The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 25, 1898, Page 24

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, NDAY, OJOJOJONOROJOXOJOROXO) HE Sheriff of Siskiwah County, Arizona, had a se- ore He never told it to his best friend, but it was or out of his own mind. He was a physical cow- A shot fired set his heart beating wildly, and rife and carnage. His pulse beats averaged 9 per minute and his heart turned cold every time a summons for arrest was placed in his He experienced a sensation of nervous dread each swung himself upon the back of his high-spirited ery sudden sound conveying presage of danger 4 him with fright. His disposition was high-strung, :nd unalterably timid. ¢ “Rad” Conrad was known as the coolest and ous Sheriff in this Territory. He had at- reputation by daily and hourly struggle with le moral force against his natural weakness. His ger, great as it was, had been subordinated to .r lest his failing be known. How to hide his frem the world was his one aim. With a cold heart he sought danger with the eagerness of d its every phase. Quiet, persistent, plodding without any of the Western dash and audacity sing to most men in his occupation, he continually t the closest risks and hazards, driven by an abnor- mal desive to appear fearle! Zlen who had no conception of the meaning of the word “gear” sometimes stood apart, aghast at the man's dar- g, and admired him. Apparently without the slightest llen of aspect, he trailed desperate ne ard he turned sick at a greater f crimir ndezvous, engaged in combat against mighty odds and waged such relentless war upon despera- does and ovtlaws that his fame as an upholder of law and order was sperad far and wide. Radclif Conrad kept his secret well. Not a man In Siskiwan County had ever seen him flinch from his duty, s and camps of his intrepidity sne cruel day when the Sheriff was forced his tortured spirit with double force. inyon was built on a stretch of plain r from the exit of a mountaln gulch. a tangled wilderness. Two miles nverged to a fissure half a mile deep, he sides, for its 5t to the rattlesnakes the bowlders. Within the the densely wooded sides angles, stood the white ps the Postmaster, and leading arms and ammunition. Here, ream and among the moss-grown wed the juvenile Reeds—little more than rushes watched over more or less carefully by Boadicea, eldest daughter of the house. confines, late one afternoon, came Arizona man dn the county, after breaking half a worth of mirrors and glassware In the s of entertainmert, and introducing sundry into various citizens. to their great bodily an- came the whip tc plz lead guis 3 was not too drunk to entertain a wholesome fear of Rad Conrad, and it was his intention to conceal himself darkness should lend him cover to escape. On heing apprised of these events, the Sheriff of the reccgnizing his duty, prepared to effect Dan's cap- A brave man in his place who properly estimated of a good citizen's life in comparison with the a degenerate like Arizona Dan, as a further- irvival of the fittest idea, would have sum- nd by moral force of numbers would have nder of the offender without risk of 1cliff Conrad was not the man to do this. appearance of lack of courage, as he de- n the danger. ave?” asked the Sheriff of some Dan'’s retreat to the gulch oon-keeper, who had suffered “He left both his guns in e value “What men who b heriff unbuckled his revolver and shoved it across er. ‘‘Keep tka for me.” he said. “Tll go and get Dan,” He pa lowly down the street, walking in the direc- of the gulch, and the men gazed after him admiringly. Never knew what bein’ afrald was, Rad never!" sald carrier. r havin' sand. He wouldn't take his gun along, 'cause Dan had left his'n. With a_creetur like Dan it ‘pears to 's a_leetle reck Dan overweighs Rad a matter ty-five pound, the very least.” In the gulch things were as usual, to all appearance. The little mountain brook that dashed down the steep rocks purled in the deep shade, and sent out dlamond flashes where stray flecks of sunlight dived into it, and the birds in the redwood trees whistled away as though there was no such unharmonious and degraded thing as Arizona Dan somewhere below, trying to conceal his dese- ence. The little Reeds were at school, and ses as might have been heard by that legendary and overworked creature, the casual observer, were sylvan and well attuned. A critic in sight-harmony would also have found little to cavil at, unless his too fine-drawn perceptions had deemed the aspect of Miss Boadicea Reed, who sat negligently in a grapevine swing, too unslyph-like for perfect accord. Miss Bozdicea—called “Dicey” by her immediate fam- fly and friends, a diminutive evolved from their original nd arbitrary pronunciation of her name—souned a note fch ¢ have been a dissonance, but it had its true ntuating the soft melody of the wood. As half reclined upon the glant vine, her freshly-starched white muslin crackled about a form whose measurements faltered not an inch from the modern standard of perfec- tion. Her glossy black halr was arranged in the latest fashion shcwn in the most recently arrived ladies’ maga- zine in Lava Canyon. Her features were clear cut and regular; she had the evs of Melpomene, and the heart of the ancient British queen whose name she bore. As Boadicea swung n the grape vine, some 30 yards up the gulch from the house, she turned her gaze idly to- ward a thick clump of bushes, and saw an eye with a good deal of in the normally white portion of it looking at her between the leave: She sat bolt upright on the vine, and, as it appeared to be a man's eye, her hand, without any special volition of her brain went to the knot of hair at the back of her head, , Arizona Dan, hitching up his revolverles . shuffled his huge form the flexile branches of the bushes Into the path. h-sh-sh!”" he said, k ce rolaing into a dull smile int aln’t a-goin’ to hurt you, miss.” Hurt me!” said Miss Reed, contemptuously, “I should think not. What are you doing here?" “Just a-layin’ low, miss, and waitin’ for night. Yer see. T was on what you might call a sort of spree, and broke a glass or two. Maybe somebody was hurt, too. The wh done it. A good lookin' youns lady like you, miss, wouldn't give the word on a man, now. I bet a 08 Arizona Dan’s lumbering attempt at compliment pro- duced no effect. Boadicea regarded him sternly with un- swerying. disapproving eyes. “You don’t want to be loafing around these diggings,” she sald, ordinarily more wort you?’ bstituting the local form or parlance for her re elevated style of conversation, as being v of her audience. ‘‘You are not afraid, are with infinite disdain. in't fraid,” sald Arizona Dan. shifting his feet xcept of being took. I can’'t fight the whole 1 uneasily, town."” is any one after you?" ain't, they will be. Rad Conrad’s in town, rizona Dan broke off, with an oath, and looked down y. ‘‘Here he comes now,” he muttered. rose to her feet and peered over the tops of the intervening bushes. The Sheriff, unarmed, in a light summer suit that set off to advantage his strong, grace- ful figure, was coming up the path with the sun striking golden lights from his head of curly blonde hafr. Boadi- cea looked upon him and loved. When in ten paces of his man the Sheriff took off his hat wipad his brow with a silk handkerchief. “Da he said, in an even tone, "I want you.” Arizona Dan drew a nine-inch bowie knife from the leg of his hoot 'Come and get me,” he said, with a ‘Frln‘ and a suggestive upward movement of his right hand. The old, well-known, nauseating, deathly, cowardly hysical fear came upon the Sheriff as he saw the shining blade held by the huge desperado he had come unarmed to capture. His pride and the wonderful moral puissance that ground out courageous deeds from heart-sinking ap- n urged him forward another step. Arizona laug: d 2 low, half-sober, big chilling laugh. So quiet i that the voice of the brook sounded in the Sherift's ears like the derisive mockery of men at his poltroonery. For one instant Radeliff Conrad swung in the balance, An all-pervading panic seized him, and the foot he lifted to take a forward step weighed a hundred pounds. The rustling of a branch to his right, above the path, drew from him a swift glance, and he looked for ten seconds into two derk eyes that seemed to flash some strange, ex- alting essence into his veins. A welght seemed loosened somewhare within him, and he felt that he could hear it fall down, down to unsounded depths. He looked at Ari- zona Dan and laughed low and joyously, as a child does who has come upon a long-desired toy. “Will you come?" said the Sneriff in a tone a bride- groom might have used to his bride. “T'll_cut your heart out, Rad Conrad,” sald Arizona Dan, “if you'come two steps nearer.” Bozadicea, on the ledge above, rustled a little, and_the Sheriff, without looking up, smiled agaln. Arizona Dan held his knife as one holds a foll, point outward, with his thumb against the guard. The Sheriff crouched some three inches like a cat, and seemed to gather himself to- gether with his wotht balanced evenly on each foot. Ari- zona Dan stood still with his knife ready. Was Rad Con- rad fool erough to attack him with his bare hands? The Sheriff could have shouted for joy. Like a flash valor and audacious courage had come upon him. He felt that he would never know fear again. Something had passed into his blood that had made him a man instead of the spurious being he had been. He felt the two dark eyes above fixed upon him, but he kept his own upon Ari- zona Dan's ‘ Heretofcre the Sheriff’s exploits had been attended by a fortuitous chance that brought him safely out of them—a chance just as blind and incomprehensible as that which guards the ways of children and drunkards. Now he felt the caution, the indomitable intent to do coupled with the prudence of the successful general that gives bravery its value. f a miracle had been accomplished. The other half was to follow. It must have been that Arizona Dan's nerves were unstrung by his debauch, else when a small stone dis- lodged by Boadicea's foot rattled down to the path at his side he would not have bestowed the advantage of turn- ing his head quickly to look. But he did o, and In an in- stant the Sheriff had his knife arm by the wrist, and his other arm about his waist. Then Arizona Dan was filled with surprise to feel the arm that held his knife slowl: twisting in spite of all his resistance—twisting outward, until the tendons and muscles were cracking. The Sher- iff's hand was like a steel clamp and when the pain grew unbearable Arizona Dan dropped the knife. When the MIRACLE OF LAVA CANYON.: A Story of Arizona. [CXCXONOXOROXOXOXOROROXORORONOROKO] Sheriff heard it ring on the rocks he reieased the wrist throat pusted about his waist held straining cor tention on cne on th displacemen crash. left him lying in a disgraceful heap oblivious of defeat, The Sheriff knelt Y leaden largess, drew cords from his pocket, and ignomini- ously bound him hand and foot. T 0 00C0000C0N0000C000O00CO000000000000O0N0ODOO0CO000000 0000000000000 00C00000000000000C00000000000000CO0000000000000000ONCOOOO0C00000CO00000000000000000000000CO00000OOC00O000000O0ODDOVOC0O00000000C0O00000000000000C feet and turned his flushed face and yetlow curls to the source of his new being, as a sunflower turns to the sun. Boadicea slid down through the bushes like a young panther. 2 “You're a jim dandy,” she said, “if there ever was one, “I saw If. T—=" ® 5 © She stopped suddenly. The Sheriff was looking straight @ into her eyes. She felt, for the first time, a strange heat in her cheeks, and thought she must have fever. Her eyes ® (0] [} (O} slowly dropped, for the first time, before another's. Her tongue for the first time tripped and faltered. “ItNl be dark soon,” began the Sheriff, and his voice sounded to her far away like the wind in the pines; “you'd better let me walk back to the house with you. I'll bring a horse back for this chap by the time he recovers. You are Miss Reed, I think. I know vour father.” The evening breeze rustied airily through the red- woods. A squirrel frisked up a hickory, and the first owl hoot came from the shadows about the brook. The brook's babble had no longer mocked; it sang a paean of praise. As they walked down the path together a scream of fright came from the namesake of the battle queen of the Britons. A horrld lizard!” she cried. The Sheriff's strong arm reassured her. The miracle was complete. The soul of each had passed into the other. W. S. PORTER. (Copyrighted, 18¢8.) (CXONOROJONOXO] [CRONOXOROXONOXOXOXOXOKO) v and laid his left forearm across Dan's throat. e too close for blows, and there was little stru, shifting of ground. The arm across Arizona Dan’s his head back, and the other iron band him close. It was a silent, fierce, for the displacement, and ain the e of gravity. The side for nd the gladiators went down with a ¢ of Arizona Dan's head other to re; won A small bowlder in the w: upon the vanquished distributor of tory. hen he sprang to his SEPTEMBER 25, 1898, Carolet, FIRST WOMAN TO SHOOT THE MILES CANYON RAPIDS Thrilling Adventures of Mrs, James Carroll While Try- ing to Reach the Gold Diggings on the Klondike. NLY one woman went through the terrible rapids of Miles Can- yon on the way the Alaska gold fields this year. dike Mrs. Carroll went through a num- ber of strange adventures, but her most thrilling experience was shooting the rapids. trip to the head of Miles Canyon was made in a shc t time and this great problem confronted the travelers: Through the canyon in two minutes or 0 Mt : After the Carroll party had buflt their over the mountain in two days? Of This was Mrs. Jam=: Ourroll, /.4 %500 fixed all the coeasorios fora course they debated this quesiion for wife of the ex-champion lightweight long trip down the Yukon a good start was made at a time when a fair wind was blowing in the right direction. The a long time. That portion of Mrs. Car- roll's letter that refers to this is as follows: pugilist, recently of this city but now of Dawson. On the way to the Klon- SHOOTING THE MILES CANYON RAPIDS, ALASKA. itched around In a dozen different directions at the same time, now down and then we swung lldewllei and It tock all our strength to keep the “We were it seemed to me. Now we went up, boat under control. Water came aboard in bucketfuls. In spite of my oflekin suit I was drenched, but the great exertion kept me from feeling cold. Once we saw a patch of smooth looking water and instinctively I felt as if we must giide through it as slick as could be. But this was the worst part of the trip. Before I realized it theie came an awful bump. The boat lifted vp on one side and the waters churned and foamed around the other. We were on a rock.” “Everybody told me not to go. “The old captain who is put on guard at the head of the rapids shook his head. ‘You will have to break the laws it you go,” he said. “I then found out, much to my sur- prise, that there is a law up there pro- hibiting women from going through the rapids. This, of course, made me want to go all the more. “There were about twenty-five women in the camp just above the canyon and all begged and pleaded with me not to go through the rapids. Some of them shed tears, so earnest were they in their entreaties. But I was determined that if the rest of the party and the boats went through the rapids I would g0 too. “But I was determined to go through the rapids." “Again I resorted to my disguise, but I guess the old man saw through it all right enough. “I put on a suit of slickers and pulled my hat down over my eyes. Of course my husband and the boys knew me and gave me a seat in front. As the boats are only allowed to carry so many I had to do my share of the work. This was paddling of the hardest kind. Paddling for life in fact. “We all crowded into the boat and several men on shore held the sides until just the right sweep of current came along. Then they gave us a shove and off we went, like a streak of lightning it seemed to me. “Before we started it was only nat- ural that I chould have considered what 1 was about to undegtake. I spent hours picturing to myself what I would have to pass through. I made the ordeal as bad as I could possibly conceive it. But the actual trip was not in the least as I had pictured it. ‘Where I had pictured wildly swirling eddies we found a maelstrom. “From the instant our boat left the shore I had not a chance to look be- hind me. In some way I realized that there was no turning back., No earth- ly power could help me now. We must g0 through the canyon or die In the at- tempt. “Then the thought came to me that perhaps 1 was on the brink of the grave. For aught I knew two minutes hence I would be lying drowned and bruised beyond recognition on the rocks at the foot of the falls. My hand trembled. I almost dropped the paddle. The sight of the seething wa- ters frightened me. “‘Suddenly the boat seemed to give a leap and an enormous black cloud glided past me. A dash of icy water flew in my face, A deafening roar as of distant thunder filled my ears. The air seemed to grow darker. We were in the canyon and must fight for our lives. “‘Somehow this thought that we could fight gave me strength. I forgot my fears as soon as I realized that it all depended on ourselves. If we handled the boat properly and steered clear of the rocks we would come out all right. But a single misstroke of the paddles or an instant's lack of vigilance meant death. “Then I began to paddle for dear life, and began to realize what was going on around me. 1 could see the canyon walls sliding backward as if some mighty hand were pulling them. ‘What progress we were making made no impression on me. I devoted my- self to paddling the boat clear of the rocks and keeping to my seat. ‘“We were pitched around in a dozen different directions at the same time, it seemed to me. Now we went up, now down and then we swung sidewise, and it took all our strength to keep the boat under control. Water came aboard in bucketfuls. In spite df my oilskin suit I was drenched, but the great exertion kept me from feeling cold. “Once we saw a patch of smooth looking water and instinctively I felt as if we must glide through it as slick as could be. “But this was the worst part of the trip. Before I realized it there came an awful bump. The boat lifted up on one side and the waters churned and foamed around the other. We were on a rock. . “ ‘Push her off, quick!” yelled one of the boys behind me. “Just how I did it I don't know, but I got my paddle in just the right place and with all my strength pusled our boat clear. But we were sidewise in the stream and just ahead a wave rolled about five feet high. If we didn’t strike it bow on we were doomed. “Oh, how hard I worked. I paddled until my arms were sore and my hands blistered. ~But we struck the wave just right and instantly were raised high in the air. Then we dropped down, down. It seemed as if we were going into the bowels of the earth. I almost lost my breath and a sick feel- ing came over me. ““With a mighty struggle I overcame this and got to work agatn. Now we struck. a place where the current seemed to come from the bottom with a boiling motion. We were surround- ed by foam and had to paddle for our lives. It was scarcely possible to keep our boat head on. “Then I began to feel tired. It seemed to me as if we had been in that seething swirl of waters for a liretime. 1 had no idea of where we were or how near we were getting to the end. Then I reconciled myself to go on paddling for ever and ever. “Suddenly the motion seemed to cease, and in a moment there came a grating sound. ‘What was that? I asked myself. “But before I could find out I heard the sound of a rifle and a mighty cheer from a multitude of people standing near by. “I looked back in the boat and saw J— with his watch in his hand. “‘How long were we? some one asked; and his voice seemed to come from far off. ‘“‘A minute and forty-five seconds,™ J— answered, and I knew that we had made the trip in safety. “Then I was happpy. I was glad that I had made the trip. I wouldn't have missed it for a thousand dollars. But I wouldn't take the trip again for a million.” foYoXoxoYorotoxoYoXorexeReloooYoYoroYoYoYoRotoYoYoooloRoR X ORoToRORORSRORCICCOROROICHC) EMPEROR FOR A NIGHT. ; A Story of Napoleon. foXcXoXoXoToXoJooXoKoYoKoXoYooloXoRoXoRoXoRoRoRoRoRoYoRoRoROXOROCIONO) ARET had often been told of his resemblance in tace and voice to his Emperor, and had, indeed, feund it a method of amusement for his friends and himself, but he never dreamed might be any danger from the mimicry. Even Colonel that there grave and methodical, was surprised from his usual composure at a summons from the Emperor, and when he presented himself a con- versation tcok place which will not be found mentioned in the state annals or even hinted at on the pages of his- “I am going to honor you with my confidence in a cer- 0000000000 C0000000000000000C0C O POOO00O000000C00000000000000000000000000C0000000000000000000C000000C00000000C000CO0C00CC000CO0C000O0CCO0000000000000000CO20000C00000000C00000Q00CNRIV0000000000000 YORONONONOROJONOJ PFOEEEOOEO® “and as my tain manner,” the Emperor began, abruptly, first command, I require absolute ebedience. “I have heard of a young man in your regiment who is said to resemble me somewhat, but whose voice is pe- culiarly like mine.” Coloncl Carolet gasped. Was it possible, that the Bm- peror sould hold him responsible for such a thing? He could only stammer incoherently: “Why, your majesty, I—he—" 2 “E10ugh, enough the Emperor, impatiently, waving bis hand. *You nced not answe I know that it is the truth. For certain reasons, with which you have nothing to do, I require some one to personate me in an adventure Ir which there may be Some danger. fl] MIW heard of this young man, and I saw him y rday for the purnose of Judging as fo his fitness for the service that I need. 1f you can assure me that he is brave— “As a licn, sire.” s the grave, sire. ‘‘He wlllgdr). Nothing further must be known ot the affalr. Nothing more must be investigated. If he or any one makes but the slightest move in that direction he will sign his death warrant.” “Mizht I ask, sire—" “Not cpe word!” broke in the Emperor, haughti E have given you your orders.- You can give me "or ‘no’ to a question. Can you answer for his .willingness to serve ine in this matter?” “With his life, sire. But—" i “That will do,” said the Emperor, rising. -*You will bring him ycurself this evening to the'little wicket at the end of the garden. No other soul in the world will know this, remember, but myself, the young man and you. I bid you good-day, colonel.” . With Taiiftary promptness they reached.the palace tnat night, tad the heavy gate in the western wall swung softly open the instant of their approach. The colonel delivered the young man over to_ the charge of an unseen watcher on the other side and de- parted. And Baret heard the gate again closed and looked; then In the heavy darkness, his hand was grasped by another, and he felt that he was gently but firmly drawn forward, though not a word was spoken by his unknown guide. skirting the courtyard they reached a couple b A sive, unguarded door swung softly ace to a stone passage, narrow and damp, where a tiny lantern on the floer only made the surrounding darkness more visible. ; A narrow stair led to a small hall, and, pressing a spring to the left, his guide drew him into a brilliantly lighted ro.m. sudden glare so dazzled the young sol- 1l rceive his companion, who, seated himself in a deeply putting aside his clo cushionad chair near the “Sire!” he stammered. know I—the honor—"' “There, there, my friend,” “You are'to do me the honor to-night your fidzlity, your obedience and silenc “To the drop of my blood, sire. “That will do, d the Emperor, all be needed. in an hour I 1 le s room. to be gone for iwo hours or more. I had thought of sending you in my place, but prefer to go myself. You will re- main here till I return.” Baret waited “Ts that all “Your pardon. I—I did not sald the Emperor kindly. I can depend on o0 miling. ‘“They may ur absolute obedience to and my happiness. F be interrupti Some n entrance, using such words After )2 or 1 vou are not likely to be disturbed, a may 2ven sleep on my bed in the room yonder | wish, ar voice, vering all inquiri “must be absolutely calm and undisturt syllatle, must betray “.he continued, ed. Not a ‘tone, not a agitation. 1 am never agi- tated.” ‘I unle sire. I am to persong “You ul d nothing, but what I say to you,” sald the Ei 3 Baret bowed in mperor, whose anger cooled as suddenly as it n, gave him his hand to kiss before he entered the bedroom. When he reappeared Mis dress was so changed that Baret stered at the disguise in amazement, in turn the Emperor gazed at him piercingly, searchingly. Ap- parent sfled at last, he motioned to Baret to enter the bedroom before he rang the bell. When the servant came he was back in the inner room and called {o the man from ther “I am nct to be disturbed again to-night for anything, Laurent. You understand? For anything! Give orders to that effect instantly. And—stay. You m return first with a light supper; 1 may need It before I The door closed softly behind the servan peror turned to the y respectful silence. “The aupper is for you before T o, I wish you t cep. and the Em- ung soldier, who stood near him in Baret,” he whispered. - “And speak to Laurent, that I may determine your cooln. When he brings the dish from, within this room: s, say ‘That will do for to-night, Lau- rent. The young man hoped his voice did not sound so oddly in the ears cf the Emperor as it did in his own when he repeated the words, with an almost involuntary imitation of the slight drawl sometimes heard in the tones of the ruler of the empire. he cervant's steps echoed on the marble floor and died away info silence before the Emperor fastened the door behind hin. Then, taking a soft hat and drawing his cloak about him, he said: “I shall be home at 3—perhaps. And, placing his finger to his through the secret panel. To be an Emperor, even for a few hours, was not such a bad thing, thought Baret as he looked about him. The many luxuries—massive hangings, richly embroldered with’ the imperial emblem, the curious tapestries on every $ide, the furniture and fine cabinets—all deeply impressed m. lips, he disappeared There was a nofse at the outer door of the anteroam where Laurent slept. It was repeated again and again. “Suppose some one should insist on admittance? Sup- pose the Bmpress, whom no one would dare deny, should demand an audience?” Baret s10od near the door as he heard Laurent, at last aroused from sleep, talking to the newcomer. ““A thousand pardons, my lord. To see the Emperor to- night, since he has ordered me to admit no one, you would have to walk over my body “Tut-tu;! What nonsense!” sald the other. with vexa- tion in his tones. “I had vowed to see him before he slapt, but have it your own way now. I shall not fail to report your inadlence to the Emperor. I shall be here at day- break. I must see him before he rises.” One! sounded from the tower, and Baret's eyes were so heavy that he would willingly have settled himself in the deep chair beside the dying fire, had not a thought sud- denly.aroused him. What !f a snore should disturb Laurent, sleeping in the outer room! ““What could he do to banish sleep! night ever teen so long? He tried to read a book of old romanees, but they bade fair to serve as a sleeping potion. One! two! chimed as he walked, and three was near 1ts stroke, when a voice was heard in the distance, The chale lenges of the sentinels rangback and forth. Heavy foot- steps and the clanging of sabres sounded from the court- vard, coming nearer—nearer. 3 Agalin the calls, and a large door swung open, letting in a tumult of voices that echoed along the high corridor. Had anything happened to the Emperor? Hedven forbid! But if this were so! syt The hig drops of fear stood on the forehead of the man who had faced death a score of times unmoved. He crept to and listcned breathlessly at the door leading to the room whare the faithful Laurent slept. Laurenc's sleep had evidently again been disturbed, as he heard the servant’s voice and that of another. “I cannot wake the Emperor, my lord. He gave me particular orders that he was not to be disturbed befors morning. He has had some bad nights lately, and is now Had ‘the hours of sleening quietl “But, my man,” insisted the other, “you do not under- stand, W2 must see him. or, at any rate, find out if he is in bed and safe. When did you see him?" “At 11 e'clock, my lord The newcomer walked about impatiently. In a few minutes he retreated to the lower hall, apparently to con- sult with his companions. Hastily returning, he said, quickly and firmly; 5 “My gnod Laurent, we will hold you safe from all blame, but we must know if the Emperor is asleep in his bed or nat. To tell you the entire truth, a report has been sent to the minister that a wounded man, who bore a marked resemblance to the Emperor, was seen about half an hour ago in the outskirts of the city. “But the Emperor sald—besides, my lord, no one has assed herc since he gave me the order. But if you think t at all possible—" It is the time of waliting that the soldier fears. The hour for action steadies the nerves even of the coward, and the brave Baret felt muscles and nerves grow as firm as steel and his brain clear and vigilant. Thoughts of the possible fate of the Emperor, and the only tao rure fate of himself if the report was true, darted through his mind with wonderful quicknes: Quickly passing through the curtained recess. he threw himself on the bed, as a low knock was heard. Twice, thrice, %o allowed it to be repeated before he called out, in a_drowsy tone of annoyance: “‘What i$ the trouble? I sald I was not to be disturbed.” “Thank heaven! You heard him, my lord? He was very tired."” Laurent's volce was trembling still with the rellef from a terrible feer. “I ask your ardon, sire,” He called again. een—we feared something had happened—"" “Disturb me again at yvour peril, Laurent,” said tha drowsy tone of the mock Emperor, interrupting him. Then, raising his eyes, Baret saw the true. Emperor standing in the doorway just as he had seen him last with his fingar to his lips. £ Baret sprang to his feet, but a gesture cautioned silence, and hoth waited in patience tfll they heard the steps die away in the distance, and Laurent again closed the outer door. “I hope you have some knowledge of surgery, Baret. I have met vith an accident.” His eyes twinkled. ‘‘There was a moment when I feared T could not keep my appoirt- ment with vou.” When wounded arm was bandaged the Emperor * himself conducted the soldier to the wicket, and Baret found the faint gleams of dawn casting a dim light throua.'h 1he streets. “There has . . . . . Perhaps it was as well that he never knew how the Emperor had spent his leave of absence. That at mid- night, fn an unoccupied house in an isolated part of the city, two men had fought a duel to the death. with only the light of two poor candles to guide their aim. The poorly dressed man, who was the only one to leave the house, entered the wicket gate of the palace two hours later, having made a long detour to avold the pa- trols. For once his vanity had almost recelved a check. Two days after the incident narrated above Colonel Carolet received a paper appointing Baret a captain of the imperial chasseurs in Africa.