THE "EAGLES" A SENSATIONAL STORY OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 186, 30 August 1909, Page 3

THE "EAGLES" A SENSATIONAL STORY OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE.

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. + . I'.urr i. ciiaitl:.: r. i was condemned to die. I hove known mni who hove rviui their obituary notices, and laughed over tht* pxtinordinary list of virtues with which they have been nccreilited. They have assured me that the situation is most amusing. I can well Ikslieve It. f*ircu instances have not thrown me into the society of criminals condemned to death for murder. I | H <lieVe theii (idlings are not of a poyi.us kind. Km! when you are young, strong and elcnn-limlicd. w-ith n normally clear conscience anil a healthy appetite, and you nre told that jnn nre to lie cut off from this mortal world in the interval lietwpen dinner and a light midnight .supper, the thing seems so preposterous that yon are amused. I actually did laugh not very boisterously perhaps, hut with sufficient heartiness to l»ring a look of pu771.1l amazement to every |»»rs«»n"s brow in th- room. "Monsieur ilia's not fear death, then ? "" said a man who was standing in front of me. with a face as sallow ns an unripe penrh. and a pair of utotiHinrhfs that ap|>eared a* it' their end* might interfere at any mown! with his eyesight. "On the rontrarv. monsieur." ? replied doning. "Like my frierfd M. Manfalini. I consider it an infernally unpleasant thing."

Tin re was th" sentence written down in Mile-Mark ink with nn ordinary |»*ii on reasonably white |»aPr 'That the sent cure passed on the niiin railing himself tlulwrl f»nsi »if£«ie hy the ('"Html Committee of five Organization f>i Combat Is I' nth'" I reiiieml»-r it reminded me jo strongly of th" resolutions pns- , d n» the t>rellininnry m-eting of a tbufti'd liability company. "That Me:*.«r* So-and-so nr»» and l»e th" of the company " The phrase "ate and he." always nnms'il me. With a tertafn irresponsibility of re.i»orirn»:. niy mind framed the deaidi sentence ii>'» lik" language.

' l{ sop. >-.! bv the t''ii«i:il Committee of th" Organization of Cc.ud.al that the imn calling himself ltd. it (Jasrt»igne 'is stud I'e" a «|ead man." AcTuallv. I «»ipf,o*e. Ih" situation w«s r"»H> rj»tl»--r .«• •riouw. lud c-d it had turned out a most curious and tmph a*ani adventure. Two flays prcV>ori>l\ th" ({usstan mad-dog fl.iet had pro.f>d havoc with the Itogg-r (tar-A trawlers. The incid--nt »v.is of mi-'li an extraoi.linnry nature

-.0 uii-■*.[>••• t. ■> and mi scandalous that it had iniin.'d»ni"ly Iweom • an international affair. I hail l«""H sent over po-t lia*t" from Paris to lienr rt «|.*>p»t»'h ilea bog with the situation fk'om enr \n'.ba« ailor. lo whom I «a. aMa led b> the Foreign Oliiee. After a few- hours in Loudon I had recetv.d mi in.«.f r'wf ion-s ae-l hail re•ros»ed the Channel »n>" more. Ilavinsr fjehci'ivd m> •e-'-pnti lies to th" \i»ba«..*ador. I had l»e"H allowed an •venins.' off. mi to spat., lor she Atn-Fia.«..-a-!or i* n'wafs I'on.Hiif'i'nt". As I had !o hoUl in»self in readiness to Lave tot Her I iii lli" following day. he *m t mm - n»ur«-.l something about th" ■t'e •■'.«. 01 all work and no play and lli" character of a crlain .lohn. and ;»'ps,'.-.| me »o e»v),>y myself as disi ei iv ..- mtrrhl t»f ilot the evening My idea •>< itt-cieel cufof lliellt had ted in - to .«auntc|- after dinner thr*ir»i,Ei (|,e s|cnci«M|s courts of th" I.oll'. re. to bang over th" pnrapet of ih" Font des; Arts, and lulled to a tt'e.ff-hrftil n.ood by th" twisting eif dive in,;, rrod beht ■* in tier Seine to ■ ■onf'nine an R.i»ut"-s |iromepndr» in the Initio t|uarler. I look nil the old'-:-.! pnd oddest si reels en route. and w iiidtni: ix-orow- Inns and diinl* Ii! sire, is where the heavy 'lmse* nlmii.fl fill, d the space Imtvvcen lb" ho.tse-i. I had f oin how drifled up tloo(;"h flu • Cooitaparle lo Ihe l.'l\> lllbowr.ir C.:.i-«»-. W h-ll inv dr am*, inu.-iivgs were broken in iijiiii i,y 11 curious serie-i of int iden* s.

I v,. :■» .-■■ laf'-ini; m» particular Hole of llse |k ■: ir.f - lhal passed III". Sciapi>t conversation now and ngain came to if.v i-«ir.-, nnd mad" slight I tit iil-.•(►','.-tt-.;vl '.o|,r.'-i*.ii»i»s ,i|. s .n my brain. I v, a - »M •» glorion-* mood of thinkicy; of nothing in particular. I h aid pbtmp Fr< n« h wivi-s talking af Cite price »i bread : a couple of ort-i.-t - lanshing lustily about the latest iin-ideal at •Inlian's : and III" price of bread and the vagorii-s of artists n.o.titr vl theitv»e|vc?i in rny mind in a reunions ami fantastic manner with leaps of other s. rn|»s and odds and

['£--. Cut into this maze of dreams x\\■■(■■• broke, n* it were, a thrice-re- ;► atiei-l refrain Three linieS lusfween r?>e church ond the corner where the Rri" Vsvin runs down to the iron f.iitengs of the Luxembourg (Sordetis, two ne-n passed me, going in opposite dirct tion». I heard the first fi.iM|»b» soy to one another ns they p.: -s-fl. "To-nighi," and I was not int : • -ted. Trie Second collple |iker, i ,- |»n« -il each other and whis|ierd hurriedly without stopping. "Toi h'," Then I Iwgnn to wake up. \S)vn she third couple met ond mur--111:!;>■(■( th" -nine refrain, i become in--1 -rested, anil when a man like me lw-enpn-s i:der«s|ed. he becomes curious. Ihat war* the whole cause of the alntJr. I delilvrnlely turned lack upon niy tracks. «r»fl catching up to on> of the men. so passed him that h- co dd not avoid pushing against me with his shoulder. He turned to nte with a "Pardon " and as his eyes met mine I niurmureil on the spur of the moment, "To-flght." Immediately came the echo "Tonight." He was a well-dressed man t should say of about forty ; had in short all the appearance of being a well-to-do Paris idler. lie seemed quite charmed with our meeting. "You nre going now ? " he murntured softly under fats breath. Yes" t replied without hesitation. Ah. that is good, We can go to-r-ther. comrade." \,,»h lie-. I assured him would give :u-- ereater pleasure. f was quite awake by this time. 1 le- adventure promised to be amttsinc Talking on many su?»j. >' =. ->n ai' ol

which my companion seemed to Ik r :i>/>.!.-nhly well informed we <BMubd .'.■;;- way through a ma/" of streets. ! .1.1 not suppose I could fin.l the ..tain, for 1 took little notice of r !.".-iring>. Hut after ten min- -. V walk we turned suddenly lo the rriif. down a dork impasse, walked s,,„i" twenty f«-el Into the darkness, stopped, anil knocked sharply at the door. I kept close hy his side ; r.nd when almost Instantly the door swung open I followed in silence at his luvls. The door swung hack hehind us. and 1 found myself in a long passage at *«hc end of which burned a light a hove another doorway. At this other harrier my comrade knocked ; a voice from within challenged us. "Friends." replied the man ; and with this the other door swung open. Within was a sort of turnstile arrangement fitted on one side like a box-office only permitting one p.-r-M»n nl n time to pass beyond. (In the woo«len ledge lay some scraps of pn|>er anil a pencil attached by a string. The man scribbled something e.n a slip, pushed it through a narrow hoi-in the pariiiion and waited. In a few- seconds a "•"epulchrol voice tried. "Pass."

My comrade of («:<■ street pushed his way through the turnstile disappeared beyond, and I found myself le(t alone. Clearly, if I was to succeed. I was to imitate him. Hut what lo write on the paper?

Acting on the spur of the moment f took one of the slips ami scribbled down the word "To-night " and then pushed it through the slip in the partition. It was an anxious few seron.ls : for. if I had mistaken th" ritual. 1 v .y. caught Very much like a rat in a trap. The door hehiu-l me had automatically locked itself after being closed, nud I could not pass ih" turnstile without the run.«m« of the person or p>-r>ons inside. Hui. fortunately. I had guessed all right.

"Pass." came the voice : and with a feeling of ever-growin« excitement, f shouldered my way through the turnstile.

Another passage, n swing door and I found myself in a room tilled with »ome thirty or forty men and women most of them of a wild, cadaverous ty|ie. but all of them clearly fiersons of position. Xo woman entering a drawing room rouhl have wish-d to cause a greater sensation. I'sually I am rool but I confess that a slight blush of modesty crept into my cheeks at Ihe silence which suddenly fell at my nppenranc". All eyes were turned on nie« and only with a great effort of will was I abl.- to walk over and seat myself beside my comrade, of the street.

"C|uite a number of us here tonight." I said, airily, wondering what th- deuce I had fallen into and wishing tor th" first, time 1 was well out of it. "Ah. we sh»ll have a full order tonight." hj" said. .lu-t then f fell a tap on mv arm. A stout, red-faced gentleman was -|>eaking to me. "Your name ? '*- he. saiil. peremptorily "I don't think it's usual "—T began with an assumption of hauteur. "What the president asks, that you must disclose." "Ah. yes." i said seeing my mistake; "I had forgotten th- rule: and then without thinking I gave my -»wn name. The "fleet was startling.

The pivsid"iil rnis>-»l his hand. ln--.tnntly the whole company took up a position in front of the doorway, with the exception of four men. who thing themselves upon me and bore me to th" around The assault was -40 it nex |ie»- lei I, lh»> whole Itisiness had hnpp-'iied so rapidly that 1 was lying, bound hand and foot, within the space of a couple of minutes, without having offentl the slightest resistance. "What th- i!e\il " I spluttered, from my position on the floor. "Silence ! " said the president : and then addressing ",w,i »\ the nun, \\v i.ointeil lo a chair. "Place him there." I-ike a sack of fltjur f was hoisted into the chair. . "Thanks." I said to tflie pre-ident. recovering my wits. "That is very much more comfort ni-c... .iny.Vrt.\ ."'- '■\Vhi' have yon come here?" His voice was ridiculously stern. "Merely idle curiosity." I said. "I have answered. The facts are as I state." 'le tried a new lack. -*llj.*»» »•••! >»"• »ome here? '* Frankness | thought, was the l>est course. I explained my c.\|>erienccs in del nil. The president listened calmly. When 1 had finished he went to a table, took a pen in his hand, and began to write. The i-».i of the company sto.oti in wrried ranks in front 01 the door. l-.xcept for the sound of the scratching of the |M-n. denil silence reigned. The president finished writing. He ro-e from his chair, and taw towards me with a pni-e of pajH-i- in hi-* 11 .mil He held it in front of and close to my eyes ; I read it slowly. "That the sentence passed on th" man calling himself Huh-i-i Ca«coigne by the Central Committee of the Organization of C-.mba! lie death." The company gathered round me as I read ; and it was when, after finishing my reading I laughol. that th" gentleman with the long moustaches ventured «hc remark that monster, did not fear ilealh. I certqinly seemed to cause a s-n----sation. "If you will nol think me. impcrsipently curious," 1 *aut. addressing (he i«rc«ifleiii. "may I nsk the reason for a decision fraught with such unpleasant consequences for myself ?" "You are a spy." "We are strangers."- I replieij "and my unsupported testimony may not carry mttclt weight, but I assure voii as from one to another, that the facts of the case art absolutely as I have stated them." Th- president laughed sardonically "Voti are a spy." he replied, "and the sentence of the organization, t 5 * death." ' Ijidle* and gentlemen." I said, looking at the faces around me. "I appeal to you. Do I.look a spy ?"- I scanned their faces eagerly. But as my eyes wandered round the roo?T\ I saw nothing written in !li.« eyes ot th" members but laith in their president's d"'-|S!'>:j And th.-n. s'id(i-->i!;- f? •»rii »he ser-r;.-d :-ri-v, <■'. ii.ir.i. ...- f.ie,.-, ] s,-i-.v

I I had danced with many limes in St ! Petersburg, someone .that hail a re \ putatinn for beauty and wit tha> was Kuropenn. «✓ She was standing next to a short, nervous-looking little man, to whosi np|>earancc I did not pay much no lice. It was the Countess Hlavcski Somehow she seemed lobs trying lo avoid my eye, and when my glanct caught hers she blushed crimson. "At any rate there is someone here who knows roe." I said. "Ask her if I am a spy. T appeal tc you " I was about to mention her name but before 1 could do so she criec out : "President, this is no : py. I have, known Mr. Gascoigne in private lift for years. He is a rich young Englishman, the son of a lord. I car vouch for him that he has n.dther sufficient intelligence nor enough energy to be a spy." All eyes were turned upon the rounless as she spoke. "What proof of this have you. Candle Beaudet 7 " said the president turning to her. I made a note of the name. It was clear il was not politic to address her as the Countess Hlavcski. "1 will stake my life that he is not 1 spy. My life shall answer for his honesty,"I determined to take no part in the discussion. ft, was extremely 5001! of the countess to go to these •xtreines on my account. The president, I could sen, liegan to falter. He turned and f|Uestioned me closely living me with interrogations at'out natters relating directly or indirectly to the organization. I was completely ignorant as lo what exactly was the nature of the ! ■secret society into the middle of ! which I had stumbled, that I saw I lad finally convinced him that mere idle curiosity a'nd not any political machinations had I d me to the meeting. At length the president turned once more to the company. "C'amille Heaudet." he said in sol- ; ?mn tones, "do you swear that you will answer for this man's honesly?'"You have questioned him." replied the countess, "and your questions have made it clear that until von showed him your order he was ignorant even of the name of the society, I swear that I will hold my I life as forfeit for his honesty." ! A murmur of assent went round I the room. Clearly they were not a ! blood-thirsty company. ! -"If we give you your release." the j president said turning to me, "will j volt swear that y<:u will never disI :-lo.so either the whereabouts of this j place or what you have heard to- « night ? "- "1 neither know wii-re I am at the moment, nor what is the nature of vottr- society. It may denote crass tgnoranco on my part, but to he candid, sir. I never heard of yo'ir soriety before. And the warm ivception with which I ha\e met to-night at your hands does not encourage me to inquire any closer into your organization. I solemnly swear that. proviiliil I am released from this, noi very comfortable position. \ will not disclose to ftnybau.v what has befallen mo this night.""You know nothing about our soriety," retorted the president look-. j ing at me sternly ; "but I will tell con this. tha.f if you break your j -»ath, ii matters not where you are, j nr how safe you consider yourself, : the society will strike you dead." I "I can assure you. Mr. President, that I will give no occasion for doI \\\e anything so unpleasant ."- He spoke to one of the members. I and in another second my bonds were 1 rut, and I was standing on my fe-t stretching myself to get the cramp out of my legs and arras. I was then conducted to the door, I passed the countess as I was led nut. She was standing against the wall with, ihe *ame short, little nerV»j«s man by her side. I stopiwd And held out my hand. "I have to thank you for my release," I said, aloud ; and then under my breath, "I hope we shaft meet again, countess."- .. I could sav -H9 more, tor truth to t{-.,l the honourable society were anxious to be rid of my company. I was hurried through the turnstile, and down the passage out into iho night. There a cabriolet with drawn blinds was waiting. One of the rtv'inl.eivs took his seat by my side. Th*' cab rattled off. For some len minutes we drove, speaking no word lo each other. Then suddenly the :ab stopped. "You will get out here, monsieur,"he said opening th«> door. Oliediently i stepped out. "Remember your oath," he said as I brushed past him. The door bangMi. The driver whipped up his horse, and I found myself standing somewhere in the neiglibourhood of the Qtiiii d'Orsay. looking after it in a sort of dazed dreamy way. For quite a considerable time I must have stood there, amazed at my adventure. At last I pulled myself together, tad hailing a cocher, drove to my hotel. ■■*■ And this is really where, properly speaking, my. strange story begins. I was floundering in my bath at the Hotel llitz. trying to find in the cold water <\ lucid explanation of the incidents of the previous night, when H occurred to me that I had better present myself at the Embassy for my or tiers. The. adventure, with its remarkable ■etpicl. had almost put duty out of my head ; hut having once got under way I promptly appeared before my chief, who already had a despatch ready for the Ambassador at lierlin. with bis own comments duly endorsed on the back. it was a matter for swift action, and the French Foreign Office had been promptly interviewed, with the result that my stay in Paris was a question of hours. 1»> the. noon train I set out Tor the Kaiser's capital and curled up in a corner carriage, again tried to reason ou* my remarkable adventure. - ; To be Continued.