The Syracuse Journal, Volume 22, Number 10, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 4 July 1929 — Page 7

The BLADE of PICARDY

SYNOPSIS Capt. Francois de Vigny, serv» Ing with Maximilian's army in Mexico, tells the story. A roystering group of officers is discussing La Anita, who, rumor says, has lured French officers to death or desertion. Summoned by Maximilian to make explanation. De Vigny undertakes to deliver the message to La Anita. At La Anita's home De Vigny meets Colonel Lopez, Mexican officer and the girl’s cousin, Pablo Madrella, who bears a wonderful resemblance to De Vigny, except that he wears a beard. Angered that Anita should be called before’the emperor, Madrella forces a duel on De Vigny, in which the Mexican is wounded. Assisting Madrella to bis carriage. De Vigny picks up a paper that falls from Ihs pocket. It proves to be a pass, granting Madrella passage through the Mexican lines. Laid before Maximilian, it is. of course. Madrella’s death warrant, since, it proves him a spy. Questioned Fy Maximilian, La Anita denies iuring French officers to danger, and is given her freedom. De Vigny secures leave of absence, planning, while Madrella is wounded and under guard, to grow a beard and impersonate him, with the idea of securing information of Juarez' movements. Drtessed as Madrella, he enters La Anita’s home by stealth and overhears a conversation between Madrella and Lopez which proves the latter a traitor to Maximilian. Lopez has secured Madrella’s release and the latter is leaving at once for Juarez’ camp. He reaches Cuernavaca about the same time as the real Madrella. : An unsuccessful attempt is made by Madrella to kill De Vigny.

CHAPTER Vl—Continued Pasquai, with the silent movements -born of his Indian blood, tad come through the window. Madrella studied me a long moment, then a flame of understanding !eap«d Into his eyes. “You have seendier then, as—myself?” “Os a truth. We had a touching •eerie. With tears in her lovely eyes she told me that she could not kiss me. and because —in character—l must put on a face of woe. she kissed me prettily; yet it was a sister’s kiss, and not of love. She called me ‘Poor Pablo.’ and when a woman speaks thus, senor. to a man once beloved. It is the end.” “For 3 that,” he cried, a wild passion to his face, “you die!” He raised the weapon as Pasquai leaped, and the gun—thrust suddenly upward—drove a futile bullet into rhe ceiling. Madrella shrugged clear of the Indian and swung bis right arm clubbed pistol. Again 1 lifted that handy stool and brought it down upon Madrella's head. He went down even as Manuel had done, and the floor trembled with the fall of him. I pocketed the pistol; then Pasquai and = 1 climbed swiftly through the window, descended the slanting roof that led nearly to the cobbled floor of the patio, and, with the horse and the burro, made off. leaving Madrella and the “fat and apoplectic Manuel” to wake up or not —as they chose. About five miles south of Cuernavaca. on the road that leads to Tlatlaya. we stopped beside an arroyo, in the cool sweet waters of which 1 bathed my bruised face, for Madrella’s bard fist had beat a tattoo upca ft. “In two or three days, senor," said Pasquai. “you will look the same as ever.” “Pasquai, 1 owe thee more than I shbH ever be able to pay." *1 shall not be bard to pay, senor." New, having cleared the Imperial Ito as, we changed clothing again, and after paying Pasquai more than I bad bargained for. 1 mounted the horse. “Mere we part.” said L “Tomorrow, or certainly on the day thereafter, 1 •fall return. I hope to find you here." ’’T shall stay here, senor. day and ’ffigV—until you return.” ' And if he should come, Pasquai?” "The bearded man. senor?" ••'Aye; it is not my desire that he “He will get no farther than this.” / fcut in what manner will you stop him?” The Indian squared his trim shoulders. “If the senor, armed only with n stool, can vanquish two men with •dives and guns, surely Pasquai— * “Adios, then," said I. 1 have always regretted the trick I played Pasquai, yet, with my resets, there Is the satisfaction of knowing that In the courageous heart Os e tine Indian lad. there is a place e.-shrined for me. Before me, tn the head of a tiny Amphitheater, lay a town —Trelnta, I trjnk it was called. A vast, oneB«oried building faced the road, and. ss I approached it, a sign across the front foretold its purpose. Meals could be purchased there, and rooms for sleeping, and even feed for horses. So 1 dismounted, and a mozo led my tavse toward a barn; the massive front <JOo* opened and the host appeared. Hf. was taller than 1, with a tremen deus breadth of shoulders, with shifting. gray-brown eyes, and a pockmarked face of evil. His face broke Into what he doubtItss deemed to be a smile. “Buenos <has. senor." I bade him good morning, knocking the dust from my hat the while, and I asked biro If food and drink might be procured. He roared an on IptelligliHe order and almost instantly a Chinaman, whose every move •reined ’o have the sure swiftness of • panther, brought two bottles of wine, opened them, placed them, with two glasses, upon a small table, and disappeared as swiftly and as silently and as mysteriously as be had pjme. i We drew up chairs. The wine was .a* smooth as any that the Case Mira*on possessed, and mine host, noting the look of surprise and satisfaction on my face, spoke:- “Did not the •senor exjiect good wine?” “One never expects good wine to Mexico.” said L Bow simple a thing tor trie to say, yet It betrayed me as « torciguer, a thing 1 had hoped,

By Fred McLaughlin Copyright by The Bobbs-Merrill Co. W. N. U. Service above all things, to avoid, for I was in an area controlled by the revolutionists of .Benito Juarez, and must, perforce, observe exceeding care. He smiled. “You have come from the north— is tt not so. senor?” I nodded, for the thing could not be denied. 1 was in the enemy’s country, and circumspection, therefore, was a vita) thing; yet I was Pablo Madrellu, and so long as 1 remained Madrella this country was my own. I had, I knew, s>me hours’ lead over the worthy cousin, with Pasqual—a man of resource and courage—between us. “From the city?” he continued. “Aye. from the city.'” “How far de the lines of the Empire extend?” “To the east and north and west," said 1, “I do not know, but southward they reach some miles this side of Cuernavaca.” “To travel the roads, senor,'’ said Monsieur Evilface, "is a dangerous thing these days, even for a native.” "It is as a native that I have traveled. A loaded burro, a dragging step, a bent back, and a beard all gray with alkali—and I walk through the French lines as though they were not Besides, Manuel, of the Hotel Montezuma, is my friend.” “Yet the wine of France,” quoth mine host, “soothed thy palate, and caused thee to speak ill of Mexico. Does such talk befit a patriot?” He had half risen, and passion flamed in his eyes. 1 slipfjprt one hand into my pocket, where lay the gun of Madrella, and waited. “I have stopped for food, senor, and drink,” said 1; "and having satisfied my hunger and my thirst, I desire to pay you and be again upon my way.” 1 got slowly to my feet. “And your way, senor, is—wnere?’ There was no attempt to disguise the doubt or hostility in bis voice. “To the camp of General Juarez.” “And that is—where, senor?” “Tlatlaya.” said L for so La Anita had told me. He laughed harshly. “Tlatlaya I” he roared, thrusting the table forward with great suddenness; but, anticipating just such a move. I bad leaped clear as the table slid across the room and crashed against the wall. Now he swung his great body, with that peculiar gliding motion of a gorilla—bis dark face working, his breath hissing through heavy teeth—and cast himself upon me. Even as his hairy hands clutched at me be stopped—grotesquely—midway in a gesture, for he found my pistol pointing at his heart. “I cannot miss you.” 1 said, for, as a target, his bulk was a serious handicap for him. “Believe me, sefior. a gun is not an unaccustomed thing Id my hand. -1 think. Id fact, I owe you a bullet.” “Yet you will never pay that debt, senor.”, “Why not?” “Because,” said he, “between you and safety lie many miles of hostile country, and men will spring up, like spirits out of the earth, across your path. The Empire will know you uo more. You are French, senor; tt is evident, despite the smooth perfection of the Spanish you use and the artistry of your disguise. Six soldiers of Benito Juarez will stand you up against a wall—” He laughed freely, loudly; and in the noise of that laugh the Chinaman approached swiftly and leaped upon me from behind. He struck my elbow and the gun clattered to the floor. Then the giant Mexican swung a muscular arm. 1 tried in vain to dodge the force of that pile-driver blow There was an earth-shaking jar, a brilliant constellation of vari-colored lights before my eyes, and a taste of sulphur tn my mouth. The huge figure that towered menacingly over me faded away In a crimson haze, the haze melted slowly to darkness, and I fell—and fell . When I awoke the Chinaman was standing over me, an empty bucket In his hand and a look of anxiety on his yellow face. Mine host laughed. “Search him. Tai Sing, and see if be has another gun—or a knife.” The oriental’s deft fingers went over me swiftly, finding only a wallet, from which the Mexican drew a sheaf of bills. “Money,” he said gaily, “two hundred pesos and over; a deal, even in the state of Morelos.” ( He transferred the bills to his own pocket. “You will have no further use for them, for. before the day is gone, your body—” He slid a suggestive finger across his thick neck. “Tai Sing will carve a man as readily as he does a helpless chiva; and the spy. senor—” While I lifted myself painfully to my feet be held the gun upon me “You were misinformed, senor. about Benito Juarez; you would have sought him at .Tlatlaya. whjle, tn fact, he 18 encampedeven now at Puente de ixtla. scarce ten miles from here. Had you come to see him in the name of the Republic you would have known that Perhaps, senor, you will tell me, now that your race is run. just who you are.” Now my head was clearing from the terrible blow that he had given me, and my brain was beginning to function again. “1 am Madrella." said I, “Pablo Madrella —and my bus! ness- Is with the President If you take upon yourself the responsibility of halting me you will doubtless bear from him; and his hand, as you must know. Is heavy. I bring him news ot grave portent* The giant laughed. “1 have beard of Madrella—what patriot has not—yet Pablo Madrella would never have drawn a gun for protection and stood with tt tn the middle of a strange room. He would first have put his back against a wall.* Verily 1 bad much to learn!

“Your home-made wisdom, senor," said I, “may seem sufficient unto your*

self, yet 1 find much tn tt to question, Had you gone more deeply tn to that wallet of mine you might not have made so grievous a blunder. A few easy pesos, senor, seem to obstruct your vision. 1 pray you—seek further.” Now his trembling fingers fumbled in the wallet, bringing at last to light the pass of Benito Juarez, the folded paper that had dropped from Madrella's coat the night of our duel. He opened it, and his eyes devoured its brief contents. The parchment, with its potent message, fluttered to the floor; the gun fell from bis hand, struck his booted foot and bounded across the room, and Tai Sing—wondering—picked it up. Reading aright the evident fear in his master’s face he proffered the weapon to me, and I put it back Into my pocket. Mine host searched my face, an eager hunger tn his eyes. “Dios.” he gasped, “How can I be forgiven? The general—” I laughed. "Benito Juarez will do to you just what I ask him to da” “Yet surely, senor, I was only—” He returned the money to my wallet, picked up the pass, and pressed them into my hands. “1 was only seeking to serve the Republic; General Juarez has many enemies.” “Thy service is an uncertain thing; yet—” "Ah, senor, I will do anything!” he cried, anticipating a concession. “Then get my horse, for I must be again upon my way. Benito Juarez waits for me.” “1 have another horse, senor. a fine hlack one; and more befitting your station. Will you do me the honor to ride him. while your own rests in my stable? On your return a change may be made, or in case you do not return 1 beg to present him to you in the name of the Republic.” I nodded, for speech was beyond me. “And.” he continued, “may 1 ride with thee? The country is filled with bandits; they would never attack thee while I am along.” I soon discovered that Don Fells Perez —for such was his name—was, despite all appearance to the contrary, a man of vast acomplishment and education, and the hour that we hIHR: f WAVUW \Wv VZ/Y \\\\vnw The Giant Laughed. “I Have Heard of Madrella—” rode before we reached the Repub lican lines was full of profit to me, for he told me many things of value. The river which passes through the village of Puente de Ixtla was less tnan a mile away when sentries beside the road barred our progress “Do you dare halt the great Madrella,” roared my companion, “and Felis Perez? We would see the general; take us to him quickly!” I could not have approached Benito Juarez under conditions more favorable for my success. As we rode up. the general, standing before the massive adobe building that was his headquarters, came toward us. He put an arm over the wide shoulders of Don Felis Perez, and they had a word or two of friendly greeting. “Ah, Pablo,” said the giant Mexican heartily, “we are here at last” Truly the man was striving for a favorable report Now Benito Juarez took both of my hands and smiled at me, and I looked Into the dark inscrutable eyes of Mexico’s greatest patriot, the man we had fought three years. And, as 1 looked, a great fear possessed me. for, though my head reached higher than his and my shoulders were proader. he radiated a sort of vibrant energy that left me weak and helpless. Although past sixty, he had the poise and the physical appearance of early middle age. HisZThee wfisT beardless, his eyes were steady Zandunchanging, his head was large and round; and he possessed the pendent ous jaw. the big. close-shut mouttj and the massive nose of the mMr'flf 1 action, of determination. Danger left’ him cold; he never forgot a friend —or an enemy—and his native ability and genius for organization made him President of Mexico more than once. This much must 1, a French soldier who knew him well, concede to Benito Juarez. The great general considered long the bruises left by the fists of Madrella and of Don Fells, and I had begun fearfully to wonder if doubts of my identity had entered his head when he spoke: “One would Imagine, Pablo mio, that you have traveled on your face,” Don Fells Perez looked down a crooked nose. “Excellency,” be said at last, “there was a misunderstanding, a difference, and I struck him—once. I have tried to make amends.” “It Is nothing, excellency.” said I; “he imagined that he was serving the Republic.” Rancor is not a thing that thrives in my heart, and Felis Perez had done me a lasting favor.

THE SYRACUSE JOURNAI

“And your wound. Pnhiv: nas healed sufficiently for you to crave, in safety?” My wound! I had forgotten that 1 was wounded. Having the appear ance of Madrella 1 needed now most sorely that clever brain of his. If 1 admitted a wound I might, for Identification. be required to exhibit tt, for Juarez was a man who overlooked nothing; and once suspicion came to him I was doomed. And if 1 did dot admit it —! I sighed. He was at least Ignorant of my resemblance to Madrella; upon that 1 must build my fabric of lies. “We heard. Pablo,” he continued, “that you had fought with Captain Vigny, and that you lay, grievously wounded, at your home, with soldiers of Maximilian as a guard. Was there no duel?” “Aye,” said I; “there was a duel, if my poor efforts against that master swordsman may be so termed.” “Do yon mean to tell me the French officer—?” “Exactly, excellency; that sword of his was a veritable part of him; 1 was helpless. He played with me as a cat plays with a mouse; I was a babe before him. He is called the Blade of Picardy, and in a nation of fencers such a nom de guerre may not be easily earned." The dark eyes of the future master of Mexico bored Into mine. “Then I laughed. "It is not the part of wisdom, excellency, to continue a contest wherein you have everything to lose and naught to gain. I might lust as well have tried to stab a moonbeam; he was everywhere—and nowhere. So. awaiting opportunity. I accepted a thrust in the side; a thrust which barely broke rhe skin, bring ing forth sufficient blood to stain my shirt. They took me home and put me to bed: and Doctor Mendez came —and looked and smiled—and went away with his tongue in his cheek A scratch, general, that healed and was forgotten in a week.” «Ah—Pahto.” laughed the President, •you are a delight!” He put an arm across my shoulder. “Come in.” i turned to Don Felis Perez: “Senor, your horse shall have the best of care, and I shall bring him back to you—and reclaim my ownbefore the morrow." So his evil face broke into another smile, and —smiling still—he rode away. My first hurdle had been won; now to block the attack on Cuernavaca 1 CHAPTER VII Sons of France A tall man tn gorgeous uniform got to his feet as I was led into a room half filled with a massive table that bore a jumbled lot of maps. “Gen era! Escobedo!” I breathed. “You know him then. Pablo?” questioned Juarez. “Aye. excellency, every one knows the hero of Matamoros.” For it was the fall ot Matamoros that had tost to Maximilian the ehstern portion of Mexico After the manner of Latins General Escobedo embraced me, and his first statement sent a chill of terror to my heart His deep voice sounded like the knell of death. “Assuredly he should know me, for Pablo Madrella is engaged to marry my niece, lovely La Anita.” . Truly the understudy ot that worthy cousin would have to he h busy man! And I was leaving behind me a tangled skein that even the clever brain of Madrella would find difficult to unravel Had not terror so firm" a grip upon me I think 1 should have laughed. “Pablo,” the President explained “is the connecting link between me and the city. What the emperor plans to do gets to Madrella and then, through him. to me.” "Then Pablo is Just in time,” said the hero ol Matamoros, “for he doubtless brings news of Cuernavaca, and of the disposition of Maximilian’s forces, is it not so?” I considered a long moment. “The attack on Cuernavaca, general, has been delayed too long. Maximilian is well aware of your prospective move. Instead of the presumed five thousand soldiers of the Belgian corps there are twelve thousand men in Cuernavaca.'’ “Impossible! Only yesterday I hart word from there.” “Yet the word you received was incorrect, excellency; those men are hidden.*’ “You must explain.” Escobedo urged. “Assutedly. Maximilian would give much for the head of General Juarez. Having failed to vanquish him in battle be tries subterfuge. He has known, for a week, of your plans: and he has drawn men from the east for the protection of Cuernavaca because he realizes only too well rhe strategic value ot that city. Besides, be is staking a great deal on trapping the President in this endeavor.” “My, plans,” said rhe President, "were known to two people tn Mexico City, yourself and Colonel Miguel Lopez.” -s (TO BE CONTINUED.) Everybody Pu»»y-Footing As street traffic noises become worse and worse in the large cities, the pedestrian becomes still quieter in his movements, by the use of rubber soles and heels. Even in Lancashire quietly padding rubber and leather steadily replace the clatter of clogs and wooden shoes. The silent shoe is a modern not ion Noisy boots were formerly some thing to be proud ot. The gallants 6t Alexandria let people know when they were coming, the London Macaroni ot the Eighteenth century wore heel-rips that clinked, and a Northampton boot manufacturer says that some of his West Indian orders used to stipulate that the boots must squeak I First Modeler in Clay Butades ot Sicyon was the first Greek to mode) in clay. The story runs that bis daughter drew upon the wall the outline of her lover’s shadow, npon which her father modeled the face of the young man. He then baked the model with the clay tiles that it was his trade to make. This was about 600 B. C.

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