The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-07-25
CHAPTER w.
Entrapped!


There was a long silence. We stood
glazing at him, and he smiled upon us
as cat smiles. Croisette told me
afterwards that he could have died of
mortification-of shame and anger that
we had been outwitted. For myself
I did not at once grasp the position.
I did not understand. / could not dis
entangle myself in moment from the
belief in which had entered the house
| that it was Louis de Pavannes' house
| But seemed vaguely to suspect that
Beers had swept him aside and taken
his place. My first impulse, therefore
| -obeyed on the instant-was to stride
| to the vidame's side and grasp his arm.
What have you done?" 1 cried, my
voice sounding hoarsely even in my
! own ears. What have you done with
| M. de Pavannes? Answer mel"
He showed just a little more of his
sharp white teeth as he looked down
at my face-a flushed and troubled
face, doubtless. "Nothing-yet," he re-
piled, very mildly. And he shook me
| Off
Then" retorted, "how do you come
here?" He glanced at Croisette and
shrugged his shoulders as if I had been
+, a spoiled child. m. Anne does not
seem to understand" he said, with
I; mock courtesy, that l have the honor
J to welcome him to my house, the Hote!
' BeZerS HUE de R!atlere,
! The Hotel Bezersl Rue de Plat
: riere!" cried confusedly. But Blaise
| Bure told us that this was the Rue
! st. Antoine!'
'Ah!" he replied, as if slowly en-
lightened-the hypocrite! "Ah! I sect
and he smiled grimy. $50 you have
made the acquaintance of Blaise Bure,
my excellent master of the horse!
Worthy Blaise! Indeed, indeed, now I
| thp11erht
whelps," he continued, and as he spoke
! his tone changed strangely and he fixed
US suddenly with angry eyes, Ito play
i rubber With me! With me, you i'm
beetles! You. thought the wolf of
Beers could be hunted down like any
hare! Then listen, and | will tell you
the end Of it. You are now in my
house and absolutely at my mercy. l
have two score men within call who
would cut the threats of three babes
at the breast if 1 babe them! Aye" ne
added, wicked exultation shining in
his eyes, they would, and like the
job!'
interrupted him. The rage 1 felt
caused as much by the thought of our
folly as by his arrogance, would let me
be silent no longer. First, M. dc
Bezes, first,1 I broke out, fiercely. my
. words leaping over one another in my
haste, "a word with you! Let me tell
you what 1 think of you! You are q
treacherous hound, vidame! A cur!
a beast! And I spit upon you! Traitor
and assassin I shouted, lis that not
enough? Will nothing provoke you
II you call yourself a gentleman
drawr'
F1he shook his head; he was still snil.
ing, still unmoved. Il do not do my
own dirty work. he said, quietly, moi
Of hot how >
Very WE'LL" I retorted. And witt
the words drew my sword and sprans
as quick as lightning to the curtain BY
which he had entered. Very well. We
will kill you first!''I cried, wrathfully
my eye on his eye, and every savag'
passion in my breast aroused. "ant
take our chance with the lackeys after
wards! Marie! Croisette!" 1 cried
shrilly, "on him, lads!'
But they did not answer. They dit
not move or draw. For the moment
indeed, the man was in my power. M.
wrist was raised, and had my poin
at his breast, could have run hin
hated him. Oh how hated him! Blu
he did not STIR Had he spoken. ha'
he moved SO much as an eyelid .
drawn back his foot, or laid his han
on his hilt, should have killed hir
there. But he did not stir and I cou
!, not 90 II. MY nanQ dropped. q COW
9 ardsn' cried, glancing bitterly fror
him to them-they had never failed m
j, before. "Cowards!' I muttered, seem
!. ling to shrink into myself as I. said tn
word And I.fiung my sword clattel
Ing on the floor.
!: THAT is better" he drawled, quit
I | unmoved,, as If nothing more tina
words had passed, as if he had not bee
$. in perial at all. 1T was what was &c
y, N ing to ask you to do. If the othe
es young gentlemen will follow your ea
81 ample, ] shall be obliged. Thank yo,
2 Thank YOU
II Croisette, and a minute later Mari
ppt obeyed him to the letter! I could M
q understand it. folded my arms an
a gave up the game in despair. and b,
n for very shame could have put NJ
n, hands tony face and cried. He stoo
4. In the middle under the lamp, a hea
ii taller than the tallest Of US; our ma
q. ter. And we stood round him trappe
81 ! beaten, for all the world like childre
y Oh, could have cried! This was tt
end of our long ride, our aspiration
= our knight errantry!
Now perhaps you will listen to me
he went on, smoothly, "and hear VIII
I am going TO do. I am going to ket
you here, young gentlemen, until W
can serve ME by carrying to mademo