The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-25
stone steps, TheSheavy slab that closed

stone steps. The heavy slab that closed
the manfole had no paddock,
The Mouse, on his hands and knees.
CROPPED about in the dark, stumbling
among dead weeds and broken cucum-
( Der frames, putting and cursing, until,
without any warning, he almost fell
into the manhole itself. Startled, alert,
he crouched breathless by the slab on
the grass. Somebody had removed it,;
somebody then, was in the cellarl
Stealthily he crawled into the man.
hole and descended the first three steps.
+ His worn shoes made no noise. He
crept three steps further.
At the end of the cellar. in the full
light of lantern on the floor. sat three
men. Two of them wore the uniforms
/ of officers of the carbineers; the third
I was IN civilian dress. Their voices
were indistinct. but their features were
not, and the Mouse fairly bristled as
( ne recognized them. They were Stauf-
fer, Mortier and Buckhurst.
me hrst thought of the Mouse was in
stinctlvely personal. They had come to
rob MIN Of his. 9underi It was that.
n imam cnrlesity that led him to
creep toward them, nearer nearer. wrig-
g,e behind a barrel, and crawl SO close
mat, with outstretched arm. he could
nave stabbed Mortier-if Mortier had been
Buckhurst. pale-faced. calm. bent his
colorless eyes on Mortier. and spoke in
the DaSSlonleSS voice that always struck
a chill to the Mouse's marrow:
NJ. Mortier. You misunderstood me. |
am not in this city for my health. nor am
mere 10 preach the commune There is
but one thing | am looking for-money-
and l don't care how l get it or where 1
get 1t. Prussian thalers or French francs
! II all one to me-
Mortier raised his hiGsous head and
tiNea nus iittie green eyes on the bloodless
One minute said Buckhurst then
We finished. Not to waste words the sit
uatlon Is this: captain Stauffer has ar
ranged to omen the Nanterre fort to the
frussianS; / nave agreed to run a tunnel
from this cellar under the street TO the
passion where the Prophet isl think it's
bastson No. 70. Powder exploded in the
tunnel opens a breach in the ramnarts
directly behind the Nanterre fort Do you
comprehend"
lie paused. "A moment, then added: For
tbls we divide e00o0 thalers''
Stauffer began to speak eagerly. his
weak race lighting up as he proceeded
II was Speyer's plan: he had il in view
before war was declared last July. He
and l lodged in this house and planned il
all out-even 10 sexcavating the tunnel to
bastion No. 73-d-n the man who
Knocked him on the head, But we can do
II aione-ali we want of Won is to helm
with the tunnel. 1t will be worth your
while-really it wil.''
MoruerS eyes seemed to grow mean
descent: the great veins swelIed ont on his
l.
the red flannel rags. moved corvulsivelv
AS ne spoke he rose. Buckhurst with
me easy grace of a panther, rose too
Starffer numbered to his feet and began
to speak again. but Mortier silenced him
beast.
u refuse!" he shouted; Il am an An
archist. not a traitorl I KILL | destroy, |
burn, | murder If necessary: but | will
the kingdom of Prussiar'
IiC oil
Buc1hurst
Judas he shrieked. The commune
snail rise and live to judge you'll Cursed
son m OF free people! Renegade, Thief"'
There was a flash report. and Nor
tier clapped his hands TO his face. which
the blood suddenly covered. The next
moment he was At Ruckhursts throat
bore him down. twined him closer in his
long missharen arms and fastened his
teeth IN his throat. and Buclxhl,rst shot
him again and asain through the body
They swayed and fell together. the
deadly light Gied IN Brckhurst's glazed
eyes. After a minute neither moved aeasn.
Stauner had gone. fleeing like one dis
tracted. when the Mouse crawled out into
the lantern light and gazed down at the
Presently he picked up the lantern.
grubbed hole in the ground deposited
his forks with the rest of his booty. rose,
glanced at the dead again. and picked up
the lantern He spat on the ground-for
Buckhurst had tricl.ed him o9ce-so he
frsu.ted the corpse with a contemptuous
gesture. and went out. swinging his
lantern and sneering
Give up the Nanterre fort, eh?'' he re-
peated. min,ieing Stauffer's effeminate
voice: 20. me- soe,-ri o. la. la nous
Geux monsieur pipelet-a demalnr
The Prophet was firing as he left the
city by the Porte Rouge; he looked up at
the great cannot. and Knocked it; ITEMS.
boumi boum, o. la. la o. Seigneur Dieui
que la guerre est ridicu.e tout memel''