Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-02-25

own dirty work. he said, quietly, "por
stint my footmen of theic sport, boy"
Very WE'LL" L retorted. And with
the words drew my sword, and sprang
as quick as lightning to the curtain by
which he had entered. Very well, we
will kill you irst!" cried, wrathfully,
my eye on his eye, and every savage
passion in my breast al oused, land
take our chance with the lackeys after
wards: Marie! Croisette!" I cried,
shrilly. ION him, lads!"
But they did not answer. They cid
not move or draw. For the moment,
indeed, the man was in my power. My
wrist was raised, and [ had my point
at his breast, I could have run him
through by q single thrust. And L
hated him. Oh, how I hated hbni
But he did not stir. Had he spoken,
had he moved so much as an eyelid,
or drawn back his foot, or laid his hand
on his hilt, L should have killed him
there. But he did not stir and / could
not do it. My hand dropped. Cow
ards!" I cried. glancing bitterly from
him to them-they had never failed me
before. "Cowardsi" I muttered, seem
ing to shrink into myself as said the
word. And 1 flung my sword clatter-
ing on the floor.
THAT is better!" he rlrawled, quite
unmoved, as if nothing more than
words had passed, as if he had not been
in peril at all. ut was what I was GO
ing to ask you to do. If the other
young gentlemen will follow your ex-
ample. shall be obliged. Thank you.
Thank you"
Croisette, and minute later Marie,
obeyed him to the letter! I could not
understand it. I folded my arms and
gave up the game in despair, and but
for very shame I could have~put my
hands TO my face and cried. He stood
in the middle under the lamp a heed
taller than the tallest of us; or master.
And we stood round him trapped, beat
en-, for all the world like children. Oh,
I could have cried! This was the end
of our long ride, our aspirations, our
knight-errantry!
'tNow perhaps you will listen to me-"
he went on, smoothly, land hear what
am going to do. am going to keep you
here, young gentlemen, until you can
serve me by carrying to mademoiselle,
your cousin, some news of her be-
trothed. Oh, I shall not detain you
long," he added, with an evil smile.
''You have arrived at Paris at fortI1-
nate moment. There is going to be a.
well, there is little scheme on foot ap-
pointed for tonight singularly lucky
you are!-for removing some objection
able people, some friends of ours, per-
haps among them, NJ. Anne. That is
all. You will hear shots, cries, perhaps
screams. Take no notice. You will be
in no danger. For III. de Pavannes," he
continued, his voice sinking, 81 think
that by morning I shall be able to give
you-a-a more particular account of
him to take to Caylus-to mademoiselle,
you understand"
For moment the mask was off. His
face took a sombre brightness. He
moistened his lips with his tongue as
though he saw his vengeance worked
out then and there before him, and were
gloating over the picture. The idea that
this was so took such hold upon me
that I shranlk back, shuddering; read
ing, too, in Croisette's face the same
thought-and a late repentance. Nay,
the malignity of Beers tone, the saw
age CLEAN of joy in his eyes, appalled,
me to such an extent that I fancied for
a moment saw in him the devil incar-
nate.
He recovered his composure very
quickly, however; and turned carelessly
towards the door. eff you will follow