The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-10-26


come between him and thoobiect he HAD
Y view. y fact, be was the very type
q 9 cool. renorseless, daring villain.
though ct the present moment ii suited
him TO assume the air Of a.light hearted
vagabond.
With all that there was certain sub
stratum Of refinement about him. the last
remnant Of earlier associations, an easy
incidence Of manner and an air Of ono
accustomed to command which had its
effect on>the simple vi1lageois among
whom he found himself and overawed
them in spite OF his broken shoes and
torn coat. He was dressed IN an old
brown coat buttcned up tightly, round
his neck was twisted i red cravat, he
wore reddish. pantaloons and u red
striped waistcoat, remains Of pair Of
riding boots. and carried on his head q
high crowned white hat 1auch dilapi-
dated. He carried stick which he
twirled on his finger as he advanced into
the courtyard with an air of the greatest
insouciance, singing another couplet:
LHteneire Annette.
Sen va seulette
Sous Ia coudrette
Chsnter ie Robin DIES Bots
His companion. who followed closely
behind him as LIE entered the courtyard,
was Of quite different type and even
less prepossessing. He was a mean,
.scouldrelly looking little man, with
brown hair cropped short, and coarse,
repulsive features, whom vice and crime
were not in any degree, however small,
the result of circumstances, but were
the inevitable outcome Of his nature and
instincts. He was the consummate fruit
Of hereditary degradation. TWAS nat
ural that he should walk behind his
stronger and more masterful companion,
whom he seemed to hold in considerable
awe, and it seemed natural, too, that he
should carry both their bundles, as he
did. He wore gray coat and an odd
looking pair Of old Wellington boots.
The leader. as he seemed to be, hav-
ing taken seat at one of the tables un-
der the tilleuls with an air as if the
place belonged to him, his companion
followed his example with a frightened
air.
WELL" said the tall one, I'VE are not
far from the frontier now; It won't take
US long to get over the Jura, and then
messieurs les gendarmes may go whis-
tie"
Il wish we were over, Remond,"
said the other. my blood runs cold
every time see gendarme, and they
have way Of looking at one that is not
pleasant. I'm sure I don't know what
brought you up here. We might have
got much more quickly over the from
tier"
1--WE might have got still more quickly
back to the Lyons prison if we had tried
to cross just where they were on the
lookout forus. Bah! Bertrand, you are
only white ivered fellow after all"
''Oh. don't pretend to have your as
surance. You march along as if you had
nothing in the world to be afraid Of"
"Can't you understand, you fool, that
that assurance is our best safeguard?
wish you would cultivate it little, for,
with your cursed cowardice, you'll get
us into q hole one Of these days. What
is thara to be afraid Of besidesa This
tandage DISCUSSES me completely, and
haven't we ourpassports quite en- regle?"
Thanks to my little accomplish
ments."
''Just so. You're good for that much
at any rate. But in the DEVILS name
try and not look so frightened whenever
any one speaks to you. We would have
been stopped at the last poste if it had
not been for my assurance as you call
it.
I'm not be easy till we are over the
frontier and in place Of safety. The
sight of q gendarme. repeat. makes my
blood run cold"
Courage, courage, and, above all,
audacity the grand point. We
will soon be out of danger, and in the
meantime we'll have some food and rest
ourselves. Hola, here, somebody" he
cried, knocking with his stick on the
table. Then taking off his hat he placed
it on the table beside him, and having
wiped his face with ragged handker-
chief he crossed his legs comfortably.
and taking Knife from his pocket pro-
ceeded to trim his nails in leisurely
way. His hands were characteristic,
like everything else about him. They
were white and smooth, the hands of a
man who had never done manual labor,
with long, 1.-the fingers that seemed
formed for card sharping and yet were
muscular enough to make one feel there
would be little chancellor the man whose
throat was clutched in their grip of
steek
"These people don't hurry themselves, !"
he observed presently. "Hola, there.
are you all asleepT
Pierre appeared at the house door
grumbling to himself at being called tc
attend to strangers at such time, but
when he saw the pair who waited his
appearance his disgust was great and
was not lessened by the air Of easy con-
descension with which Remond beck
oned him to approach and desired him
to bring some refreshments.
Nothing elser' said Pierre.
''Well, Tthink could eat bit. said
Bertrand.
ssWhatl Are you hungry?' said his