Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-07-04

The House Of The Wolf,,,,,,$
y BY STANLEY j. wEYMAN


; OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Aooo~oooc~
We could sea bend in the street
laying 1t open-part of the Vidame's |
house; the gloomy square hold which
had come to him from his mother. His /
own chateau of Beers lay tar away |
in Franche Comte. but of late he had
shown a reference-Catherine could
best account for it, perhaps-for this \
mean house in Caylus. 1t was the only
long to US. 1t was known as the
House of the Wolf and was grim
stone building surrounding q court |
yard Rows of wolves heads carved |
In stone flanked the windows, whence
their bare fangs grinned day and night
at the church porch opposite.
The noise drew our eyes in this d.
rection; and there, lolling in a window
over the door, looking out on the
street with a laughing eye. was Be
zers himself. The cause of his merri-
ment-we had not far to look for 1t
was horseman who was riding up
the street under difficulties. He was
refining in his steed-no easy task on
that steep, greasy pavement-so as to
present some front to a score or SO of
ragged knaves who We're following
close at his heels. hooting and throw
Ing mud and pebbles at him. The man
had drawn his sword and his oaths
cries of "Nive la messed" and half
drowned by the gathering of the
horses hoofs. We saw a stone strike
him in the face, and draw blood, and
heard him swear louder than before.
Obi cried Catherine, clasping her
hands with a sudden Shrek of indig-
nation, my letter. They will get my
letter.
DEATH. exclaimed Croisette. She
is right! 1t is NJ. de Pavannes' cou-
rier. This must be stopped! We cam
not stand this. Anne!"
They shall pay dearly for 1t. by our
LADY," l cried, swearing myself And
Francis." 1 shouted. Where are
you!''
And 1 looked round for my fowling
piece while Croisette jumped upon the
wall, and. forming a trumpet with his
hands shricsed at the top of his voice:
Back. he bears a letter from the
vicomte!''
But the device did not succeed, and
l could not find my gun. For mo-
ment we We're helpless, and before I
could have fetched the gun from the
house the horsenlan and the hooting
rabble at his heels had turned COR
ner and were hidden by the roofs
Another turn, however, would bring
them out in front of the gateway, and,
seeing this, we hurried down the ramp
to meet them. l stayed a moment to
tell Gil to collect the servants, and,
this keeping me, Croisette reached the
Iarrow. street outside before me. AS
l followed him 1 was nearly knocked
down by the rider, whose face was
covered with dirt and blood, while
fright had rendered his horse unman-
ageable. Darling aside, / let him pass
he was blinded and could not see me
and then found that Croisette-brave
lad!-had collared the foremost of the
rufl1ans and was beating him with his
sheathed sword, while the rest of the
rabble stood back, ashamed. yet sui
len, and with anger In their eyes. A
dangerous crew, thought; not towns
men, most Of them.
Down with the Huguenots!" cried
one, as 1 appeared, holder than the
rest.
Down with the canaille!' / retort-
ed. sternly, cycling the ill-lookins ring,
'.Will you set yourselves above Tic
kings peace, dirt that you are? &C
back TO your kennels!"
The words were scarcely out Of my
mouth beforet I saw that the fellow
whom Croisette was Furnishing had got
hold of a dagger. ! shouted warn
ing. but 1t came too late. The blade
fell, and--thanks to God-striking the
buckle of the lads belt glanced of
harmless. / saw the steel flash W
again-saw the spite in the mans eyes
but this time l was a step nearer, an:
sword clean through the wretch'
body. He went down like log, Croi
settle falling with him, held fast b!
his stffening fingers.
/ had never killed a man before. no
seen a man die; and If had stayed t.
.;..Jr Il - q~11 Ia,
sick perhaps. But it was no time 70
thought; no time for sickness Th
crowd We're close upon us. line o
flushed threatening faces from wall t
wall. A single glance downwards toll
me that the man was dead. and 1 Sc
my foot upon his neck Hounds
Beasts 1 cried, not loudly this time
for though l was like one possesses
with rage, it was inward rage, "go t
your kennels! Will you dare to rails
hand against a Caylus? Go--or whe
the yicomte returns, a dozen of yo
shall hang in the market place."
I suppose / looked fierce enough
altation--for they skunk away. I'm
willingly, but With little delay tn
group melted. Brezers following-c
whom / knew the dead man was one
the last to go. While l still glared a
them, 10! the street was empty; tn
last had disappeared round the benz
turned to find Gil and half doze
my back. Croisette seized my han
with sob. ooh, my Lord" cried CT
quaveringly But l shook one off,
frowhed at the other.
Take up this carrion!" sale
touching 1T with my foot, land han
1t from the justice elm. And the
close the gates! See to 1t, knaves, an
lose no time"
CHAPTER III