The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-06-30


fangs of the tiger?" spoke Eloise at
last. "You know | will not come"
ayes, know it!n the man returned
angrily. "But hear me! the child
who is dearer to you than your life |
goes with me. l had thought to
steal her away from you, but the
law gives the custody of the bsat to
ne, and l shall tear her bodily from
your bosom"
Eloise sprang to her feet. Her
slender form seemed to expand Her
face set in white anger Her eyes
blazed upon him.
"Not till | die, will you do that"
she cried; mot till die!"
He advance step. But instantly
recoiIed. The small cleaning bar
rel of pistol was looking him in the
face.
Advance but STEP" exclaimed
Eloise, "and your soul, unshriven of
its stains, will be ushered into eterni-
tyl You see am prepared. have
anticipated the possibility of this mo-
ment."
Woman, would you defy mel"
cried Journier Herbert
"Defy youl" she echoed "Ay,
more! Before you shall have my child
to torture her young life away to pun
ish LIE, | will slay you. Man, in the
sight of the law may be your wife,
but dare to harm my child, and | will
be more vengeful than the tigress
whose young you destroy. o Tour
nier Herbert demon that you are, l
know yoI. o, could have borne
your taunts, your curses, your
stripes, yo1r blows, your torture for
ever. But when it all fell upon Nina,
it struck deeper than my life. And
before heaven! | would gladly see
her cold in death, rather than that
she should fall into your hands"
She proceeded no further, for there
came step along the hall In mo-
ment Judge Duncan, stepped into the
room.
"What means this?n he calculated.
Then recognizing T0urnier Her
bert, be took in the situation at a
glance.
"He would rob me of my child"
cried Eloise, with sob, breaking
down, now that her courage was no
longer needed.
"rhe child is mine as well as hers, y
said Tournier Herbert, in low tone,
half defiant, half apologize. He re-
allied that Judge Duncan was master
here
"And | shall take the child with
me-" he added
Nina, half frightened out of her
sensus, had been perfectly silent all
this time. Now she broke out with a
s.Nins won't go. He hurt Nina.
He hurt mamma, too"
Tournier moved forward step.
"Stop!" thundered Judge Duncan.
Herbert, / know your story.
Leave my house, you villain. And
never set your foot across its thresh-
old on the purpose for which you
have come to-day, or l will set my
dogs on you and they will rend you
to pieces"
Tournier Herbert turned to go. II
will see if there is no law IN the
land" be muttered.
Listen, sir" continued Judge
Duncan. "By heaven, sir, you are
welcome to try your law. tell you
that l viii spend every cent | am
worth before you shall triumph over
this woman. Try your law, sir, | re-
peat, and you will find that you are
no longer warning upon q defenceless
girl. Now 60"
And with bitter hatred raging in
| mis- heart, and showing from his face,
be went.
There was no moon that night.
dark clouds were in the heavens.
The wind moaned through the branch
es of the trees about Judge Dunean's
residence. All day longit had threat
ened rain.
Midnight came. A man stole out
from the shadow of hedge. Slow
lv he worked his way up to the man
sion. He paused Then cautiously
he moved along. He found the door
that he wished to find. 1t was
Eloise Herbert's, and the man was
| Tournier. Five minutes before Leo
had got up from before the door, and
shaking himself, had walked around
the corner. If Tournier Herbert had
been FIVE minutes earlier, his fate
would have been different, doubtless,
for Leo would have warned him away
with a growl. But the moments passed.
Swiftly and silently be labored at the
lock. Perspiration beaded on his
face. Still he worked
Presently be pushed gently. The
door opened noislessly. Tournier
Herbert stepped inside. Turning
the shade of a dark lantern, be had o
light. There before him, sleeping
peacefully, was Eloise and her child
Nina.
But, outside, a huge form had
came and laid itself down before the
door. If Tournier Herbert had been
two minutes later, his fate would
have been different, doubtless, for
Leo would have warned him with a
growl.
Soon q subtitle odor filed the apart
ment. Choloroform did its work.
The man reached down and took the
child from its mothers bosom. ''Ha,
hal" be muttered, Il will outwit
them ALL"
With Mia in his arms he moved
out cautiously from the apartment
He stepped out into the night.
Leo arose with bristles erect He
made no sound. As Tournier Her
bert moved of he followed with
noiseless tread. ALI Leo would be
faithful to the little friend he loved.
The sagacity of the brute was worthy
of human mind.
The cool night air revived Nina.
With cry she awoke.
That cry Of the innocent child was
/ the signal of doom for Tournier Her
bert. Leo's nostrils diIated; his red
tongue dropped out; bis fangs gleam-
ed. With low fierce growl, terrible