Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-03

Let me sec yOur face, yOuag gentleman"
decd-I uncovered. She shot a piercing
glance ut my face, and looking down on
the floor traced hurricd!y y figure with her
stick. She studied the phantom lines n
moment and then looked up
''Listcn," she said sGlenniy, ard wav-
ing her stick round me she Guavcrcd out
in tones which filed mo with q strange
trcmor:
The man goes cast and the wind blows west,
Wood 70 the head, and s4.Cl - the breast!
The man goes west, c,:d the wind blows east
The neck twice doomed the gallowS shall feast {,
"Bcwarc!' she went on more loudly
and harshly, tapping with her stick on
the floor and shaking her palsicd. head at
me. beware, unlucky shoot of u crooked
branch! Go 10 farther with it! Go back.
The sworG! may miss or may not fail, but
the cord is surc!''
If Master BERTHE had not held my arm
tightly, l should have rocoiled, as most OF:
those within hearing had already done
The strange illusions to my past, which
had no difficulty in detecting, and tho
witCh's knowledge Uf the risks of our pres
cnt enterprise WCrc enough to startic and
shake the most constant mind, and in the
midst OF enterprises secret and dangerous
few minds are So firm or so reckless as TO
disdain omens. That she was one of those
unhappy beings who buy dark secrets at
the expense of other souls seemed certain,
and had l been alone should have, am
not ashamed to say it, given back
But l was lucky in having for my COM
panion man of rare mind, and besides of
so single n religious belief that at the end
OF his life he always refused to put faith in
a thing of the existence of which have
no doubt myself mean witchcraft.
He showed at this moment the courage
of his opinions. Peace, peace, woman!"
he said compassionatoly. we shall live
while God wills it and die W hen he wills
it, and neither live longer nor die earlier,
So let us by"
Would you perishi" she quavercd.
AYE, if so God willis" he answered, I'M
dauntod.
At that she seemed to shake all over and
hobblcd aside, muttering: Then go on,
Go on, God wills it,
Master Berthe gave me no time for hcsi-
tation, but holding my arm urged me Oh
to where the hostlcr stood awaiting the
event with "a face of much ,discomposure
He opened the door for us, however. and
led the way up 4 narrow and not too clean
staircase. On the landing at the head az
this he paused and raised his lantern so as
to cast the light on our faces she has
overlooked me, the old witchr' he said
Niciously. Iwish / had never meddlcd in
this business"
Man" Master Bcrtic replied stcrnly,
do you fear that weak old woman
No, but fear her MASTER rctorted the
hostlcr, and that is the devilv'
Then l 90 not" Master Beaie an
sworcd bravely. For my Master is as
good Il match for him as am for that old
woman. When he wills it, m.n, you will
die, and not before 30 pluck up spirit"
Master Bcrtio did not look at me, though
] needed his cncoura cement as much as
the hostlcr, having had better proofs of the
woman. strange knowledge. But seeing
that his Cxhortation had emboidened this
ignorant man l was ashamed to seen, TO
hesitate. When the hostlcr knocked at the
door-not Of b, but Of i5-and il present
ly opened, went in without more ado.
The room was a bare inn chamber \
pallet without covering lay in one corner
In the middle were 4 couple OF Stools, and
on one OF them 4 taper.
The person who had opened to Us stood
eying US attcntivcly, bluff. weather
beaten man with a thick bard and the air
OF sailor. We'll, he said, what now?"
These gentlemen want to bug some
lace. the husiIcr explained.
What lace 20 they want:" was the re-
tort.
French lace" l answered.
"YOu have come to tho right shop,
then. the man answered briskiy. Nod
ding to orr conductor to depart. be care
fully let him out. Then. barring tho duor
behind him, he as rapidly strobe TO the
pallet and twitched it aside. disclosing a
tr.pdaor lie lifted this, and we saw
narrow shaft descending into darkness.
lie brought the taper and held it so as to
throw faint light iato the opening. There
was no ladder. bat blocks OF wood nailed
alternately against two Of the sides. ut in
teryals OF q couple Of feet OK So, made the