The Red Cloud chief., 1897-10-01

viously his own composition. As he
did so, he smiled. well pleased, or
frowned savagely. Presently he aus
ed and stamped with his foot on the
floor.
In answer to his summons, a yount
woman Of about twenty, gaudily at
tired. with Il liberal display of cheap
jewelry. came up the narrow stairs.
"Ah, Adele" cried the man, lis the
boy below"
The woma answered with a curious
nod.
Give him these papers-let him fly
with them to the printer. Stay. Is
any one below"
mo one. Monsieur Fernand."
Death of my life. Caussidiere il
late muttered the man. Bring me
some absinthe n a packet of cigar
ettes.'
The woman disappeared with the
parcel of manuscript, and returned al
most Immediately. bearing the things
ordered. She had scarcely set them
down, when a loot was heard upon the
stairs, and our old acquaintance. Caus-
sidiere, elegantly attired, with fault
less gloves and boots. entered the
room.
Here You are." cried the man. you
come a little late. mon camarade. ]
should have liked you to hear the ar
ticle I have just dispatched to the Bon
Citoyen."
1T will keep till tomorrow, Huet.'
returned the other. dryly, when I shall
behold it in all the glory of large type
Huet. as the man was named, ripped
out a roundo oath.
1T is a firebrand. a bombshell, by
-" he cried. The dagger-thrust of
Marat. with the epigram of Victor HUI
go. | have signed it at full length.
mon camarade-'Fernand IIuct, Work
man, Friend of the People"
Caussidiere laughed and sat down.
mo nan can match YOU. my dear
Huet, in the great war of-words."
Just so. and in the war of swords,
too. when the time comes. Nature has
given me the sou of a poet, the heart
of a lion. the strength Of Hercules, the
tongue Of Apollo. Behold me. When
heroes are wanted. l shall be there"
The two men talked for some time
on general subjects; then Huet, after
regarding his companion with a pro-
longed stare. observed with a coarse
laugh:
you are a swell as usual. my Caus-
sidiere. Parbleu, 1t Is easily seen that
you earn no your living, like a good
patriot, by the sweat of your brow.
Who Is the victim, mon camaradc!
Who bleeds?"
II do not waste what | have re.
turned Caussidiere, "and | love clean
linen. that Is ALL"
/, Huet snapped his fingers and laugh
ed.
/, DO you think am a fool to swallow
that canard? No, my Caussidiere. You
, have money, you have a little nest-egg
at home. You have a wife, brave boy:
she is English. and she is rich"
"On the contrary. she Is very poor, -
answered Caussidiere. she has not a
SOU"
"Diable!"
Nevertheless, | will not disguise
from you that she has wealthy connec
tiobts WIN dSSISt uB Ill DuI
struggle for subsistence. But II Ia moi
much that comes to me from that quar-.
ter, l assure you. My correspondence
=, and my translations are our chief re-
lance"
Then they pay you like a prince
mon camarade!" cried Huet. but
/, there. that Is your affair, not mine
You are with US, at any rate, heart and
soul?"
"Assuredly."
Sinking their voices, they continued
to converse for some time. At las,
Caussidiere rose to go. After a rough
, handshake from Huet, and a gruiiiy
murmured "A bientot," he made his
, way down the narrow stairs, and found
, himself in the sanded entresol OF the
i, cabaret.
+ Several men in blouses sat at the IA.
BILE drinking, waited upon by Adele.
AS Caussidiere crossed the room the
girl followed him to the door and
touched him OF the shoulder.
How is madame?" she asked, in
low voice. II trust much better"
I Caussidiere gazed at the questioneI
with no very amiable expression.
"Do you say Madame Caussidierei
How do you know that there Is such @
Q persona"
t The girl shrugged her shoulders.
Your wife or your mistress, 1t Is al
Q the same. You know whom I mean
= monsieur"
z "She Is better, then"
And the little garcon?"
5 quite WELL" answered Caussidiere
passing out into the street.
Leaving Mouche dor behind him
| and passing along the banks of the
Seine, Caussidiere crossed the river
and reached the ~neighborhood OF the
t Palais Royal. From time to time hi
exchanged a nod or a greeting with
some passer-by, generally a person
: much more shabbily attired than him