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Show i y TJHE MAIDS OF jjSlif .PARADISE ' ) lHBi Robert W.Chambers l(mi9lrmffl wffAtrtlwrof "Cardigan'",nic Conspirafora" w!H' r WBWrJt .Q.iruiN Mycra CotfnihliMbyPfColliefASon SYNOPSIS. CHAPTEn I-Scartott. an American joldler of fortune In the employ of the BTrench Imperial Police at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war, la ordered to prreat John Iluckhurst. a loader of tho CommunUu, who Is suspected of having; stolon the French crown jewels. While, earchlng- for iluckhurst Scarlett Is ordered or-dered to arrest Countess de Vaasart and nor group, of socialist and osoort them5 to the I3ollan border. trfI??Jl "-Scarlett nnda Sylvia Klven of the Oiloon dlsKUlsod as a peasant peas-ant aad carries her to La Trappe, wheru ine oosuitess and her friends aro tuum-nla. tuum-nla. UlIAl-riE III All are arrested. The countea saves Bcarlett from a fatal fall rrom the roof of tho house. Ho denounces Iluckhurst as the leader of the Iteds and Uio countess conducts him to where Buck-hunt Buck-hunt Is secreted. CHAPTErt IV-Qerrrmn Uhlans descend on tho place and Iluckhurst escapes during dur-ing tho melco. Bcarlett Is wounded. CHAPTEn V-IIo rocovers conscloutt ness In the countess' home at Morsbronn. 7"ro n0. ' cored for by the countess. i A nexco battle Is fought In tho streoto between French and Prussian soldiers. " CIIAPTEP. VI-Huckhurst prorcsses re, t pentence and returns tho crown Jewels to . Bcarlett. Ilo declares ho will glvo himself , up to tho authorities. Scarlett doubts his sincerity. Iluckhurst urges tho countess - to go to Paradise. ; CIIAPTETt VII-Duckhurst admits that he recelyos pay from tho Prussians for information which he docs not give. He secures passports to tho French lines for Bcarlett, lh countess and himself. .,APTEU XI-Srrlett reports to tho SEfi.r01 ,n Pnrl'' nni1 nnd Mornao. S.Sr0! ?J Ul emperor. In charge. Ho eposita tho crown jewels and later, when making a detailed report, finds that pebbles S5V0bccn ubstltuted for the real stones. S?!?S51-'..a..com.n.c,0 ln tl10 ervlce. warns Bcarlett that Mornao Is dangerous. Hn ??. ,n,f07"?. hlm .t,tnt n" ,he Kovernmonl treasure Is bolng transported to the coast ror shipment out of the country. Scar-lett Scar-lett and Speed escape to Join a circus. r.F,"nPTEP lx-'rh. clrcus arrives at I aradljo whero Scarlett secures a llccnso from tho mayor. CHAPTEn X-An order Is received by o mayor calling the citizens to arms. "Como whenever you llko, Jacquc-Hno," Jacquc-Hno," I said. "Ask ror mo at tho gate" "And who are you, monsieur?" "My name Is Scarlett." Scarlott," sho whispered, as though naming a Bacred thing. Tho mayor, who had toddled some dlstanco ahead or ub, now halted In the squaro. looking back at us through th rod evening light. "Jacqueline, tho d.rum Is In my houso. I'll lend you a pair of Babote, too. Como, hasten llttlo Idler!" We entered tho mayor's gardon, whero tho flowora wero glowing ln th luster of tho Betting sun. Tho mayor .v.i mappi-ama witn arum and drumsticks drum-sticks in ono hnnd nnd a pair or sabots In tho other. "(Jo, my child," ho Bald, and Jacqueline marched through the cordon out into tho square by tho roun-tain, roun-tain, drum-Btlclts clutched In one tanned flat, tho scrolls or paper In the other. In tho center or tho squaro sho stood a momont, looking around, then ralsod tho drum-BtlclcH; thoro camo a click, a flash or metal, nnd tho quiet square echoed with a startling outcrnsh. Already Al-ready a knot or p. plo had gathorod around hor; others enmo swiftly to windows and dooretops; tho loungers loft tholr stono benches by tho Hvi- tho mnlds of Pnradlso flocked from tho bridge. Tho drum-roll ceased. "Attontlon! Mon or Flnlotore! By order or tho govoror of Lorlent. all men between tho ages of twonty and rorty, othorwlso not exempt, aro or dered to report nt tho navy yard bar racks, war-port of Lorlent, on tho 6th of Novombor of the present year, to Join tho army of tho Loire. "Ilrotons! Franco calls! Answer with your ancient battle-cry, 'Salnto-Annol 'Salnto-Annol Salnte-Atine!' Tho oyea of tho world ore on Armorlcn! To arms!" Tho girl's1 volco ceased; a dead el-lonco el-lonco reigned In tho squnro. Tho men looked nt ono nnother stupidly; a woman wom-an began to whlmpor. "Tho curse Is on Pnradlso!" cried s hoarso volco. Tho drummer wna already drawing nnother paper from her ragged pocket, and again Irr-tho samo clear, emotion- ess voice, but slightly drawling her words, sho rend; "To tho peoplo of Paradlso! The manager of tho famous American trav-ollng trav-ollng circus, lately returned from n tour of tho northorn provinces, with camels, elephants, lions and a magnlfl cent company or artists, announces a stupendous exhibition to bo hold In Lorlent nt greatly reduced prices, thus enabling ho Intelligent and apprecla-ve apprecla-ve people or Paradlso to honor the opubllcun circus, recently known ns Unt IT ? ClrC.l",, vUh thelr bonov-ent bonov-ent nnd discerning patronage! Long Mvo France! Long live the republic! Ixing llvo tho circus!" "uci A resounding roll of tho drum end-cd end-cd th0 announcements; tho girl slung the drum over her shoulder, turned to ho right and paRsed over tho Btonn urldgo, sabots clicking. The maids of Paradlso wero weoplnc now by the fountain; the mon g.S, "rod near, and tholr slow, ",, , voices scarcely roso abov.o t'ho rlpplo or the stream whero Itobert tho Liz nrd flBlinl In sllonco. ( roid7 'l;r0STB ,0 th0 Q''Porlo ' ?"Vu l Jac1uoll". 'lancing nlong .um Wo B, d , n?',,(11, high-road look K2 through in hare, Bhe doubt es -ISS- to come.?, Suddenly, straight out or tho flaming gates or tho sunset, tho miracle was wrought Hreatliless, she shrank back among the weeds, one hand pressed to her throbbing thront. Then she" caught sight or something through tho dust that filled her with a dcllcfbus terror, nnd bIio cried out. For thoro, uptow-crtng uptow-crtng In tho hazo, camo trudging a great, gray creaturo, a fearsome, swaying thing In crimson trappings, flapping hugo ears. It shuffled poet, swinging a dusty trunk; tho sparkling horsemen cantered by, tin armor blazing blaz-ing In tho fading glory; tho chariots dragged nftor, nnd tho closed dens of beasts rolled behind ln slnglo file, followed fol-lowed by tho band-wagon, whero heaven-Inspired musicians played frantically fran-tically nnd a white-faced clown balanced bal-anced his hat on a stick and shrlekod. So tho clrcuB passed into Paradlso; and I turned and followed la tho wake nf dust, stale odors, and clamorous discord, dis-cord, sick at heart of wandering over a world I had not found too kind. And at my heels stolo Jacqueline. CHAPTER XI. In Camp. Wo went- Into camp under tho land wnrd glacis of tho cliffs, ln a field of clover which was to bo plowed under In a fow days. We all wero thero except ex-cept Kolly Eyre, who hnd gone to tele-graph tele-graph tho governor of Lorlent for per. mlsBlon to enter tho port with tho clr-cits. clr-cits. Another messenger also left camp on prlvato business for mo. Presently wo wero all sitting around the long camp-table In the glare or two smoky petroloum torches, eating our bread and ham and potatoes nnd drinking drink-ing rireton elder, a Jug or which Mr. Horan had purchased ror a few coppers. cop-pers. Tho hard cider cheered Bram a lit-'tie; lit-'tie; ho drew a cherished cigar rrom 'his vost pocket, offered It to mo, and when I considerately refused, ho carefully care-fully Bet It alight with a splinter from the fire. Its odor was Indescribable Byram appeared to have recovered something of his buoyancy and natlvo optimism. ' uontiemen," ho said, "let's kinder sauntor over to the Inn and have a night-cap with Kelly Eyre." Tho lighted door of tho Inn hung njar ns wo crossed the star-lit square; Byram entered and stood a moment ln tho doorway, stroking his chin. "Bong Joor tho companyl" ho said, lifting his battered hat. Tho few Bretons In tho wlneroom returned re-turned his civility; ho glancod about nnd his oyo roll on Kolly Eyre, Speod'e assistant balloonist, seated by the window win-dow with Horan. "Well, gcntB," said Byram, hopefully, ' an' what aire tho prospectB or umllln' rortuno whon rosy-flngered dawn has camo again to kiss ub back to lire?" "Rotten," said Eyro. pushing a telegram tele-gram across the oak tnblo. . Byrum'B face foil; ho picked up the telegram and fumbled In his coat for hla spectacles with unsteady hand.- "Lot mo read it, governor," s'nld Speed, and took tho blue paper from Byram's unresisting, stubby fingers. "Ohol" ho muttored, scanning the mossago; "well well, U'b not so bad no all that" "Well, sir?" said Byram, In a low "Well, governor? Oh or tho telegram?" tele-gram?" askod Speed, like a roan fighting fight-ing for time. "Yes, tho telegram," Bald Bymm, pa-tlently, pa-tlently, "Well, you seo thoy havo Just heard of tho terrible umash-up In the north, governor. Met has surrendered with Ilnzalne's entlro nrmy. And thoy'ro naturally frightened nt Lorlent. . And . . . well . . .-; thoy won't-lot won't-lot us pobb tho fortifications." "Won't let us In?" cried Byram. hoarsely. ' "I'm afraid not, governor." nyrnm stared at uh. W'o had count-ed count-ed on Lorlont to pull us through as rnr as tho rrontlor. "Now don't tako It 0 hard, gov-ernor," gov-ernor," said Kelly Ej,e; "I was fright, enod myself, nt first, but I'm oshnmed how."nOW' 'W'n PU" U,r0U8b' any "Certainly." 8nd Speed, cheerily. We i II drum up tho whole district rrom oint to Ploulmnioll Why ehouKl tho Breton ponsnntry not como? Don't thoy walk mlleB to tho Pardons?" A gray pallor settled on Byram's dignity which sorrow sometimes brings oven to mon llko him. "Young gentlemen," ho sold. "I'm obliged to you. Those bore reverses como to everybody, I guess. Tho Lord knows best; but lr he'll jBt lemmo run my show a leotlo longor, I'll pay nme'nP "8 ""' "" 'Thy wl" dono-Artor dono-Artor a palnrul silence ho rose, steadying hlmsoir with his hand on Lyroa broad Bhoulder, and shambled nut across tno square, muttering camel ,,Ll 1,epnant a"1 " Speed paid tie insignificant bill emptied Us glass, ud nodded at me. It's nil up," h0 8aW BOlJOr, .tor,'.rabacktocampBndta,to . oJTorgod thoBguaro un. |