| Monsieur Beaucaire By BOOTH TARKINGTON, Author of “The Gentleman From Indiana’ and “‘The Conguest of Canaan.” Copyright, 1900, by McClure, Phillips & Co. [Continued from inst week. | “Tis a lucky thing that fellow was got out of the way,” he ejacu- lated under cover. “Thank me for it,” rejoined Winterset. An attendant begged Mr. Nash’s notice. The head bailiff sent word that Beaucaire had long since entered the building by a side | door. Tt was supposed Mr. Nash had known of it, and the Frenchman | was not arrested, as Mr. Molyneux was in his company and said he | would be answerable for him. Consternation was so plain on the | beau’s trained face that the duke leaned toward him anxiously. “The villain’s in, and Molyneux hath gone mad!” | Mr. Bantison, who had been fiercely elbowing his way toward them, joined heads with them. “You may well say he is in,” he ex- claimed, “and if you want to know where, why, in yonder card room. | I saw him through the half open door.” “What’s to be done?” asked the beau. “Send the bailiffs” — : “Fie, fie! A file of bailiffs? The scandal!” | “Then listen to me,” said the duke. “T’ll select half a dozen gen- tlemen, explain the matter and we’ll put him in the center of us and take him out to the bailiffs. Twill appear nothing. Do you remain here and keep the attention of Beaujolais and de Mirepoix. Come, Bantison, fetch Towabrake and Harry Rakell yonder. I'll bring the others.” Three minutes later his grace of Winterset flung wide the card | room door and, after his friends had entered, closed it. “Ah!” remarked M. Beaucaire quietly. “Six more large men.” The duke, seeing Lady Mary, started, but the angry signs of her interview had not left her face and reassured him. He offered his | hand to conduct her to the door. “May I have the honor?” “If this is to be known, "twill be better if I leave after. I should | be observed if I went now.” | “As you will, madam,” he answered, not displeased. “And now, you impudent villain,” he began, turning to M. Beaucaire, but to fall | back, astounded. “’0d’s blood, the dog hath murdered and robbed some royal prince!” He forgot Lady Mary’s presence in his excite- ment. “Lay hands on him!” he shouted. “Tear those orders from him!” Molyneux threw himself between. “One word!” he cried. word before you offer an outrage you will repent all your lives “Or let M. de Winterset come alone!” laughed M. Beaucaire. - “Do you expect me to fight a cutthroat barber, and with bare hands ?” “I think one does not expec’ monsieur to fight anybody. Would | “One | 1 { | i | | I fight you, you think? That was why T had my servants that evening | we play. I would gladly fight almos’ any one in the worl’, but I did | not wish to soil my hand with a”— nN / a “IF YOU HAD KNOWN THIS BEAUCAIRE WAS HONES', THOUGH OF PEASANT BIRTH, WOULD YOU"— “Stuff his lying mouth with his orders!” shouted the duké. But Molyneux still held the gentlemen back. “One moment,” he eried. «M. de Winterset,” said Beaucaire, “of what are you afraid? You calculate well. Beaucaire might have been belief’—an impostor that you yourself expose’? Never! But I was not goin’ reveal that secret. You have not absolve’ me of my promise.” “Tell what you like,” answered the duke. “Tell all the wild lies you have time for. You have five minutes to make up your mind to go quietly.” “Now you absolve me, then? Ha, ha! Ob, yes! Mademoiselle,” he bowed to Lady Mary, “I have the honor to reques’ you leave the room. You shall miss no details if these frien’s of yours kill me, on the honor of a French gentleman.” | “Know, you villain barber, that your master, the Marquis de Mire- to M. Beaucaire. | time. But when the people hear I have been a servant they come only | my black wig and become myself—and so I am ‘Chateaurien,” Castle | Nowhere. Then this man I use’, this Winterset, he”— | teaurien’ and not myself ¢” | Lord Townbrake. “A French what?” laughed Bantison. “Do you dare keep up the pretense?” cried Lord Townbrake. ‘a ‘ Xd) AP Ro \ ! 3 ~~ 4 i FY A y YER or i. i “PHILIPPE! HE CRIED. YOU BACK WITH ME. “MY BROTHER, I HAVE COME 70 TAKE poix, is in the next room.” Molyneux heaved a great sigh of relief. “Shall I”— He turned | The young man laughed and said, “Tell him come here at once.” “Impudent to the last!” cried Bantison as Molyneux hurried from the room. “Now you goin’ to see M. Beaucaire’s master,” said Beaucaire to Lady Mary. “’Tis true what I say, the other night. I cross from France in his suit; my passport say as his barber. Then to pass the ennui of exile I come to Bath and play for what one will. It kill the secretly, and there is one of them—he has absolve’ me of a promise not to speak—of him I learn something he cannot wish to be tol. I make some trouble to learn this thing. Why I should do this? Well —that is my own rizzon. So I make this man help me in a masque, the unmasking it was, for, as there is no one to know me, I throw off “I have great need to deny these accusations ?” said the duke. “Nay,” said Lady Mary wearily. “Shall I tell you why I mus’ be ‘Victor’ and ‘Beaucaire’ and ‘Cha- “To escape from the bailiffs for debts for razors and soap,” gibed “No, monsieur. In France I have got a cousin who is a man with a very bad temper at some time’, and he will never enjoy his relatives to do what he does not wish” — He was interrupted by a loud commotion from without. The door was flung open, and the young Count of Beaujolais bounded in and threw his arms about the neck of M. Beaucaire. “Philippe!” he cried. “My brother, I have come to take you back ‘with me.” M. de Mirepoix followed him, bowing as a courtier in deference, but M. Beaueaire took both his hands heartily. Molyneux came after, with Mr. Nash, and closed the door. “My warmest felicitations,” said the marquis. “There is mo longer need for your incognito.” “Thou best of masters!” said Beaucaire, touching him fondly on the shoulder. “I know. Your courier came safely. And so I am forgiven! But I forget.” He turned to the lady. She had begun to tremble exceedingly. “Faires’ of all the English fair,” he said, as the gentlemen bowed low to her deep courtesy, “I beg the honor to presen’ to Lady Mary Carlisle, M. le Comte de Beaujolais. M. de Mirepoix has already the honor. Lady Mary has been very kind to me, my frien’s. You mus’ help me make my acknowledgment. Made- moiselle and ‘gentlemen, will you give me that favor to detain you one instan’? “Henri,” he turned to the young Beaujolais, “I wish you had shared my mask—I have been so gay!” The surface of his tone was merry, but there was an undercurrent, weary-sad, to speak of what was the mood, not the manner. He made the effect of addressing every one present, but he looked steadily at Lady Mary. Her eyes were fixed upon him, with a silent and frightened fascination, and sho trembled more and more. “I am a great actor, Henri. These gentle- ‘men are yet scarce convince’ I am not a lackey! And I mus’ tell you that T was jus’ now to be expelled for having been a barber!” “Oh, no!” the ambassador cried out. “He would not be content with me. He would wander over a strange country.” “Ha, ha, my Mirepoix! And what is better, one evening I am oblige’ to fight some frien’s of M. de Winterset there, and some ladies and cavaliers look on, and they still think me a servant. Oh, I am a great actor! ’'Tis true there is not a peasant in France who would not have then known one ‘born;’ but they are wonderful, this English people, holding by an idea once it is in their heads—a mos’ worthy quality. But my good Molyneux here, he had speak to me with courtesy, jus’ because I am a man an’ jus’ because he is al-ways kind. (T have learn’ that his great-grandfather was a Frenchman.) So Isen’ to him and tell him evrything, and he gain admittance for me here tonight to await my frien’s. . {Continued on page 7] Bellefonte Shoe Emporium. a LEallil a a WILL YOU GRASP THIS OPPORTUNITY to buy Summer Footwear at cost? THIRTY DAYS OF BAR- GAINS Womens’ Misses’ and Childrens’ Pat- ent Calf, Dongola Kid, Dull Finish Calf, Tan, White and Colored SUMMER SHOES at cost. All kinds of Tennis goods at cost. A special line of Mens’ Oxfords at cost. This offer good till Aug. 25th, 1907. See ‘our window display. time, This is the YEAGER & DAVIS, SHOES DISHES—s59970, 36771. Bellefonte. Lyon & Co. ae Lyon & Co. CLEARANCE SALE is Still Going on. We mean to clear out all our Summer Dress Goods. Corsets, Gloves, Lace Hose, Shirt Waists, Underwear, Clothing, Straw Hats, Ladies’, Misses’ and Children’s Slippers. Oxfords at less than cost. We are showing Fall Goods and must have the room for the new goods. Ifyou want to share in these low prices now is the time to buy. Our buyer is now in the Eas- tern Cities and we will have every department filled and no room to carry Summer Goods. Lyon & Co. Allegheny St., Bellefonte. Pa. i
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