The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-05-20

They are here!
A blow fell on the door as he spoke,
and he stepped toward it. But at that
despair moved her, and she threw her
self upon him and for a moment wres-
tied with him. At last, with an effort
he flung her off, and brandishing his
weapon in her face kept her at bay.
"You vixenr' he cried savagely, re-
treating to the door, with pale cheek
and his eyes still on her, for he was an
arrant coward. "You deserve to go to
prison with him, you jadel l will have
you in the stocks for this!'
She leaned against the wall where
she had fallen, her white, despairing
face seeming almost to shine i'll the
darkness of the wretched room. Mean
while the continuous murmur of mems
voices outside could now be heard, min
gled with the ring Of weapons, and the
summons for admission was again and
again repeated, as if those without had
no mind to be kept waiting.
Patience, patiencel am openingP
he cried. Still keeping his face to her,
he unlocked the door and called on the
men tc enter. He is in the straw, M.
le Mayorr' he cried in tone Of tri-
umph, his eyes still on his wife. He
will give you no trouble, will answer
for it! But first give me my crowns,
mayor. My 5 crownsP'
He still felt so much fear of his wife
that he did not turn to see the men en-
ter and was taken by surprise when
voice at his elbow-a strange voice
said: Five crowns, my friend? For
what, may ask?''
In his eagerness and excitement he
suspected nothing, but thought only that
the mayor had sent deputy. "Fol
what? For the Girondinp' he answered
rapidly. Then at last he turned anC
found that half dozen men had enter
ed, and that more were entering. IL
his establishment, they were all stran
gers to him-men with stern, gloom.
faces and armed to the teeth Their
: was something so formidable in thei
= appearance that his voice faltered as h
added "But where is the mayor, gen
tlemen? / do not see him.
No one answered, but in silence tn
last of the men-there were / in all
e entered and bolted the door behind him
. Michel Teller peered at them in tn
gloom with growing alarm. In retur
y the tallest Of the strangers. who had Ell
. tered first and seemed to be in command
= looked round keenly. At length tn
man spoke. $50 you have Girondi
here, have your" he said, his voice CT
riously sweet and sonorous.
Il was to have 8 crowns for him,
Michel muttered obviously.
ooh, Petion," continued the spoke
man to one of his companions, "cf
YOU kindle light? 1t strikes me tn
we have hit upon dark place.
The man addressed took somethil
from his pouch For moment the
was silence, broken only by the sha
sound of the flint striking the stet
Then a sudden glare lit up the dark
y terror and disclosed the group of cloa
ed strangers standing about the doc
. the light cleaning back from the
muskets and cutlasses. Michel tremble
Y He had never seen such men as the
before. True, they were wet and tra'
y stained and had the air of those W
y spend their nights in bitches and unC
- haystacks. But their pale, stern fa'
were set in indomitable resolve. TIL
NJ eyes glowed with steady fire, and Il
trod as kings tread Their leader wa
= man Of majestic height and beauty, q
in his eyes alone there seemed to IL
= spark of some lighter fire, as If
spirit still rose above the task VIII
had sobered his companions. Mic
~ noted all this in fear and bewilderme
noted the white head and yet vigor
~ bearing of the man who had struck
light; noted even the manner in VIII
- the light died away in the dim reoes
* of the barn.
- ''And this Girondin-is he in hid
x here?" said the tall man.
- THAT is so, y Michel answered. %
x had nothing to do with hiding h
citizen. 1t was my wife hid him in
. straw there. >
"And you gave notice of his prese
to the authorities?' continued the ST.
| ger, raising his hand to repress ST
a movement among his followers.
Certainly, or you would not b
I'd been here, replied Michel, better Sc
,i1 fed with himself.
Of The answer struck him down will
ed awful terror. ''That does not folio
ol. said the tall man coolly, for we
'it- Girondinsp'
*. "You are?"
an without doubt" the other ans
py ed. with majestic simplicity. "or t.
are no such persons. This is Potion
y. this Citizen Buzot. Have you hear
Louvet? There he stanCs. For me,
Barbaroux.
Michel's tongue seemed glued to
. roof of his mouth. He could not ut
nerve word. But another could. On tn
p6 phys, side of the barrier sudden rustling
,ent j. heard. and while all turned to 10
!, s. + Int with what different feelings!-
,cuiar pale face of the youth over whom
- chel had bent in the afternoon app'
40 pay above the partition. A smile OF j
, y, recognition effaeed for the time the
- of exhaustion The young man, c
o. 81. ing for support to the planks, ute
CRY of thankfulness, 1T is you!
a really you'll You are safeP' he exc
HS cd.
"We are safe, all of us, Pierre,
- baroux answered. And NOVA
turned to Michel Teller with 81