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Show UDE URCLA MONSIE OF TS VEMEN ACHIE THE “Ir tad DyGeowgeSth—-y «ἐν BEING THE CHRONICLES OF A FAMOUS PREFECT OF POLICE DURING THE REGIME OF THE SECOND FMPIRE , IN THE. REIGN OF NAPOLEONII, NOW PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE CHIEF RELAXES (Copyright, t wn as the the inn of the village Golden Grape. The τι ies due south for about half a τ and then turns east. When you reach the inn inquire for M, Blanvert s an in chief, smoking idly in the doorway of to the inn, was surprised at the sight of mine host and his minions busily engaged in transferring a trunk end sundry boxes, that M. Claude recog nized as the effects of his late com But you began Claude interrupted her irl rply am e from panion, to room latter's the a earriage standing in the road Quentin? M. “What means this, “Have you lost a inquired the chief. Rat ‘ustomer? | supposed that M. » contemplated making an extend ed stay under your hospitable roof The landlord sighed mournfully It was even so. M, Debrosses,” he exclaimed. “But see from ateau M taymond sends a message de manding the property of the noble captain whom he has persuaded to remain as his guest For an instant the chief's good na ture rebelled 1inst what seemed to be an of ung the requital American services Could for it on his be thet the part proferred Ratcliffe had arranged terms with the Ray monds without deeming it worth hi while to acquaint hi with 1] ci cumstances? On second rh To a far ' Chap The odds are then heavily against commented the chief M. @laude when In the morning i arose, Ratcliffe had already By on his usual tour of inspection noon he had not returned, and the us 7 G. possibility more seemed likely lover had fallen that a ird the into a snare It wa impetuous skillfully spector of police and w now wha do self. armed and can take M “T of tune Go now and goc my be with you, mademoiselle He looped one end of the rope im] rovised under the girl's arms and assist ing her across the window s lowered her gently to the ground. When the cessation of the strain or rope warned him that she was in safety he leaned out of the window and »btained slender a momentary figure flitting ε pse swiftly of a under the shadowof the trees. Then he ap proached the door and turned the han As he expected it was fast, but ig grimly he produced a bunch of skeleton keps and inserted one in the lock The bolt shot back in the pressure and the door response to swung open He stole softly along the dark cor dor and had almost reached the land where a lamp burnt dimly, when the sound of a heavy footstep mountthe stairs caused him to halt abruptly Ἶ figure of a big, burly man came into view, a man with a thick crop of bright red M. Maynard, lately deceased and miraculously restored to life muttered the chief, and retreat to the room he had just left he entered it and closed the door behind him ) husband uttered ab sath of surprise M. Lupin backed nervously ιο the wall, and the three conspirators re garded the chief's menacing figure in blank dismay. Raymond was first to recover himself Who the devil are you and what do you want here?” he demanded, viciously With his disengaged hand M Claude pulled off’ hat and wig and pointed to the staring face of M. Lupin “Ask that man, that ex-galley slave,” he responded, cheerily “It is M. Claude, the Paris chief of police, ejaculated Lupin. “My friends This man is of the we are undone devil; it was he that sent me to the galleys five years ago “You were a physician then,” broke “and I suppose still in the chief, possess our old skill. Remove Cap tain Ratcliffe from that coffin and re store him at once You, madame, and your husband will be seated and do not move at peril of your lives.” Raymond scowled vindictively, but complied and his wife followed his example The physician bent over the coffin and\attempted to raise the shrouded form within. “He is a heavy man and I am not strong, M. Claude,” he whined “Assist your confederate, M. Raymond, and be quick about it,” com manded the chief. Raymond rose from his chair and as M. Claude glanced aside for an instant seized the opportunity to irranged by his crafty enemie make a spring towards the door. The The umbling of wheels acted chief's pistol cracked sharply, but the his attention and a post-ch came bullet flew wide, and Raymond flew nto view from the interior of which , as drew up at the inn, door, there The tread of the newcomer’s feet swiftly down the hall. “It was not my fault, M. Claude,” zed the person of M. Blauve echoed through the corridor and) It was my intention to move cau ceased at the door of the room where whimpered Lupin, as the chief turned “Look to your tiously in this affair,” remarked the M. Claude had taken refuge Then | upon him fiercely. His bandits are chief, when he had enlightened his followed the rattle of a key in“the safety, monsieur. colleague as to the nature of the lock and a gruff oath of surprise from carousing in the kitchen and he has The chief shook his head. SPEAK not only as a phy {summer by an English monsieur who | “From what the good gossip, out mystery that confronted them, “but Maynard at the discovery that the gone to fetch them.” sician, but as your friend, had taken up his quarters there with Even as he spoke, Raymond, lead he sudden disappearance of M. Rat host, told’ me,” he said, “I had fancied i wife, step-daughter and male cous: door was not fastened M. Claude,” said Dr. Mar looking ruffians liffe precipitates matters He pushed it open and, entering, ing four villainous The ladies some members of the family woul iin to bear him company tine. “It is now three o'clock,” said the stood staring stupidly at the disar wielding flashing knives, reappeared walkin: The chief pulled at his | were of (beauty most rare. Peradven have appeared driving or “The tables are turned, M. Claude,” cigar and gazed thought- ture mowsieur might view them, for abroad but so far they have escaped chief, “and much may happen in the | ranged bed clothes and open window interval, but we must take the chance. | At that instant M Claude crept from he cried and leaped forward, a long, fully at the blue rings of it was possible that they would drive | my notice For the present there is nothing to| behind the door and broyght tl 1e mas- | wicked blade glittering in his hand “Just so,” returned Ratcliffe. “Were smoke mounting into the on oceasjons through the village.” He ros®@ at an early hour on thefol they hermits they could not remain in do save wait.” sive butt of a pistol d@ & upon the | Again M. Claude fired and this time air. M. Claude listened γί terrific |the bullet struck Raymond squarely Now, my story visitor’s unguarded he; “Your opinion coincides lowing d&y and, true to his promise more rigid seclusion jin the forehead and he fell a corpse at “I am going to spy on the chateau, force I became | τ with that of his maj- | to M, Ma tine, wandered abroad in the {is as follows, M. Debrosses: “I A acquainted with the Raymonds in | M. Blauvert,” he said, ‘abruptly. The luckless Maynarol’'s knees bent | the feet of the chief, The fate of their esty’s medical adviser, M. dewey fr grance of the morning. may gain information that will be of under him and he collapsed in a limp leader checked the onset of his com stroll thrbugh the woods presently | London about two months ago. Mrs Martine,” he said, at length. Remain here until | heap on the floor and Igy motionless, panions and as they hesitated the re Raymond was formerly the second service to us “IT am honored, in that my distin | brought iim within view of the cha port of M. Claude’s weapon was an guished colleague agrees with me,” teau whigh his host had referred to on wife of a merchant named Thurber, your men arrive, when you will fol- with a thin stream of blood ebbing swered by a yell from without and the low me, in case I have not returned. | from the gashin his sku ] It stood in the | whohad one child, a girl named Alice M. Claude remarked the police surgeon, “and the precéding night. There guide, if | took the counterpane from as Thurber Impress the landlord the bed hurrying tramp of many feet. trust that the combined weight of our midst of spacious grounds surround- when they were married and tearing it into strips tied the was a loud crash as the front door of advice may affect you to an early ed by a low stone wall, and despite |} died suddenly and shortly after his necessary.” M. Blauvert saluted, but made no ankles of his senseless victim togeth the chateau burst open before a headits apparently great age was toler | demise the widow wedded this man, compliance.” Blauvert and his Henry Raymond. They had been mar- comment. The chief's evident excite- er and bound his hands tightly behind | long charge, and M. “Well,” sighed the chief, regretful- ably well preserved He had reached the conclusion that | ried about a year when I first met ment was unusual in a man famous for his back. That done, he again ven- |; men rushed into the room. ly, “when a thing has to be done, it “You arrived in good season, M is better to do it at once and cross a love affair with one of the chateau them and fell in love with their step his iron nerve, but the inspector knew tured forth into the corridor and dedaughter My family is one of the better than to remonstrate with him scended the stairs without encounter- Blauvert,” said the chief, coolly. “Se the Rubicon swiftly, than to delay. inmates was responsible for the Amer ;cure these persons, with the excep On several oldest and best in New York and my M. Claude, having first looked care ing anyone. But I had hoped that some less un- ican’s sojourn in Deseil. Reaching the main hall he stood | tion of this eminent physician until he palatable medicine than an absence occasions when strolling through the | father is a wealthy man, sg that as |fully to the loading of a brace of has finished with his patient. No them in his still and listened intently. A murmur of two weeks from the prefecture and woods he had observed Ratcliffe eith | far as birth and money went I con- heavy pistols, thrust Paris would meet the exigency of my er going toward or returning from sidered myself an eligible suitor for pockets and left the inn. Twenty min- of voices came through the half open doubt you recognize him.” The inspector indulged in a satis him door of a room adjoining the entrance the residence of the Raymonds, and Alice’s hand. case.” The girl returned myaf- utes of smart walking brought grounds, Avoiding and thither the chief stole softly fied smile as he gazed upon the little “But the fact remains ‘returned the }also noted that the young soldier sel | fection, but her step-parents refused to the chateau the main entrance, he followed the Through the crack of the door he was | man surgeon, positively that complete dom made his appearance at the inn to sanction our engagement “Our friend of the galleys, M. Lupin, until ten or eleven rest is the only thing that will ban- after supper “According to the terms of her fa- line of the low wall for some dis- able to obtain a view of the occupants alias L’Fange, who escaped two ish your insomnia and remove the | o'clock, when he at once sought his ther’s. will, she received a ¢andsome tance, and choosing a likely spot for of the apartment. M. Raymond, atall “Are Plainly, then, the chief ar- legacy which was to remain under the the attempt clambered over it with man in the early forties, slightly bald, | months ago,” he commented. languid feeling that oppresses you. bedroom. | these all, M. Claude?” There is nothing organically wrong; gued, he was spending much of his eontrol of her step-mother until Alice little difficulty. As he approached the | with a strongly marked face and cyni- | oy ‘ ~ x : | You will find another wounded in your muscles are iron and your phy- time in the society of the chateau attained her majority or was mar- house he saw that it was dark in the cal mouth full of white, eager teeth a chamber on the second floor,” refront, save for one room on the ladies. | that flashed as he spoke, was thefirst sique would be a credit to an athlete ried. There was a certain Peter Maysponded the chief. “Let M. LupinatThat night Captain Ratcliffe, instead nard, of 20. But the system needs a toning a big red-headed dissipated ground floor where rays of light pene- to attract the observer's attention ,;tend to him when he has restored up which can only be gained through \of starting off on his nocturnal pil brute, and cousin of Henry Raymond, trated through crevices unshielded by Beside him stood a robust woman of a Ratcliffe to consciousness coarse blonde type, smiling at some | Captain the use of nature's cordial. A short grimage as usual, lingered in the sup who lived with them and apparently the closely drawn window blinds Remembering Ratcliffe’s assertion remark made by a small, wiry man And remove that coffin, so that the vacation in the country that will take per room smoking and conversing with possessed no other means of support you away from the center of this M. Claude. The chief was therefore not than that afforded him by his rela- regarding the place where Alice Thur with iron-gray hair who faced her. | American will not see it when he re senses gains his He has passed seething whirlpool of political an@ greatly surprised when the young fel tives. This was the animal selected | ber was confined, he turned to the At the far corner of the room lay a Here he was rewarded large coffin, the lid of which stood on | through strange experiences and must criminal intrigue is the tonic that wil low suddenly leaned forward and said by Alice’s step-parents for her future west wing. Miss by the sight of a half-open window, end against the wall. in earnest tones M. Claude saw be spared any further shock. restore your wonted vigor.” husband : | Thurber, I presume, is at the inn? “M. Debrosses, I am weary of wear Wherefore it came about that one “Is M. Raymond aware of your about 15 feet from the ground, where that it contained a white shrouded “Yes, M. Claude,” replied the in The building form, and a cold shiver ran through fine afternoon in July the humble inn ing a mask and chatting idly of triv- | presence in Deseil?” inquired the a light was visible Was surrounded by trees and M. | his stalwart frame as he realized who spector “The brave girl was ex known as the Golden Grape, in the| ialities while my brain is besieged by chief Claude noted one in particular, the the occupant must be. vill I don't know what of Deseil, received At the sound hausted from the speed with which Monsieur hideous fancies. “I imagine so,” returned Ratcliffe makes me feel like confiding in you, Claude as a gues There was noth M. Claude shook his head Vio- thick limbs of which were close to of Raymond's voice he bent forward She hastened to deliver your message |My men had not arrived when she Approaching, he to listen. ing to indicate the official in the tray-| perhaps the ease with which you lence would avail you nothing he the lighted window “How strong was that last dose of |©@me and I was starting off alone, up the trunk and eler's garb that the chief had assumed, | speak my language has got something said, gravely ‘One must meet the climbed nimbly and although the possibi of meet-| to do with it, for I see clearly that craft of the serpent with guile. I am gained a point of vantage on a con- the drug, Lupin?” he inquired of the | When fortunately they madetheir ap pearance. Yourfriend is recovering.” From where he clung little man ing an acquaintance in this out-of-the | you are a man of good birth and glad, however, that you have confided venient limb. Ratcliffe to Captam He pointed he could view the interior of the room way spot was a remote one, he had | acute perception.” }in me.” “He is due to awaken in the course taken the precaution of disguising his | “You flatter me,” rejoined the chief, The American caught the chief's and espied the slight form of a young of the next 20 minutes,” replied the | whose eyes slowly opened and rested girl kneeling by the bed and appar- | latter, in a shary vibrant voice, the | upon the kindly features of the chief identity by wearing a wig of inky | Smiling good-humoredly, hand in his sinewy grip ently engaged in prayer. M. Claude sat down beside the blackness and imparting a μοὶ curious tones of which struck familiar-| “Not at a responded Ratcliffe. “ΤΊ! do as you say, M. Debross M. Claude broke off a portion of ly upon thechief’s ear. nge to his eyebrows | ‘Flattery, M. Debrosses, is an art he said. “With a friend to aid “T could re- | American and took his hand gently Of a trutl M. Quentin informed | brought to a far higher state of perfec- may hope to accomplish something.” bark from the tree and tossed it | store him nowif were necessary. , For a moment Ratcliffe gazed at him through the window. As it fell upon The next administration of my good with an uncomprehending stare his latest customer, “the good saints | tion by the members of your race By degrees the newly allied forces had deigned to smile upon him. For | than mine. | am blunt and outspoken the floor the girl arose with a faint medicine will kee “All is well, M. Ratcliffe,” said the him slumbering obtained some fresh information reery of alarm and ran to the casement had not come a respect- and when | olve to do a thing I go “Your lady is safe for ten hours, if such be your will.” chief, cheerily. garding the inmates of the chateau. and ] be sired citizen, ahead after the fashion of Davy Crock“I am a friend of M. Ratcliffe,” he| “It may be that that infernally ob- jat the Golden Grape and your arch “There ss some new deviltry hatchwho ] sed honoring Deseil with his | ett, of whon 1 may have heard.” said, “and desirous of helping you, stinate wench may yield when we | enemy, M. Raymond has met with a showher thelover in his shroud,” said | well merited death.” esence for two whole weeks, And| Ratcliffe b: it his broad, muscu- ing,” said the American, passionately, Mile. Thurber.” as soon as he found himself alone | “But,” began the American, “I do A tinge of rose color crept into the Raymond “What is keeping May- | I ‘ ved the foreign lar hand down upon the table with a with the chief. “It distracts me to girls pale face and she clasped her nard? I told him tc bring her down not understand—you are M. Debrosses Ε an, he of Americas, Cap-| vigorous thur ( who might remain for| “I'm going intuition, M. Debros- think that I must sit here idle, while small hands convulsively but your hair—” at once and the fool seems to be tak may| a lengt i of tir That too ses,” he exclaimed. “If you're not an heaven only Knows what pe “You are welcome, monsieur,” she ing his own tir “Was assumed like the name,” in yout §t.” | said, “but I fear it is too late. He is was well, f ¢ ‘ t rich. these honest Man, then I'll never trust threaten that unfortunate girl “ απ “He is so mu love,” remarked terrupted the chief, gayly “A prize worth having is worth in deadly peril.” Americar ] j msieur the |speech or a ince again the lady, with 4ugh, “and the mo- Claude, the unworthy head of the pre aq } joubt was one “Both are the chief ently del “So!” said the chief, dryly “M as suffering for,” observed ments fly Ww two tender hearts fecture at Paris “Take courage, M. Ratcliffe, | Maynard is still in the land of the liv throb in sympatt raise the you will leart u live long enough, coolly. I have sent to Paris for a person upon ing. For whom then was the mag “True enoug! esponded her hus- | A few days later the chief, resuming en he rned home,; my young ! said the chief love with her mon- the routine of duty, was warmly con come many of | gravely. “! think I can assure whose judgment I rely and who is cent coffin intended, of which gos sip band. “Peter ey, Julia, and 1 ieve it will cause gratulated by Dr. Martine on the see with you that you not making an error always willing to place his services Quentin, host of the inn, spoke?’ He is M. Blauvert, an | “For the man I lov Captain Rat- him much pain when he parts with improvement in his physical condition ith had. been in the preser tance. I promise to at my disposal. inspector of pglice Have any | cliffe,” Tesponded Alice Thurber, with half of it to | respect your lence and will en us after the marriage. “You must admit that my diagnosis n, and we'll drink of your case was a correct one, my “He was seized this Ring the bell, rhus mine host, to whose joyous deavor to ad you to the best of idea of how many male servants M./ trembling lips. exclamatior ind ready 1 of gos-| my poor al Raymond has at his command morning by M. Raymond and his men a fresh bottle wine. This waiting dear M. Claude,” said the surgeon, ds in the Ww triumphantly “There are four,” replied Ratcliffe, when he entered the Perfect rest and quiet sip M. Claude gravely inclined a lis The chief f ved his companion room my tening « where mark ito the latte: tment and having besides the gardner, who does not ap- |endeavor to turned to obey, indisturbed by care worked wonders nto the room and for you pear to be in his confidence to any| was. F ; ‘ 1 M. Quentin, seated himself epared to listen “Obey me, mademoiselle, and we leveled a But the others are 8 | “I do not dispute your wisdom, M by a f n the part of “First of zan Ratcliff I great extent said he Stand ε your Martine,” assented the chief. “It wag the good n er, the chateau belong-| wish to ask ] tion. Since your bad lot and would probably not hesi- | may yet save your lover, the to you I will lower iends,” he stern A shriek without doubt a resiful and enjoyable ing to ant I not Marquis arrival have i eyes upon tate to carry out any commission of curtly are haste to | t irst {τι un’s lips and her vacation.” D'Aimbeau had been rented for the| the present in the chateau? j their employers however desperate | gre“nd and you THE LUCKLESS (layNARD'S ANEES BENT UNDER FM AND HE COLLAPSED Is ALINP HEAP. ο» > |
