell. But he was up again directly. He had stumbled over a chair. They had been seen, how ever, and there were still iOO ysrds between them and the engine sheds. Dim figures began to hurry down the line, warning cries to issue out of the darkness. Hulyett decided to draw the pursuers while Menet endeavored to And him an engine. "It's the Amerloan! Go for him!" cried a voice which Hulyett recognized, it was that of the porter. Turning, be ran a few yards, sprang Into the ditch, and then doubled back to the bridge. Three men clambered after him. but, Incumbered by the unaccus tomed musket and accoutermenta, they went slowly. Lying flat on his face In the shadow of the bridge, Hulyett heard the voices of his pursuers calling to one another and growing fainter as they got farther away. Then, thinking the coast clear, he rose to his feet and rushed up the embankment, Intending to make a dash for the roundhouse. He wondered if Menet had managed to reach It. He was just congratulating himself on the success of his own maneuver when a dark form seemed sud denly to' rise out of the ground, and he found himself in the arms of the burly porter. esssssssssessceeoo DOLLY'S CLOTHES gIPr and the heavy doll would permit. B Ml KBTHA considered In private that Dolly be longed to her. Hose, likewise In private, was of the opinion that Dully was hers entirely. Dolly was all and everything to these poor little girls. What mattered It to them if their clothes were ragged and their little shoes sole- less, so lung as Dolly was w II clothed? Young as they were, they knew that their mother looked after them as far as she could afford. But then, poor mother could not possibly include Dolly In the family. So Dolly had only themselves to depend on. And Dolly wanted a new dress for Christinas. And where Dolly was to get a dress from Bertha and Rose had not the least idea. " Dolly will catch cold." said Bertha, sadly. '" Poor Dolly," lispej her little sister. " she Is so cold! " " Dolly must have a warmer dress for Christmas," Bertha reinarkfM, as they walked along Hiity fourth street. New York. Just then both little irls caught sight of something that nearly look ta. Ir breath away. 'Look!'" cried 11. i tha. " o. look! Clothes for Dolly! "' " But they are n..t ours: we can't touch them." said Hose, eying longingly it cl.iilie-.line unm which a baby's rube and bourn t hunt; sway leg in the wind. ""They are not for ourselves, stupid!" said Bertha, in a superior vuice. " They're for Dolly, so It's not steal ing." Having thus soothed their consciences. Bertha climbed over the fenev and returutd triumphantly with the small, coveted garments. Then both little girls (led as fast as their small feet But some one had seen and that some one was a policeman. The next day two tiny girls stood In the New York Children's court, taking it in turn to nurse a big china doll. Stealing baby clothes from a clothes line was the ter rible charge brought against them. " What is this, little girls? " Inquired the magistrate. "Mlater Judge," said Bertha, "do you know Santa?" " Yes. certainly," replied the magistrate, smiling. " What about Santa Claus? " Then Hose looked up and burst forth: " We hsve a big doll. Mister Judge, a real nice doll, and she wants a new dress for Christmas." "Mister Judge," cried Bertha, impetuously, "you don't want Dolly to freeze? Yes, we did take the baby clothes from the line, and we were going to put them on Dolly and tell her that Santa" Claim brought them for her. Don't you see. Mister Judge, that we did nothing wrung? " Well, with such an eloquent defense, no Judge in the world could convict. So the magistrate made them prom ise never to steal again, and, having done so, let them go. But even though Dolly did lose the clothes, she was not allowed to freeze. For two days afterwards a big parcel was left, marked " For Bertha and Rose, from Santa Claus." Inside It the delighted girls found a lovely robe for Dolly and two dresses am two pairs of boots for them selves. And some think that Santa Claus was disguised as a magistrate when Btrtha and Hose stood In the New York Children's court. rrom Paris. All Ihe same, this American must be shadowed. I owe him something on my own, and If " "Am armes, cltoyens!" A number of men wearing the cap and tunic of the National guards were passing along, escorted by u disorderly rabbis singing the "Marseillaise," and when the porter turned to look for the American he had gone. "Lucky for me. Jules, I happened to drop this journey, old man." Horace Hulyett, In the soiled blouse and cap of an employ In the locomotive sheds I'hemln de Fer du Nord at La Chapelle, was a man whose dress was an exact facsimile to the man, in fact, to whom the dress he ing actually belonged Jules Menet, a fireman Paris-Boulogne line. He had" an . Invalid child, and Hulyett, who had made Menet's acquaintance under circumstances which gave him a certain claim on the man, had shown many little kindnesses to the child. Somebody had to be trusted, and Hulyett decided to trust Menet. It was asking the man. however, to risk his life, and Hulyett had promised him 1.000 francs In the name ot the French government, and offered to add 500 of his own, besides recommending him for promotion If they "got through." "I'm not particularly sweet on Ijiinorler & Co.," Menet had said, grimly. "But Ihe 'reds' are the devil and all to man who wants to earn an honest living and live a quiet life. " Besides," he added. " I owe you something, monsieur. You can depend on me, sir." So now they were turning out of a street in the Quartier St. Antolne and making their way towards the railroad. "Vttien the missus told me." Hulyett was saying, "that she didn't know when you mjght be home, as things were all anyhow, I tried to get Into the station by bluffing. But It wouldn't work. ' Dondon. m'sleuT said the sergeant called up by the sentry. 'There's no VfsTx'. . ' :.v-. "XCTir. .7 IliitM 'KVJP Ml with a c .11 1 t i ' ' ' '.? 7. -.(.. '.I-' V'AS'I it.- i on vou J'." J i' v .- - . ' :;' T'T 'V'i!t? .i.u-n.o.i g ,H1 f ..Jlr. a-e-1'T . , , 't,V.'..o'lfc' ' irreasv V. i V- C, - , J. ?;'.' C ,-jtjy. ... t-'.'i, w , m ,,' - 'at. .-"J l..- T so. j it jr- . r a- i ' i.i a i of the . atf -'l' iU -KS Ae sVi: v$V. 'ln""un " we- we.7: ; f735,V AKS " " .t MIL '.'-' .- vj.,1- iri . wv. zr.-: r . j - "v, x. on tha A F .' 'VS-v'?- 7."W. Wrv-' V ..T7 r " " ;''fi ' V 4: v "Thousand devils'." screamed the fellow, beside himself with rage. "I thought you were down there, Mlstaire Boul. I've been dodging you all day, but I've got you at last. I owe you for those grapes. Ha! hat You should have cut yourself down an Inch or two If you wanted that blouse to hide you. Who's your mate, eh? Who's " But Hulyett, who had been watching his opportun ity, suddenly put the 'bug" on the Frenchman and flung him over his head Into the ditch. Then he ran for the sheds. Halfway a bullet nipped a r'p"e out cf bis esr. another toe the heel from his shoe, but he ran on Would he II ml Menet there? He didn't know, but lie ran on. A dos n ysrds from the roundhouse A fellow snapped musket In bis f ee It missed fire, and llul yett. who had drawn his revolver, laughed and re turned It to Its place He burst Into the shed, panting Menet had found the goods engine No. 38 and was trying to get up steam lie hud emptied a sack of shavings and an oil can into Ihe furnace, which was roaring like a f my. "We shall have a whole mob of 'em here directly." said Hulyett, looking at the Indicator. "What's her w ot king pressure?'' "She won't move till we get another seven pounds on her. and we shan't get more than thirty miles out of her at her bctt." "She'll have to do more than thirty tonight Jules, or buist." said Hulyett grimly Jules grinned, and lluly.lt. seixing a spanner, smashed the water gauge and broke the valve taps of the two big express engines that stood on the next 1 oad. "They won't follow us. anyhow," said he. "I'd like to stive a few mole the same way If there was time." No. 33 began to hiss steam, and Hulyett walked out of the shed to look at the points. Their friends outside, he thought, had left them alone too long to be after any good. As he emerged from the shed he caught sight of a couple of figures stooping over the siding points. There was a low whistle. The figures scuttled away. Hulyett guessed it might save trouble to let those whom It might concern know that lie carried a "shooter." No doubt he was being watched. They would never let htm go without putting up some sort of a tight for It. He found the silence ominous. The darkness which covered him sheltered them also. Drawing his revolver, lie sVnl a shot after the flying figures. An oath, u cry. told him that his ran dom bullet had found lis mark. He walked to the switches The men had left their tools and a lamp on the ground. "Just as 1 thought." he muttered, out the wedge they had been fixing the leVer and set the points for No. the down line: "Heady!" culled Jules from the shed. "Then bring her out. These devils have been arranging a nice lillle spill: but 1 think I've spoiled their fun." Slowly Ihe w heels of No. 33 began to rcvol .'C. But her appearance was the signal for a volley. The rascals were lying In wait. Sending a couple of shots Into the night. Hulyett ran to the engine. Menet was doubled up on the footplate. Clambering Into his place. Hulyett looked at the Indicator, pushed the lever halfway over the sector, opened the regulator, and then, stooping down, asked Menet If he was hurt. A smothered groan was the only response. Another volley, mid they had passed the switches. The next moment they ran on to the "down main." No. 33 was off. There was nothing In front of lier right of way to Amiens. Huiining through St. Denis a few minutes later. Hulyett heard the great bell of Notre Dame strike 1. He threw on more coals, pushed the lever over to the last notch, tightened the valves, and opened tho draft. Chantilly was passed at thirty miles an hour. Menet, he found, hud fainted from a gunshot wound in the shoulder. lie hud got him up. bandaged the wound, and revived him with brandy. Would they be pursued? llulyett looked back now and then. But they were approaching Creil. and he had neither seen nor heard any signs of a pursuer. They were doing forty miles an hour now, but the puffing and panting old switch engine had taken a full hour to cover the lirst twenly-llve. "Creil!" shouted Menet. us they rushed through. Hulyett laughed. "Couldn't do more than thirty, couldn't she, Jules? If our friends behind have followed In the belief that we couldn't get more than thirty out of the 'old lady' without blowing her up, 1 guess this run'll bo an eye opener for 'em." A Tew moments later Menet touched llulyett on the shoulder. His practiced ear had caught the beat of a locomotive running al a high speed. Hulyett understood, "Wake her up," he said. "We must get every ounce we can out of her," and turned his own atten tion to the valves and the regulator. Menet threw open the furnace door and shoveled coal on to the fire, taking care to spread the fuel even ly over the great, glowing mass. No. tt gave a leap forward, like a racer under the spur snorted, panted, and shook; but at the end of the next five minutes had added another ten miles per hour to her record. But still the thud, thud, of the pursuer grew more distinct). It was drawing nearer. Hulyett, looking bsck, saw In the far distance a tiny speck, which he knew was the headlight of a locomotive. Ho watched It for a minute, and saw It gradually growing larger. They had done hair the dlstunce. No. 83 was trav fling at a pace which Menet had thought to be Im possible. But they could push her no further Hi,h ti, American knew she wwuld unless He took out his revolver and charged the three empty chambers. Nearer and nearer came the sound of their pur suer. They could see her quite distinctly now a great express engine, tearing along at seventy miles an hour. Another live minutes', and Would they run him down? No, there was danger In that. They probably would try to board him. How many, he wondered, would he have to tackle? He had only six shots in his revolver. He glanced over his shoulder. Iess than three hundred yards now separated them. "They'll try to swarm over my tender, Menet," he said to Jules, "but " However, before he could finish the clank of the couplings, followed Immediately by a palpable drop In the speed, told him what hud happened. The express was coupled up to the freight, and had almost shut off steam. A minute's grim silence, and No. 83 was brought almost to a stand. Still, the American managed to keep the wheels moving, though It was hard work. And now shots began to whiz past the footplate of No. 83. " Stoop,' tender. Presently a " redcap " was seen peering down at them from above the coals. Hulyett. who had no shwts to waste, rose and, be fore the fellow could bring his musket to position, hurled him out on to the track. A second ruffian was dropped by u pistol shot. "That accounts for two, anyhow," said he, coolly, wiping his revolver. But a third was standing by the smoke box of the express with a musket at his shoulder, while the head of a fourth was seen creeping round from the off sid. , Leveling his weapon, llulyett fired. The musket latter. The man sank down In a heap. ve u leap and disappeared. inhered over the coal. footplate of the express three men were ,'lldly. By the light from the furnu. e the potter Ills head was bandaged. have fallen soft." thought the Ainerl- ow would have killed most men." ord or two which he taught, Hulyett guessed that the driver had bad enough, and wanted to return. They hud seen lilm. He presented his re volver. "Go back!" lie shouted. "Uo back, or " The porter ducked. The driver made a sign. Hul yett laughed ai.d went buck to bis own footplate. A minute later he heard the sound of falling coup lings, and felt the spring with which No. 83 bounded forward as the two engines parted company. Looking round, he saw that the express was i.l. ready a dosen yards behind. " Cock-a-doodle-doo! Co. k-a-doodlc-doo!" shrieked the whistle of the freight, and when, five minutes later, No. 33 dashed through Breteuil, the express was on Its way back to Purls with the news that the troops ere coming. ( "Grandpa," said Elise de Varennes. a week after. "I bare brought my fiuuee, Horace llulyett, to re ceive your blessing" "The American of the Hue Fa van?" quavered the old count. "Take her. m'sieu! Take her, with niv blessing. I could not leave a daughter of the De Varena.es In better bands!" never reach Amiens said Hulyett, iiouching down by the i