Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-08-17

$500 ANA iOoNol1po ~ IN
sound. Her dark shadow, moving ahead
of her across the floor, was not more
silent than she. An underlined desire
to make a noise, to give the alarm,
seized me.
Half way across the floor she stopped
to listen, and looked around, startled
herself, / think, by the silence. She
could not see her sister, whose
figure was blurred by the outlines of
the curtain; and no doubt she was puz-
zled to think what had become OF her.
The suspense which l felt, but did not
understand, was so great that at last
l moved. and the bed creaked
In a m her face was turned our
way, and she glided forwards, her fea-
lures still hidden by the hood of her
CLOAK. she was close to us now, bend
ing over us. She raised her hand to her
head-to shade her eyes, as she looked
more closely, / supposed, and / was
wondering whether she saw us-wheth-
er she took the shapelessness in the
shadow OF the curtain for her sister. or
not make 1t out-I was thinking
how we could best apprise her OF our
presence without alarming her-when
Croisette dashed my thoughts to the
Winds! Croisette. with a tremendous
whoop n a. crash, bounded over me
on to the door!
She uttered a gasping cry--a cry Of
intense, awful fear. | have the sound
In my ears even now. With that She
staggered back, clutching the air.
heard the metallic clang and ring OF
something falling on the floor. / heard
an answering cry of alarm from the
window; and then Nine. de Pavannes
ran forward and caught her in her
arms.
1t was strange to find the room late
iy so silent become at once alive with
whispering forms, as we came hastily
to light. ] cursed Croisette for his fol-
ly, and was immeasurably angry with
him, but i had no time to waste words
on him then. l hurried to the door to
guard 1t. / opened 1t a hands breath
and listened. All was quiet below; the
house still. l took the key out Of the
and put IL in my pocket and went
back. Marie and Croisette were stand
Ing a little apart from Nine. de Pa
vannes, who, hanging over her sister,
was by turns bathing her face and
our presence.
In a very few minutes Nine. do
seemed to recover, and sat up. The
shock of deadly terror had passed,
but she was still pale. She still trem-
bled shrank from meeting our eyes.
L saw her, when our attention
was apparently directed elsewhere,
glance at one and another of us with
q strange intentness, a s~huddering GU
No wonder, / thought. She
must have had a terrible fright-one
that might have killed a more timid
woman!
What on earth did you do that for?"
| asked Croisette, presently, my anger
certainly not decreasing the more /
looked at her beautiful face. You
might have killed her!"
In charity | supposed his nerves had
failed him, for he could not even now
give me a straightforward answer. His
only reply was: Let us get away from
horrible house!" and this he KEPT
repeating, with a shudder, as he moved
restlessly to and fro.
With all my heart" I answered,
at him with some contempt.
That Is exactly what we are going 10
dol"
But all the same his words reminded
me Of something which in the excite
ment Of the scene / had momentarily
forgotten, and that was our duty. Pa
.annes must be saved, though not for
Kit; rather to answer to us for his sins.
But he must be saved! And now that
he road was open, every minute lost
reproach to us. Yes" added.
my thoughts turned into
more rugged channel, you are right.
This is no time for nursing. We must
going, Nine. de Pavannes," went
On, addressing myself to her, you
Snow the way home from hereto your
louse?"
"Oh, yes!" she cried.
That is well" / answered. Then we
VIII start. Your sister is sufficiently
recovered now, / think. And we will
lot risk any further delay"
| did not tell her of her husbands
or that we suspected him of
Yronging her, and being, In fact, the
OF her detention. ] wanted her
as a guide. That was the main
point, though / was glad to De able TO
out her in a place Of safety at the same
line that we fulfilled our own mission.
She rose eagerly. You are sure that
We a get out?" she said.
Sure" l replied, with a brevity
worthy of Beers himself.
And / was right. We trooped down
Itairs, making as little noise as possi-
with the result that Mirepoix only
ook the alarm, and came upon us
we were at the outer door, buug-
with the lock. Then / made short
of him, checking his scared words
# remonstrance by flashing my dagger
'efore his eyes. ! induced him in the
anne f~ashion-he was fairly taken by
urprise-to undo the ~fastenings him
N'b III 81 blNulil6 HlHl lOllOW us AT
lis peril, we slipped out one by one.W We
oft!y closed the door behind us. And
0! we were at last free-free and in
he streets Of Paris, with the cool night
.ir tanning our brows. A church hard
~ tolled the hour OF two; and the
rokes were echoed, before we had
'one many steps along the ill-paved
way, by the solemn tones of the bell
t Notre Dame.
We were free and in the streets, with
guide who knew the way. If Beers
ad not gone straight from us to his
engeance, we might thwart him yet.
strobe along quickly, Nine. d'O by
~ side, the others a little way in front.
iere and there an oil lamp, swinging
a pulley In the middle of the road,
nabled us to avoid some obstacles
oore foul than usual, or to leap over
pool which had formed in the kennel.
wen in my excitement my country
red senses rebelled against the sights.
smells, the noisome air and oppres-
I've closeness of the streets.
The town was quiet, and very dark
here the smoky lamps were not hang
~. Yet l wondered If 1t ever slept.
Or more than once we had to stand
side to give passage to a party OF
len, hurrying along with links and
rms. Several times, too, especially
owards h end Of our walk. / was
by the flashing OF bright
ghts In a courtyard, the door OF which
half open to right or left. Once
saw the glow of torches reflected
lddily in the windows of a tall and
plendid mansion, a little withdrawn
'om the street. The source OF the light
as In the fo%recourt, hidden from us
y a low wall, but l caught the muir
lur or voices and stir of many feet.
nee a gate was stealthily opened and
armed men looked out, the act and
leir manner of doing It, reminded me
4 the instant Of those who had peeped
ut 70 inspect us some hours before I'm
ezers' house. And once, nay twice.
the knot of men standing notion
SIS In the gloom. There was an air
mystery abroad, a feeling as OF SOL
stir and preparations going on UNI