The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-08

ing up-a matted-haired, dcwn-cast fel-
low In sheepskin jacket.
what village is this?" asked Duroc.
at is Arensdorf." he answered in his
barbarous German dialect.
"Then here | am to stay the night.
said my young companion. Then turn
ing TO the farmer. he asked his eternal
question: Can you tell me where the
Baron Straubenthal lives?"
"Why. it is he who owns the Castle
Of Gloom" said the farmer, pointing to
the dark turrets over the distant fr
forest.
Duroc gave shout like the sports
man who sees his game rising in front
of him. The lad seemed to have gone
off his head. his eyes shining. his face
deathly white and such grim set
about his mouth as made the farmer
shrink away from him. l can see him
now. leaning forward on his brown
horse with his eager gaze liked upon
the great black tower,
way % you call 1t the Castle of
Gloom" l asked.
"W ell, IL IS tn, name 1t bears upon
the country side" said the farmer. by
all accounts. there have been some
black doirgs up yonder. It's not for
nothing that the wickedest man in Po-
land kss been living there these four
teen years past"
~ Polish ncbleman?" I asked.
NAY. we breed no such men in Po-
land" he answered.
"A Frenchman. then" cried Duroc.
They say that he came from
France"
And with rcd hair?"
as red as fox
Yes, US. II is my man." cried my
come 1nion, quiverlng all over in his
excl, am,rt. at is the hand of Pcovi-
der.e which has led me here. Who
can say that there is not justice In this
world. Come MinSIsur Gerard. for ]
must zee the men safely Quartered be-
fore | can attend to this private mat
ter" He spurred on his horse. and ten
minutes later We We're at the door Of the
Inn at Arensdorf, where his men were
TO find their quarters for the night.
Well this was no affair Of NINE and
could not imagine what the meaning Of
but determined TO ride for few hours.
and take my chance of finding some
wayside barn in which I could
find shelter for Rataplan and
myself. 1 had mounted my
horse. therefore, after tossing off
a cup Of wine. when young Duroc came
running out of the door and laid his
hand upon my knee.
Monsieur Gerard" he painted. II beg
Of you not to abandon me like this"
MY good sir" said I, ''if you would
tell me what is the matter and what
you would wish me to do, should be
better able to tell you If l could be Of
any assistance to you"
you can be OF the very greatest" he
cried. Indeed, from all that I have
heard Of you. Monsieur Gerard, you are
the one man. whom I should wish to
have by my side tonight"
You forget that 1 am riding to Join
my regiment
You cannot In any case reach 1t to-
night Tomorrow will bring you to
Rossel. By staying with me you will
confer the greatest kindness upon me.
and you will aid me in a matter which
concerns my own honor and the honor
Of my family. I am compelled. how
ever. to confess to you that some per-
sonal danger may possibly be in
volved."
It was crafty thing for him to say
OF course I sprang from Rataplan's
back and ordered the groom to lead
him back to the stable.
Come into the inn." said l. "and let
me know exactly what it Is that you
wish me to do
He led the way into a sitting room
and fastened the door lest We should
be interrupted. He was a well-grown
lad. and as he stood in the glare of the
lamp with the light beating upon his
earnest face, and upon his uniform Of
silver gray which suited him to a mar
vel, / felt my heart warm toward him.
without going so far as to say that
he carried himself as have done at his
age. there was at least similarity
enough to make me feel sympathy with
him.
II can explain It all in a few words"
said he. 'If I have not already sats-
fed your very natural curiosity 1t is
because the subject Is so painful a one
that can hardly bring myself to allude
to 1t. | cannot. however, ask for your
assistance without explaining to you
exactly how the matter lies.
You must know, then, that my
father was the well-known banker,
Christopher Duroc, who was murdered
by the people during the September
massacres. As You are aware. the mob
took possession of the prisons, chose
three so-called judges to pass sentence
upon the unhappy aristocrats, and then
tore them to pieces when they were
passed out into the street. My father
had been benefactor Of the poor all
his life. There were many to plead fol-
him. He had the fever, too, and was
carried in half dead upon a blanket
Two Of the Judges were In favor OF
acquitting him. The third one, a young
Jacobln whose huge body and bruta
mind had made him a leader among the
wretches. dragged him with his owr
hands from the litter, kicked him agar
and again with his heavy boots. and
hurled him out OF the door, where In
an instant he was torn limb from limt
under circumstances which are too nor
rible to describe. This. as you perceive
was murder even under their own un
lawful laws. for two of their own Judge,
had pronounced In my fathers favor.
well, When the days Of order cam'
back again my elder brother began t