Manchester Democrat. [volume], January 01, 1902, Image 7

About Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Iowa

                
PO OO
booo
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hooo
bOOO
bOOO
booo
booo
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
THE STRANGER -v
AND THE PRINCESS
BY SEWARD W. HOPKINS
Copyright, 1900, by Seward TF. Hopkins.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
4
"What is it, mon—madame?" asked
Mme. du Barry, suppressing a strong
desire to shriek.
"Madame," said Buckford, with some
little show of annoyance in his tones,
"I have Just discovered that I camo
away this morning with no money.
Now. it is well known that you have a
bank account. He kind enough, there
fore, to come with me to the bank and
draw a certain amount I shall name."
"Oh, the police have added robbery
to their other virtues, it seems."
"No this is a loan. I borrow the
money, mndaine, and repay with inter
est. To refuse me, uiadame, will isean
to walk into the Palais de Justice in
stead of the bank."
Madame shuddered at the mention of
that place, which she fancied she had
so cheaply escaped.
She groaned at the thought of losing
money, but the alternative was worse.
And the idea of police extortion was by
no means now to her.
On the way to the bank Huckford
was busy with his conscience, which
had for the first time got into the af
fair.
"How far am I justified in going
with this creature?" he was asking
himself. "It is surely a dishonest act
to take her money, yet if I live I can
repay her, with good interest. My own
life and the lives of three Innocent per
sons aud the apprehension of four ras
cals all depend on my having money.
I must have it, aud I will. If I am do
ling wrong, the circumstances must
plead for me. Aud this woman is
planning to betray me and is my ene
my."
He smiled and coutinucd:
"I will fight my enemies with their
own weapons. I suppose both Caspa
rln and Vandal have added to ma
dame's wealth."
They reached the bank.
1
"How much, monsieur? Will a hun
dred francs be sufficient?"
"No I must have a thousand." MM
"A thousaud francs, monsieur?"
"Hush! There is a gendarme at the
corner. If you do not obey me, I will
have him arrest you as the accomplice
of the murderers and robbers and spies
against the government."
Mme. du Barry shivered and drew
the money.
With the sinews of war in his pos
session Buckford felt stronger. He
now called a cab and, remembering
what Monroe had told him about the
Prince of Dencslia, was driven to the
ftoftfl the prince had occupied in Paris.
He found the concierge in charge of
an empty place.
"Madame," said the concierge in re
ply to Buekford's question, "M. le
Count Itockmilllve left hero yesterday.
I believe he Is now on his way to Aus
tria or Germany. Can 1 aid madame
in any way?"
Iu an hour Buckford, with the still
Finiliug but now bewildered Mme. du
Barry, was at the terminal station of
the Strassburg railway, where Buck
ford, but half knowing whether he
was right or wrong, purchased two
tickets for Strassburg.
"Now, madame," he said as the train
started, "we are off upon our adven
tures."
Mme. du Barry glanced at the gay
gown her companion wore, which had
been presented to her by Vandal and
which could be easily recognized by
him, and smiled again.
In fact, Mme. du Barry was begin
ning to enjoy the whole affair and
considered her thousand francs very
well spent indeed.
CHAPTER IX.
THE INN ON'TBO.
HfulinsteadATopenly
AD the scene of the plot we
have pictured been in Denes
lia of Paris it is doubt
if the brother of the ruling
prince would have associated
(With creatures so low in the human!
scale as Vandal, Reber and Robello.
But Casparln was in Paris. His re
lationship to the noble prince was un
known except to the few rascals he
had employed to do his work, and his
own tastes were so near like those of I
Vandal and his associates that he
found it not only convenient, but a
source of pleasure, to be with them in
their orgies as well as in their serious
plottings.
It was therefore a quartet well pleas
ed with its own component parts that
rolled toward the house of Mme. du
Barry that evening after they had en
Joyed the treat promised by Casparln.
Of the four Casparin was the nearest
sober. Reber and Robello, never hav
ing had the money to indulge in such
roistering as Vandal lived iu and Cas
parln loved, were the drunkest. Be
tween them Vandal maintained a
drunken, owl-like solemnity of coun
tenance which would have been coin
jlcal if the countenance had been Intel
ectual. As it was, it was merely
eastly.
For one I am tired out," grumbled
Reber, staggering up against Vandal
and cursing him for not walking
straight. "I am going to bed."
"Not quite yet," replied Vandal. "Do
you forget the job we have on hand to
night? The body of the American must
be got rid of."
"Yes," said Casparin. "That is -why
I came home with you. I must see
that disposed of. We must have no
bad breaks now. My brother is gone,
and we must start within a few days."
"The sooner the better," said Vandal.
"I shall not be sorry to earn that re
ward."
"Nor I!" "Nor I!" added Reber and
Robello.
"I have been thinking about that fel
low up stairs there," said Casparin.
"The police now have conviuced them
selves—brilliant police—that the Amer
ican who escaped from the Palais de
Justice murdered the Amcrieau who
helped him out. A little study would
show them how absurd that theory is,
but we are fortunate in having police
to deal with who do not study. But
now, if they find the body of this Amer
ican In the same place as the other—or
If they find it at all—what will be the
result? They will know at once that
both Americans have fallen among
who wished them out of the.way.
not wish to court an investlga
"w. We must hide that fellow
he will not be found."
to that, we might have done it
,e," said Vandal. "We can bury
in the cellar. But you had other
is."
7.cs,
I know I did. I thought it
Id puzzle the police in a different
I did not think they would prove
ipld as they, seem now.. It Is bete
$
"V 'H-
*°*N
ter to leave ttieiu in their stupid error
than to stir the mess all up again."
•*1 agree," said Vandal.
"I agree!" "I agree!" said Reber and
Robello.
This delightful quartet reached the
house of Muie. du Barry and stood out
Bide looking stupidly—at least all but
CaKparln, who knew little of the place—
at the wiuilows, which were darkened,
but which were usually ablaze with
light till nearly morning.
"What Is wrung here!" muttered
Vandal. "Mme. du Barry must be ilL
The house looks like a fuueral"—
"It will bo a place of a funeral soon,"
chuckled Reber. "That chap 1 found
on the bridge! IIo, ho! lie didn't know
what was good for hlui. But, after all,
what Is the difference between the cel
lar of madame's house and the Seine?"
"Yes, what?" added Robello.
"Shut up," said Vandal roughly. "I
tell you I don't like this. It means
something."
Vandal, being a favorite of nm«
dame's and having use for her con
venient house sometimes when she was
out, carried a key. lie opened the door.
The hall was dimly lighted. A serv
ant sat nodding in the hail.
"Hello, Francois! What Is this?
Where is madame?" asked Vandal.
Francois looked up sleepily.
"I don't know, monsieur," he said.
"I have uot seen uiadame since she
went this morning to lie down with
her headache. She is out, so mucli I
know, for the cook, who was coming
from the markets, saw her leave the
house."
"And did she leave no word with any
one?"
"Not a word, monsieur."
"That is strange. Well, sit up for
madame. We are goiug up stairs. In a
short time you may hear us raovin
about. We may even brlug our own
wine from the cellar. There will be no
need of attending us. Do you under
stand
"I understand, monsieur."
Francois did more than understand.
He rejoiced, for he was sleepy.
The four passed ou up stairs. They
entered the room in which they had
held the conference overheard by
Buckford.
"Get a light, Reber, while I unlock
this door," said Vandal.
"Poof!" muttered Reber, moving
about slowly to obey. "It is time we
got that thing out of there. Poof! And
It is not so very hot either."
"Yes, it is high time," said Robello.
Reber having found a lamp and
lighted it, Vandal took his key from
his pocket and opened the door. He
stepped In with the lamp. The others
followed him.
Vandal stood with the lamp raised
above his head. The other three stood
grouped around him gazlug stupidly at
him and at each other. Casparin was
the first to recover bis spcech.
"There is something wrong here!" he
said. "Some one has removed the
body."
"Impossible!" blurted out Vandal
"None but Reber and myself have the
keys."
"You are surely mistaken. The door
was locked. Look! Has it been tam
pered with?"
Vandal handed the lamp to Reber
and examined the door and lock.
"It is In order," he said. "I do uot
understand this—I swear I do not"
"Some one certainly has access to
this room," said Casparin. "You told
me you two held the keys."
"And so—that is the truth. I myself
had this partition placed here. I put
on that lock with my own hands.
There were two keys with the lock,
axd I gave one to Reber. As I live,
these are the only keys that will un
lock this door."
"Theu account for this mystery. We
left a dead man locked in here. He is
gone, and yet you alone could open the
door."
"And we thought he was getting—
ho, the window is open!" said Reber.
"It was not so this morning."
That is a still greater mystery!*
"The window was lock
ed on the inside. Some one has man
aged to come up and get it open and
take out the American."
sa
iQ vandal.
Casparin laughed—a long, low hiss
ing laugh of anger and derision.
"I am beside myself with delight,1
he said. "I came from Deneslla to find
men who were quick and shrewd in
planning. I thought the French could
excel In that. Why, we have plow
men in Deneslla who are better."
"What do you think, then?" asked
Vaudal.
"What do I think? My God! Are
you still iu the dark! What do I think!
I know. The man you left In here was
not dead. lie recovered consciousness,
climbed out of that window and made
his escape. We uow have him against
us and at liberty. We might better
have left him In the Talais de Justice.
There was no certainty he would be
believed."
"He must have escaped," said Van
dal, having a thought only for the dis«
aster.
"He must have escaped. Yes, lie
must surely have gone out of the win
dow," said Reber and Robello.
"Aud of course, since you are
wise, you gentlemen," said Casparin,
"you can associate his escape and the
disappearance of your Mme. du Barry
with each other."
"No, no! Surely not!" said Vandal.
"Surely yes! Was her room not un
der this?"
"Iler room is there."
"Her room no longer, my friend,
fear you will find the lady dead in her
room. It was not Mme. du Barry the
cook saw leaving, but the American
dressed iu madame's clothes."
At this a horrified cry came from
Vandal, and he rushed for the door.
He led the way and the others follow
ed him to the floor below. The door of
madame's room was uot locked. Van
dal entered, expecting to see a most
ghastly sight.
He saw nothing but a bed, slightly
rumpled, and articles of female cloth
ing lying about.
"I own my mistake," said Casparln
with a laugh. "The American has not
killed madame. Ho has eloped with
her/'
Vandal cursed?
bcr and Robello
Mme. du Barry
Not a crime had
either of them in
Barry did uot
had gone with tlu
VVVVe will foUov.
giyr-
them both!" cried Vandai.
Take my advice and go to bed,"
said Caspmiu. "We can do nothing
before daylight. There is nothing to
fear at onee. for the American will
not give himself up to the police be
fore he ascertains what fate they have
iu store for hiui. A reward of 5,000
francs Is offered for his apprehension."
Reber slapped his leg.
"Good! It was worth 5,000 francs
to us for him to escape. We will run
him dowu aud earn the reward!"
"My friend, you are quick to think,
but you invariably think the wrong
tiling. We shall do uothlng of the
kind. We will run him dowu, but the
police shall never see hiui."
"Oh, as to that, you are able to pay
the 5,000 francs."
"And will. Now get some rest. We
must be early astir."
They obeyed him, aud early Iu the
morning they were ready and eager
for the chase.
It proved to be far from difficult tt
trace Mme. du Barry. She was well
known In that quarter.
It was soou learned by perslstcut
questioning on the part of Vaudal that
Mme. du Barry, in company with an
other woman, "beautifully dressed,"
had been seen on the street. No one
knew the other woman.
Bit by bit they traced madame, and
fiually the clew led to the bank.
"It Is surely an elopement," said
Vandal. "She has drawn her money."
"Then they are on the way to Ameri
ca," said Reber.
The trail euded at the bank. It was
in a quarter where no one knew Mme.
du Barry. They returned to the house
much discouraged. It was imperative
that the American bo found before he
had time to warn the Frince of Denes
lla of the plot against him.
At the house they found a telegram
from Mine, du Barry at Strassburg. It
was addressed to Vandal:
"I am In Strassburg without money.
Have been the victim of a police
agent."
"What mystery is this!" demauded
Casparln. "Have the police regained
possession of the Amerlcau? ne may
be dead, after all. Come, things may
uot be so bad. We must go to Strass
burg."
'To Strassburg? Why not send mon
ej* to madame to return?"
"Such would be the thing if we were
certain the man was dead. But we are
in doubt. If he is alive, as indeed
seems probable, he Is either in the
hands of the police or in Strassburg
with madame. In the first instance,
we must take ourselves out of Paris
at ouce, aud. In the second, we must
get to Strassburg as soon as possible.
You see we kill two birds with one
stone. We must go to Strassburg."
The four were soon In a train bound
for Strassburg. Vandal had the tele
gpein from madame. It bore the name
no hotel. It had been sent from the
railway station.
Having reached Strassburg they went
no farther than the station to begin
their search.
They found madame asleep on one of
the beucHos with two infuriated em
ployees angrily ordering her to sit up
or they would call the police.
She opeued her eyes, saw Vandal
and leaped to her feet with a cry like
that of a tigress.
Oh! Ah! You have come, theu!"
she said. "Have you brought knives
and pistols to kill a beast? Well, that
Is what you must do. I have sat here
since last evening. I am nearly dead
with Joss of sleep and my awful hun
ger. For the love of the good God, get
me something to eat."
Vandal obediently took her to the
cafe, and she attacked her meal with
the eagerness of the famishiug.
And now," said Casparln, "while
you are eating, madame, please tell us
what happened to you, and why an
agent of police brought you here."
"Bah! Those police! I was asleep
In my room. I woke to find a young
mau there. He ordered me to be quiet.
He said he was an ageut of police in
search of a prisoner, lie declared he
had searched my house and was as
sured the prisoner was gone. I knew
he had not found that little room up
stairs where the—the prisoner was.
Well, he then had other fish to fry.
He was after some spies against the
government. You were one, Vandal
you, your highness, were another. He
commanded me to obey and threatened
to take me to the Palais de Justice.
You all know whether that would bo
agreeable. I obeyed. He made me
dress him as a woman. Oh, 1 laughed
wlicu I disguised him! I gave him
that fine silk gown you gave me, Vau
dal—that one with the flowers on it.
Well, you will know that madame
when you meet her. She has on that
gown. Then we went to the bank. I
drew a thousand francs, aud he took
it all. We came to Strasfcburg, and
here I am. Where the agent of police
Is I do not know. Wheu we arrived
here, he told me to remain here while
he went to engage a carriage. That
was the last 1 saw of him or my thou
saud francs."
Reber and Robello gazed wondering*
ly. Vandal looked at Casparin for the
solution of this great mystery.
"My friend, you have been badly
sold," said the prince. "The supposed
agent of police was no other than our
prisoner, lie climbed from his room to
yours. He assumed the role of police
to frighten you Into obedience. He
had no money, of course, just coming
from the l'alals de Justice. You kind
ly accommodated him with a thousand
francs.
"lie brought you here and left you
without money in order to prevent
your telling us until he had had time
to escape.
"This matter Is more serious than it
seems. It proves that this American,
instead of being, as we supposed, a
youth who was easy to dupe, is shrewd
and farseelng. lie will be an enemy
worthy of our steel."
"But undoubtedly he Is now on the
way to America," said Jteber,
"Nonsense. One scarcely goes from
Paris to America by way of Strassburg.
He had but a thousand francs. It
would uot carry him there after his
expense of bringing himself aud
madame here. He has gone to Denes
lla. That, my friends, is where we
shall find him—in Deneslla. And we
must find him soou or our game will
be kuocked into rubbish."
"But whdt, then, of me?" asked
Mme. du Barry. "Am I to starve or
be dragged to Deneslla with you?"
"I think you had better go home. I
will furulsh you the money," said Cas
parin.
Pleased at tills, Mme. du Barry took
the money and the next train to Paris.
"Now, my friends, we must hurry."
said Casparln. "That dog has a good
start and will reach Deneslla before wo
do. But perhaps he will not be able
to warn my brother. Now I will tell
n'm You all know the way
-1,0,0.
••v.uixg nuu go ni oticu to roy castle
on the edge of the Green forest and
announce yourselves as my guests, in
vited from Paris. I am well known In
fill parts of Deneslla and cannot bo
seen plotting with inferiors. As my
guests you can go aud come at will and
lu disguise carry our plans to execu
tion."
"Good!" said Vandal. "Your castle
on the Green forest, you told me, lies
due north from Ontro, the border
town."
"Yes. Any one can tell you."
So Casparin left his hired assassins
ami went on to Deueslia. They, In
obedience to his commands, followed
him there, but little less rapidly.
They were well supplied with cloth-
Vfy/
-But what, then, ojmeT' asked Mme. du
Tiftrru.
ing, purchased at the large cities on
the way.
There was as yet no completed rail*
road within the limits of Deneslla.
Under the rule of the prince such im
provements were rapidly being added
to the public wealth.
At that time Ontro, situated just
within the border, was the terminus of
a new line from German centers.
Ontro, like small border towns in al
most any country, was more or less
lawless. Travelers rarely visited it.
There were other gateways to Denes
lla. Those who knew best rather shun
ned the little town of Ontro.
The houses were few and scattering.
Prosperity seemed to be somewhat of
a stranger.
There was but one inn and that far
from Imposing. Still they were hun
gry, and there was no diligence beyond
Ontro before the following morning.
They went to the Inn. They had
beeu the only passengers In the train
and were therefore the only new
guests at the Inn.
They were received with a great
show of eager hospitality. They drank
and ate and felt refreshed.
To pass away the time they dawdled
In a room opening off the little public
drawing room. This was a gaming
room, aud four men were playing at a
huge uncouth billiard table.
Vandal aud his companions stood
looking at the game
"Well," said one of the players after
a time, "this Is thirsty business.
Have some good beer brought—do."
He spoke In the German tongue,
though scarcely what would be heard
In Berlin.
A bell was ruug, and in a short time
a serving girl came in and took the
order.
"To the health of the good haus
frau!" they said and drank the toast.
As the waitress passed out the eyes
of Vandal followed her. He suddenly
nudged Reber and moved toward the
door.
In the poorly furnished little draw
Ing room a tall woman sat at a table
with her head bowed In her hands.
She was flashily dressed for such
place.
"That Is our man!" whispered Van
dal to Reber. "He has heard our
voices and hides his head. I know that
gown. I gave It to Mme. du Barry. Ah!
It is the very same, for the patterns of
the flowers are in my memory. Hush
I will make sure."
Reber and Robello, the latter of
whom did not hear the conversation,
stood in the doorway while Vandal
walked to the woman.'
"Madame, make me happy with
look at your face," he said, with
laugh, and, in a manner scarccly as
polite as his words, he grasped her
hair and bent back her head so as to
sec her face.
A truly feminine screech came from
her, and she called a name. In an in
stant the astonished Vandal was on
the floor, with the four billiard play
ers on top of him, pounding him, kick
ing him and stabbing him in the stom
ach with their cues.
"Scoundrel!" yelled one. "French
dog!"
"Call ltobard!" shouted another.
"Here is a rascal from France who in
sults the hausfrau!'
And while Vandal was being well
thumped Reber and Robello, never
very brave, fled from the place into the
dark and unknown street.
CHAPTER
FOUR AGAINST ONE.
OBARD, the man who kept the
inn at Ontro, was a Denes
llan who had married a Prus
sian woman. These worthy
people were supposed to make their
living keeping the inn. The inn at
Ontro sheltered such travelers as
chanced to como that way and were
forced to remain overnight, a thing
that no traveler knowing his business
ever did.
The Inn also sheltered a band of rob
bers and cutthroats, the chief mem
bers of which were the four billiard
players that had jumped upou Vandal,
Iu response to the cries for Robard,
that gentlcmau, a rotund and ruddy
faced rascal^ came pufling In.
"Here, here! What is the matter?
Have you lost your senses?" he de
manded. "Have you no sense what
ever? Is this the place to knock down
travelers and take their coin? Oh!
You will hang out a sign uext,
rnuko the old woman look smart."
"It was the gown:" came a strug
gling strangling voice from un '.er two
men. "Let me-lip! Let me up! uin.
explain!"
"That is what I was about to say,"
added the former speaker. "Here we
are thumping the life out of a man just
because Frau Robard screamed. And
where is she now? She fled from the.'
scene. Give the fellow a chance to ex
plain."
..it evident reluctance they got up
4Trav
elers Neatly Robbed Here!'"
"Shut up, you fool!" exclaimed one
of, the men who sat on Vandal's head,
"We are not robbing this fellow. We
caught him trying to rob you."
A loud laugh greeted this witty
speech.
"Rob me! That fellow rob me! Did
he take the silver?"
"Oh, no. He took nothing. But be
was trying to rob you of the good
hausfrau's smiles."
"Oh, oh! Such impudence! Have
you not already killed the beast?'
"Not quite," said another of the
gang. "I feel him panting under me.
However, I think killing none to heavy
a punishment. What do you say, Pa
pa Robard?"
"Well, now, after all, I think we had
better go slow," said a third. "The
fellow has been severely punished.
What did he do, after all, more than
fffllliint gentlemen In Ontro
^Sh? "He' simply admired our
Jfher Robard."
Tell, it must have been the
vn. I tell you," said Papa
that eown ls_ the thln/r to
L'-iii ViiU.Uii'tJ prostrate body, and he
slowly and painfully got to his feet.
"The (K-vii: You Celiows are brave!"
he said, with a puff and groan. "Four
to one! Well, I must say It is not the
way we do in France."
"Ho! France! I have been there,"
sr' ird. "They don't give you a
explain there. The garrote
i. the morgue!"
'•""•'ve fellow a chance to ex
plr.iu, I way!" insisted the advocate o'
fair play.
Vandal staggered to a chair and beg
ged for a glass of cognac. This was
brought him, and after swallowing
that and gathering his wits and ener
gies he began his explanation.
"You see," he said, "I and my two
companions were where are they
now? They deserted me in my need.
Find the fools, I beg. or they will cre
ate a disturbance. They will run half
way through Dencslia telling that I am
being murdered here."
The one who seemed to be the lead
er of the gang was as much alarmed
at this as Vandal seemed to be. He at
once stepped outside and gave orders
"Here, hcret Have t/on lost your hciischT'
he demanded.
to some hangers on to find the two
stringers in Ontro and return them to
the lun with every assurance of safe
ty.
This matter having been attended to.
Vandal resumed:
"You see, I and my companions came
from Paris in search of a young fel
low ivho had robbed us—that Is, who
had lobbed a friend of mine of several
thousand francs."
"What is this the fellow Is saying?"
asked Frau Robard, who had returned
when quiet was restored. She did not
understand French.
"I will speak German," said Vandal,
who was quite a linguist In his way.
"You see I and ray companions came
from Paris In search of a young fel
low who robbed a friend of mine of
several thousand francs in money,
some valuables and some flue clothing.
We traced the rascal to Strassburg,
and then from city to city and almost
through Prussia. We lost the trail at
last, but the directiou had steadily
been toward Deneslla, and, knowing
that he had friends here, we believed
he would make for this country.
"We knew that he left Paris lu the
disguise of a woman. He arrived at
Strassburg in the same disguise. And
now the mysterious part of It is this—
that he wore a gown the counterpart
of the one Frau Robard now has on.
I am sure of this, aud was so sure that
the moment I set eyes on the gown I
believed the wearer of it to be the
thief.
"To make sure, I stepped up to the
lady, and, thinking more than ever that
I was right, rudely raised her head in
order to see her face. Imagine my
amazement and consternation when I
beheld the sweet face of good Frau
Robard. Oh, I assure you, gentlemen,
it was a most grievous error on my
part, and no oue could regret it more
than 1 did, especially when I felt your
billiard cues ramming me In the stom
ach.
"Well, the evil Is not so great, If the
good frau can forgive me."
A look of great significance passed
from Robard to the younger of the
four, who was his son.
"And you say this fellow was a
thief?" asked the elder Robard. "llow
much did you say lie stole?"
It flashed into the mind of Vaudal
that the paltry amount of a thousand
francs was not sufficient loss to cause
three men to chase across Europe at
an ^xpeusc beyond that to recover it.
"Why, so far as we could ascertain,"
he answered, "the rascal took iu money
12,000 francs, several diamond orna
ments, ladies' Jewelry aud a fine gold
watch."
Another flash of intelligence from old
Robard his son.
"Well, my friend," said the old mau,
"I can explain the matter of the gown
very easily. There came to this inn
from the train yesterday a young uian
who claimed to be a peddler. In fact
he had a valise, aud iu that valise he
carried this gown, which he offered for
sale. It took the fancy of my wife at
once, and she made a bargain with
Win. She took the gown, he took the
money, spent the night here aud this
morning departed."
"What sort of a mau? llow did he
look?" asked Vaudal.
"Oh, a young fellow, lie spoke
French, but I fancied he was more like
those accursed English. lie spoke also
German to the wife."
"Smooth face, dark browu hair, good
eyes?"
"The same. Evidently the same.
Though a thief who steals like that
would not own good eyes long."
"Oh, this fellow was a good actor.
He can appear to be any tiling."
"He must be a marvel!"
"He Is. Which way did ho go?"
"Well, now. to tell the truth, 1 do
not remen'.' er. 1 think he went ou
toward Trolle. At least he purchased
a horse of inc."
At this point the two frightened as
sociates were brought in, and their
eyes opened at seeing the man they
had left at the bottom of a heap strug
gling for life now at the top of the
heap with the interest and attention
of all concentrated on him.
"Our man has gone ou toward
Trolle," said Vandal. "Our friends
here did not know they were lettlug a
prize slip through their fingers. Why,
there Is a prize of 5,000 francs offered
by the Paris police for the return of
the man to them. Oh, you should have
held him!"
Again that quick tlash from father
to sou
"I suggo. t, Vandal, "that, now
our exp.ui «.Lh :i
will estai.i..
the Fruv.
In the mo*
complete and good
drink the health of
.! md gejjsoine rest,
\.w v. .II continue our
a.
*u*:A?i\ ^.4 *•?*&
journey."
"I agree.
Robello.
la »u hour tlu* three were in bed,
and a consultation was being held be
low between Uohard and his son.
"Well, lurk has at last come to us,'
chuckled the old villain to the younger
one. "Twelve thousand francs, dia
monds and a watch on him and 5,000
francs for returning him to the Paris
police. But where is all that money?
Six hundred francs only we found.1
"Well, we took his purse, thinking
that contained all his wealth. A ped
dler with WO francs is a rare bird.
But VJ.000! Is lie safe for awhile yet?"
"Well. 1 gave him a good dose. But,
God. suppose I had killed him, as I in
tended at first, and lost that 5,000
francs! Oh, if those three wise French
men only knew their thief was asleep
in this house! WeJ'. we would have to
kill them. We mu not lose this prize."
I agree," said Reber and
From this delee 'lole conversation it
will readily be gathered that only a
portion of the story told by Robard to
Vandal was true. Huckford, as will
be remembered, gave Mine, du Barry
the slip at Strassburg. He left Strass
burg by the first train toward Dencslia
and ou the way uiauaged to resume his
natural appearance and placed the
gown of Mme. du Barry in his valise.
Arriving at Ontro, he had seized the
first opportunity to get rid of the
gown and had presented it to the wife
of his host.
She. pleased with the gaudy thing,
accepted it.
Judging that a man who could give
away a gown that was better than any
his w^fe had ever had must have plen
ty of money, llobard had given the
traveler a room into which he had a
way of going by stealth.
In this room he and his son had crept
after the unsuspecting Buckford was
asleep and had drugged him heavily.
They had then proceeded to rifle his
clothes, till, having found his purse,
they had taken it, leaving him In his
stupor while they thought of a way to
either explain his loss satisfactorily
or kill him if he made any fuss.
They had given him more of the
deadly stuff than they intended, and
he had slept all that night and all day.
But as has already been seen, Buck
ford had a constitution of iron aud
rallied from attacks that would kill
ordinary men.
He rallied from the effect of the
drug, at first slowly, with a bewilder
ing sense of Iryiug to recall where he
was. Gradually his senses came back
to him, and he remembered the inu at
Ontro.
lie felt somewhat 111, the natural
effect of taking into his lungs the
fumes of a stupefying drug.
He lay on his bed expecting some
one to come to him. lie knew that In
any Inn—any well regulated inn—when
a guest slept too long there would be
an investigation.
But the hours passed and no one
came.
Buckford had a feeling as If he had
been ill a long time. He knew that oue
day had elapsed since he came there,
but knew uot how many more.
The longer he lay there the better he
felt. The strength was returning to
his limbs.
He did not even foel the pangs of
hunger,
lie at last got out of bed aud went
to the door to call some one. ne found
it locked.
There was another door on another
side of the room. lie opened that. It
led into a space now evidently used as
a closet, but from which, on the oppo
site side, another door led somewhere.
This he tried, but could do nothlug
save push, as there was neither knob
nor latch.
While he was in the closet he heard
voices.
"The fellow is the very devil foi
escaping," said a voice. "First he
eludes us at Paris, then at Strass
burg and now at Ontro. It Is a pity
old Robard did not hold him. That
5,000 francs would pay for the trou
ble."
Buckford's heart beat rapidly. He
recogulzed the voice of Vandal.
"Has he gone to Trolle as a ped
dler?" asked Reber. "This Is a strange
game. Why did he sell the gown to
that woman?"
"Oh, to get money to buy the horse,
I suppose. But that was a gay story
about his stealing diamonds and 12,
000 francs. Well, I had to say some
thing. Three of us would not chase
across all Europe for 1.000 francs."
Buckford. panting in the closet, won
dered what it all meant. Evidently
they were under the. Impression that
he had gone on toward Trolle. They
had also been told that he had sold the
woman the gown when he had pre
sented it to her.
These things, together with his
strange sensation of illness, made him
suspicious. He stepped quickly back
to his room and felt for his purse. It
was gone.
"Ah!" he said bitterly. "I lmve
fallen among thieves again. This ras
cal of an innkeeper has robbed me.
Now, how shall 1 get out of this scrape
with no money and my enemies in the
very house?"
He crept back to the closet.
The three pursuers of the thief who
stole so much wealth had been
given two connecting rooms. lteDer
and Robello occupied one, and Vandal
was alone in the other. Their conver
sation, carried on while they were pre
paring for bed, was necessarily a lit
tle loud. Buckford heard it easily.
"How far Is Trolle from here?" Ro
bello was asking. "When will he ar
rive there?"
"How old is a goose? It all depends
on the horse the innkeeper sold him.
If It was a good oue, lie can do it in
two days."
"Two days! And we are a day be
hind him."
"Well, we will get the best horses to
be had and try to overtake him. I saw
some horses in the stable today—not
handsome beasts, but strong, and they
looked speedy."
"The stable! Did you find a stable?
Tills inn Is the only stable I saw*."
"Well, there is a stable for horses In
the rear."
The conversation now ceased, and
Buckford went back to his room. He
was now hi a thrill of excitement. He
had lost his sense of Illness. Ills mlud
was alert and quick. 11 is eagerness to
find a way to escape had overcome the
effect of the drug.
He had taken off his clothes before
retiring and now dressed himself. lie
then made an examination of his room.
He remembered that the window look
ed out toward a large building, for he
had seen it at the twilight hour when
he had entered. This must be the sta
ble spoken of by Vandal, lie next
cautiously opened the window, making
as little noise as possible.
It was a dark ulght, there being no
moon and but few stars to be seen.
The great peak of the barn rose like a
black mountain short distance away,
He knew that he was on the ground
floor of the lun. There seemed to be
the roof of a shed under him.
He was about to let himst
"^iHdow when k«
the lock of his door, and he heard tue
voices of Robard and his son.
At the same moment he hoard the
roistering voices of three or four half
drunken fellows under his window.
He was caught between two forces.
To drop from the window at that mo
ment was to drop Into their hands.
Robard would at once call out, and he
would be taken.
While he was debating what to do
Robard aud his sou entered.
"Ah, my friend, you have slept long,"
said Robard. "We feared you were
111."
"Xo, I was only very weary," said
Buckford.
The younger Robard carried a lamp.
By the light of this Buckford saw a
knife sticking from the pocket of the
elder rascal's coat.
1th a leap like that of a panther,
he was on the old man aud tore the
knife from the pocket. Iu another in
stant its polut had found a soft spot
between the robber's ribs.
Then, with a blow from his list that
sent the younger Robard reeling and
the lamp Hying against the wall, Buck
ford ran to the window and leaped to
the roof of the shed below. From this
he jumped dowu to the ground and
came plump upou the roistering party
of four, who were startled at this sud
den alighting of a rare bird among
them.
"IIo. ho! What's this? A robber!
Call Robard! Call Robard! Seize this
fellow! Hold him till Robard comes!"
"Fools!" cried Buckford as he saw
the window of his room lighted with a
red glare. "I am a guest of the Inn.
My lamp upset, and the house took fire.
This was the only escape. Do you
see?"
Fire, fire! Robard's inn Is on fire!"
they shouted, and, sobered by the ter
rible catastrophe, they released Buck
ford and ran to the front of the build
ing to gain an entrance.
"Fire, tire!" Buckford could hear the
alarm rlnglug from one end of the
house to the other.
Theu from the window of the room
he had left came screams and yells of
wild rage and despair.
"Murder! Robbery! He has gone!
After him, you Frenchmen! The thief
They rode Ukc the wind over the hills.
you want has just set the house on fire,
stabbed Robard and leaped from the
window! After him!"
Buckford ran as he had never run
before. He fouud an easy entrance to
the stable. Every employee who slept
lu or near the stable had rushed to the
inn to fight the fire. He had no time to
select a horse. lie took the one near
est the door. Without saddle or bridle
he led it forth, leaped upon Its back,
and as the glare from the burning
building sent a gleam of light around
bim he dashed away, followed by the
hoarse cries of rage and the pistol
shots of the enraged Frenchmen »nd
Robard's son.
It is claimed that dentistry prolongs
Ufe. A« lias been said of matrimony, It
certainly makes It seem longer.—Louis
ville Courier-Journal.
Miss Alma—W hen did yon become
acquainted with your wife, doctor?
Doctor—After the wedding.—HeUer*
Welt
[CONTINUED,
1
A Profltablg Investment,
"1 was troubled for about seven years
with my stomach and in bed half my
time," says E. Demick, Somerville, Ind.
"I spent about SI,000 and never could
kret anything to help me until 1 tried
Kodnl Dyspersia Cure. have taken a
few bottles and am entirely well." You
don't live by what you eat,but by what
you digest and asBimilate. If your
etomach doesn't digest your food you
are really starving. Kodol Dyspepsia
Cure does the stomach'B work by digest
ing the food. You don't have to diet.
Eat all you want. Kodol Dyspepsia
Curefcures all stomach troubles.-Smith
Bros.
CB
Delaware Couuty,
Notice Is hereby given, ilint the undersigned
has been duly appointed and qualified un Ad
mlntstmtor with wlliannoxed. of the estate of
Kordiuaud Duuhuin. lato ot Delaware county
Iowa, deceased. All person* Indebted to said
estate are reqdestod to make Immediate pay
ment, and those having claims nuatnst the game
will present theiu, duly authenticated, to tbo
uudorstKued for allowance.
Dated Mancliestor, Iowa, December, 17, iooi.
ABNKK DUNHAM.
HKOXSON & CATtK,
Attorneys for Estate, 51-3-w
Child Worth ALillions.
"My child Is worth millions to me,"
says Mrs. Mary Bird,of Harrisburg,Pa.,
"yet 1 would have lost her by croup had
1 not purchased a bottle of One Minute
Cough Cure." One Minute Cough
Cure 16 8ure cure for cough, croup and
throat and lung troubles. An absolute
ly safe cough cure which acts immed
iately, The youngest child can take it
with entire safety. The little ones like
the taste and remember how often it
helped them. Every family should
have a bottle of One Minute Cough
Cure handy. At this season especially
it may be needed suddenly.—Smith
Bros.
Resldeuce Properties for Sale.
Several tine residoncea in desirable portions
of the City ot Manchester for sale cheap. En
quire at the office of Manchester Democrat.
Children Especially Liable.
Burns, bruises and cutB are extreme
ly painful and if neglected often result
in blood poisoning. Children are es
pecially liable to sucb mishap?, because
not so careful. Ass remedy DeWitt's
Witch HazelSalye is uiieqtialled.Draws
out the fire, stops the pain, soon heals
the wound. Beware of counterfeits.
Sure cure for piles. "DeWitt's Witch
llnzel Salve cured my baby of eczema
after two physicians gave her up, writeB
James Mock, N. WebBter, Ind. "The
sores were so bad she soiled two to live
dresseB a day."—Smith Bros.
Phaeton For Sale.
A llrst-cla&s second-hand phaeton In Rood con
dition. lor sale at less than half Its original cost.
Time given If desired. BRONSON & CAIIK.
Don't Live Together.
Constipation and health never go to
gether. DeWitt's Little Early ltisers
promote easy action of the bowels with
out distress. "I have been troubled
with oostlveness nine years," says J. 0.
Ureen.Deftauw.lnd.,"! have tried maty
remedies Iftit Little Early Risers give
best result!"—Smith .Bros.
down
In
*T-~
m. DONNELLi,
Physician and Surg-ec
Proprietor of tne
Ryan Drug Store.
Dealer in
Drugs, Stationery, Etc
RYAN IOWA
Delaware Coity1JSP
STATE BARK
Manchester, Iowa.
CAPITAL $60,000
OFFICERS
WM. C. CAWMSY, CIIA8. J. SEEDS.
President. Cashier.
U. W llUltll. C. W. KEAGY,
Vice President. Ass t. Cashier.,
DIRECTORS
1
F'
ARNOLD.
V.. (i. KhNVON. It, W
ISDWAUl) ]'. SKE \y
UIAD. J. ,-iiiEDS. M. h. WILLISTON,
It, W. TIKMLL. -i
DUNHAM. S!9l
C. W. KEAUY.
Interest Paid on Time Deposits.
Prompt attention Riven to uli business. Pas
senger tickets from aud to all parts oi Eur
ope direct to Mancbcuter, for sale.
Long Time Mortgage Loans Made,
Bought and Sold.
SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES
For tbe storage of valuable papers,
etc. for rent.
Banking
House
DEPOSITS
I
lk"%!
Henry Hutchinson
Hutchlntui'i Building. Minchetler. Ion.
CAPITAL, $70,000
JOSEPH HUTCHINSON, Ouhier. ,,
COLLECTIONS
FiorapUy SCadl
on Time, Interest
lowod and otter deposits received,
DRAFTS
sold on Now York, Chi
ana Dubuque also on Great Britain and
landftn r.urcppspCities.
TICKETS—sold to ana from all Eur
l»rtsi via Cunard, or Allon or White Star'
ship Uues,
Compound Vapor and J'
ooo Baths.
Baths
Most
eases a~
by poiaono,.:v
retions, wV
clog the whee»w
of NATURE.
Vapor
and
Shampoo.
The name and
the symptoms
may be different
but the cause of
disease can us
ually be traced
to the impenect action oi the millions
of pores of the haman body. A bath in
accordance with scientific require
ments is the best preventative and
remedy known. The methods employ
ed by me are the scientific ever
invented or discovou 'or dispelling
disease. Results tell the dtory. GIvo
m© atrial. This is the Conant system
of baths. A competent lady attendant
in charge of the ladios department.
Office and bath rooms on Franklin
struct, opposite Globe Hotol.
8"
S A
Q. D. QATCS.
Henry Hutchinson
Breeder of Thoroughbred ..j
Shorthorn Cattle.
JOSEPH HUTCHINSON
Manchester, Iowa.
M. F. I.EKOY Prest. II. A. UltANGEK Cashier
11. A. VON OVEN. Asst. Cashier
A. 11. BLAKE, 1st. V. President
II.<p></p>First
C. HAKBEKI.E,
2nd.<p></p>National
1
Notice of Appointment of Administra
tor With the Will Annexed.
STATE OK IOWA,
V. President,
BANK,
MANCHESTER. IOWA.
CAPITAL. $50,000
General I
Banking
Business
Transaoted.
Interest Paid on Time Deposits.
SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES
FOK RENT.
T-1T-IL.1' L. il-.TVI-TB C3
R. B. Robinson,
1
M. F. LeRoy,
E. M. Carr, M. Beehler,
H. A. Granger. A. H. Blake,
II. A. von Oven, H. 0. Haeberle
L. L. Hoyt,
COSSiESrOlTSElTTS.
First National 13ank. Dubuque, Iowa.
Central National Bank New York City.
Commercial National Bank. Chloaeo. Iila
When you want
Fine Furnitui
AT
Fair Price
GO TO
W er kmeister's
AT
Earlville.
Undertaking Solicite
F. WERKMEIF