Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-21

out the address. 1t is TO the LinQrer by
the litter Now" continued the old soldier,
with grin, eve both know something about
certain litter, and so, mon Capitaine,
brought it to you"
"And you did right" returned Captain de
Lancroi, as he took from the Sergeant's
nand ! ,m small packet tied up in yellow silk
All yellow" he continued, with laugh.
The lady is evidently Jealous"
Throw away the dangerous missive," said
Raoul, laying his hand upon the packet as
his friend was about to cut the string. EVIL
will conn of it am certain"
Not l" returned the Captain. 81 have a
certain vein of curiosity in my disposition,
and want to see the matter to the end. am
an excellent Arabic scholar, and If fail
there is old lronhead here to help me, is
there not, mon braye?'
the sergeant, addressed by this compli-
mentary soDriQuet, shuffled with his feet,
but made no direct reply; and the Captain,
opening the packet, commenced trans lat1ng
the contents with a fiuency which showed
that he had not in any way exaggerated
his proficiency in the Arabic language
THE imprisoned bird in the Castle in the
Clouds sends greeting to tho Loiterer by
the litter. On the day when the matchbox
bullets were kissing and the yataghans
flashing around US, you breathed certain
words in my ear that there was no mistaking.
1 am tired of my gilded cage, and besides
am told that the Lion has found fresh
face, which he loves to gaze upon, but the
imprisoned bird has beak and claws, and
woe TO those who offend her. If you are
still in earnest, and will keep to what you
said on the day we first met, l will deliver
up to you the Castle of the Clouds, but
cannot do this for three days
What did You say to her, worthless one?"
asked Raoul, shaking his foref1nger play
fully at his companion.
"M hat does a man always say to q pretty
woman" returned the captain. But let me
finish this extraordinary epistle: Ii you
agree to my proposal show light three
times at the foot of the cliff and in three
days the castle shall be yours; and as an
earnestness of my good faith, be beneath
the cliff tomorrow at midnightsand will
throw you the head of the Lion, even the
head of di-ben-Mahommed.'"
why the woman is an incarnate fiend,"
cried Raoul de Lognac, Mortified at the cold
blooded atrocity of the proposal
Armand de Lancroilighted cigarette and
smoked for few seconds in silence. "It is
not mere love affair now," said he, 'but O
question of policy, and l must report the
matter to the general; meanwhile. Paul
Richard, as you know the ground, take that
lantern and give the required signal, as it
lady waiting.7
"Do you forget that by doing this you are
agreeing to the Arabs murder?" asked de
lognac,
"Bahr' replied the captain: "what is an
Arab more or less? 1 tell you, Raoul, that
this Lion, as he chooses to call himself, would
not hesitate to cut our throats in cold blood
IL the fancy seized him, so why should be
particular about hist Go on, sergeant, and
be sure you make the light visible"
Raoul de Lognac was ignorant that in war
fare in Algeria the code of the French has
ever been that the end justifies the means.
The General was delighted to hear of the
chance there was OF so troublesome an
enemy being put out of the way.
You have done well, very well indeed,
Captain de 1ancroi," remarked he; "the
more they quarrel and fight among them
How shall we reward you? Would you like
to be the Governor of the Castle in the
Clouds, with tie guardianship OF the i'm
prisoned bird eh?"
"When keep bird, General answered
lie Lancroi, with laugh, sit shall be a little, |
gentle, loving dove, not wild hawk, with |
oeak and talons always ready to tear one to |
pieces; better hand her over to the Arab |
Bureau, the civilians will find some means |
of disposing OF the dangerous young per- i
son."
II am pretty much OF your opinion. Cap
ain," replied the General; "but L should |
ike to be a witness to the first act of the |
tragedy, and so will be at your tent at a |
luarter to twelve tomorrow, night"
De Lancroi bowed and withdrew.
do you really think she will keep her |
'romise?" asked Raoul, when his friend re- !
oined him. |
"My dear fellow" answered the Captain,
'Henrl Quatre is reported to have said,
'Souvent femme varie
aBien fol qui sly fe.'
And he had the credit of knowing the sex.
f anyone had. Perhaps by tomorrow night |
ny fair correspondents will have made it up |
With the Lion, and we shall be greeted with.
volley of matchbox bullets, instead of the i
oxen which was promised u.s."
But when the appointed time arrived, and |
he little party assembled beneath the cliff, |
he towers and walls OF the old castle looked
IS black and silent as ever; and no loopholes |
we're lighted up by the discharge of firearms,
s the captain had laughingly prognosti-
ated.
"The lady is not punctual," remarked the
eneral glaQcino q his watch oft iS ten |
minutes past the hour"
Perhaps the clocks are slow in the cas-
lie, )" suggested the generals aide de camp.
Really, general" remarked de Lancroi,
you are hardly fair; you must give the
'oung lady little law. The work she is
bout cannot be got over too quickly; be-
Iovelty in it, and the fair lady has doubtless
lot served an apprenticeship to the business
# cutting of emirs' heads"
81 do not know that" answered the gen.
Fhat these Arab women may have been up
O. But hushl do not hear voices above
ur heads?"
All listened eagerly, and the creaking Of
vooden shutters, as they were being drawn
ack, could be distinctly heard.
"lt is coming" whispered de Lancroi, |
rasping the arm of Raoul de Lognac, who
t his solicitation had been permitted to
Experience this will be to recite in a Pars-
an drawing room? But peste, my good
riend, stand from under, or you may chance
o get another black eye."
Whispering voices could now be distinctly |
card at the window which had just been |
pened, and in few seconds, with q peal of
ardonic laughter, which rang wildly
through the silence of the night, heavy
bject was hurled from the window, and re-
from the ground rolled almost at
he feet of the General
''The jade has kept her word" muttered
e, with an oath "Pick it up and unite the
astenings," he added, addressing his aide
e-camp.
For moment no one seemed to care about
xecuting the order and the object which
as enveloped in large piece of spangled
luslin, remained where it had fallen. Ser
cant Paul Richard, noticing the hesitation
his superior officers, raised the packet