Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-05-15
face began to express surprise, then
anxiety, whom every n cried:
whats the matterp"

Whats the matterP"
and I read:
DEAR FRIEND:-Here is the bombshell you
desired. But / haye been unable 10 6nd an
artillery man who knows how 10 unload 1t.
Send II to the armorer In the Passage de Pop
era, who will fix 1t for you perfectly. But
warn you to take great precautions; not the
least shock, not the faintest Fiction, for II
you strike 1t with even a sheet Of paper 1t will
explode. Yours, IS ever, ROLAND.
l was interrupted by cries Of fright.
"Oh, take it away" cried Nine. Du-
rand. On, this is terrible! a bomb
shell in my housed"
"For heavens sake" said l, raising
my hand warningly. be calm! DO not
be frightened; the artilleryman who
brought it shall take it away"
.'But, SIR" said the servant, who
stood trembling in the door, 'the ar
tillery man has gone"
Then" said l, "it is l who must"
81 forbid you!" cried Durand. "You
are not strong enough to carry it. You
would let it fall on the way-perhaps
on the stairs, or even in this room"
Nine. Durand threw herself on me,
crying, "No, no, not you. 1t is too
dangerous. Not you"
"This," said Durand, lis work for a
strong soldier. Happily, the captain
is here"
ZIP" said the captain, ~uneasily.
eyes. you are as strong as a bull,
and. besides. you are used to these
dreadful instruments OF a You
play with cannon balls and bombshells
as a schoolboy does with his tops and
marbles"
"But-but, pardon me-" said the
captain, who grew slightly pale, SO
bombshell, you see-er-hum. Can
we not wait until TO. morrow, and have
it taken away thenp"
"To.morrow!' cried Nine. Durand.
"Why l couldn't close my eyes the
whole night. would rather 60 to 8
hotel"
Here Victor stepped forward:
"Do not put yourself to so much
trouble l beg" said he. II will take
the bombshell away"
you are mad, my boy" cried Du.
rand. stopping him. Just off a sick
bed, and with your wounded arm! Dc
you want to bring the house down
about your ears2"
LET it be, Victor" said l, "this is
NO work for a sick man."
'But 1t is just the task for the cap.
tain" continued Durand. II will con
fide it to no one but him. Come, cap.
tain. be quick. Pick up the monster
and deliver US from this nightmare
The captain did not like the situa-
ton, that was evident. But be was
not the man to be disconnected at such
q trihe.
"You are right" said he, smiling
%uneasily; this sort OF thing is in my
line. l vas about to say, however,
when you interrupted me just now,
that it would be dangerous for a man
on foot to carry it. The sidewalks are
slippery, and a single false step in the
street would be enough to blow to
pieces ten men. To take it away in d
carriage is the only reasonable way,
General Lefevre, who brought me to
your door in his carriage. is dining a,
Brebant's, and his carriage is in front
of the restaurant. l will ask him tc
lend it me. He is an old friend oil
mine; so the matter is settled. Just
let me buckle on my belt, and l shall
be back here in ten minutes. or a quar-
ter Of an hour at the outside"
Ely, them" ''said Nine. Durand,
shall scarcely dare to breathe while
you are gone"
81 shall run, my dear madame" Sc
saying, the captain took his plumed
shake, his cloak, and fastened from
the room. And from the way he
bounded down the steps it was eviden,
that he was in a hurry.
l returned to the drawing room,
which was still al CONSERVATION. Nine,
Durand vscilated between a desire &c
fly and curiosity to examine the bomb,
shell. As if unintentionally. ] looked
out into the street. which was brightly
lighted up by the full moon
1t was a very simple matter to lei
me take it away" murmured Victor
Tut, tut!' cried Durand, surprised
at the young mans quiet courage III
is better that the captain should do it,
Let US hope" said Nine. Durand,
that he will not keep us waiting
long"
"Not keep us waiting long. dear
madamer' said I, gayly. You may
rest assured he will. For he will no
come back"
HE will not come backP"
"Most assuredly not. To go TO Bre
bant's restaurant he should take tn,
road to the right, while he went tn
other way, and fast enough he was 60
ing. too"
Good gracious! What does tina
meanp"
THAT means, friend Durand, tina
your captain is a Dragging cur, an'
that am delighted TO have unmaske,
the batteries Of such q scoundrel in fa
vor Of such an estimable young man.