Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-06-14
At a Roadside Inn.
nY DUDLEY cosrElLo.

out moving his head Henri cast
his eyes in the direction of the
spot from whence the sound pro-
ceeded, and his sight being re-
markable acute, he instantly de-
tected the outline OF a face peer
ing cautiously through one Of the
lover panes. The aubergiste had
p aced himself there to watch the
effect OF his wine; it was time,
therefore, for Henri to manifest
some Of the expected symptoms
Throwing himself back in his
chair, he yawned once or twice,
and re NAMED for few minutes
in an attitude Of repose. He
then sat up and helped himself
to another glass Of wine, drank
part of it, and presently resting
his elbow on the table, leant his
head on his hand, and after a
pause, yawned again-this time
with more demonstration than be-
fore.
II feel uncommonly sleepy
this evening. l wonder what's
the reason All h-h-ah ali r
And he yawned third time.
He then finished the remainder
OF the wine that was in his glass,
talking to himself all the time.
but less audible than at first, and
at broken intervals. Another
pause, and he closed his eyes for
a. few. moments, reused himself
as il endeavoring to shake off a
drowsiness that was gradually
creeping over him, subsidized
again into leaning position,
slipped his head from its support.
recovered himself, murmured
something very indistinctly,
stretched out his hand to reach
the bottle. missed his object and
suffered his hand to remain, drop.
ped his head still lower, started,
sat staring for short time at
vacancy, and finally closing his
eyes yielding, in all appearances,
to the resistless influence OF sleep
with his head resting on his arm,
and his face half averted. He
might have remained about five
minutes in this position, when
the door of the salon was careful
!, opened, and obliquely glanc-
ing through his nearly closed
lids, Henri saw the aubergiste
peeping into the room. Slowly
the whole OF his figure appeared,
but he did not Immediately ad-
vance Perceiving that Henri
did not stir, he moved a pace or
two forward, and came by de-
grees close up to the table, where
he once more paused and watch
ed. He then lifted the bottle
and held it up between him and
the light. He set it down again
and smiled.
"More than ha,f gone,' he
said; che has a stronger head
than l thought for"
To place his hand upon the
sleeper was the augergist's next
proceeding. He moved him
gently, there was no wakening
sign; he stirred him with
stronger grasp-there was no re
sistence. Satisfied then that the
drug had fully operated, he re.
moved from Henri's mind any
thing doubtful that by chance
might have fingered there re-
specting Monsieur Duroc's in
tention.
"I am glad Antoinette is gone,
he said, "for l need not carry
him up to bed. 1t will save me
two journeys, and be quick er
over. But I must not make a
mess in this place; it could not
then be con sealed from her. like
those that have gone before"
He set the door wide open, and
left the salon; but only went as
far as the passage, returning di-
rectly with a brouette Ia long sort
of barrow, which he brought
close up to Henri's chair. To
transfer him from thence to the
brouette was no easy task, the
counterfeit Of sleep being so we'll
preserved; bnt it was at last ac--
complished, and Monsieur Duroc
wheeled his guest away. He con-
yeyed his burden the whole
length OF the passage, and then
turned into a small room on one
side, where he set down the brou
ette.
81 must fetch a light" he NUT
tered. "and get my knife"
Hitherto entirely passive, it
was time now for Henri to pre-
pare for the impending struggle.
Although there was no shutter to
the single window of the room, it
was much too dark for Henri to
distinguish anything in it, but he
knew by the aubergiste's retreat
ing footsteps that he was again
4 alone. Ignorant Of the locality,
A and feeling that he might STUN
bic and fall if he tried to leave
the place, the only advantage he
vas able to take Of Duroc's alb
ience was to draw himself up in
b an easier position. and throw
lis legs over the side of the brou-
ete. resting his feet on the
gound, so as to be ready to rise
wen he desired; at the same
the he drew. the knife from his
brast and reversed it in hi
grsp, concealing the blade il
his sleeve. He waited Longer