Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-08-10
The House of The Wolf,,,,,,

parently to consider how we might
force the door, what Is the meaning
OF lhis?" I said softly glancing at the
unfortunate lady. What do you think,
Croisette"
Think she cried, With fiery impa.
thence. What can anyone think ex-
cept that that villain P%avannes has
himself planned has wife's abduction?
or course 1t is So! His wife out of the
way, he IS free to follow up his in
trigues at Caylus. He may then marry
Kit Or Curse him."
NO" 1 said, sternly. "cursing is no
good. We must do something more.
And yet-we have promised Kit, you
see, that we would save him-we must
keep u word. We must save him
from Beers, at least"
Marie groaned.
But Croisette took up the thought
with ardor. From Bezers?' he cried,
his face aglow. "Ay, true! SO we
must! But then we will draw lots, who
shall fight him and kill him."
extinguished him by a look. 1--WE
shall fight him in turn l said, until
one OF us kill him. There you are
right. But your turn comes last. Lots
e We have no need of lots to
learn which is the eldest"
l was turning from him-having very
properly crushed him-to look for some
thing which we could use to force the
door, when he held up his hand to
arrest my attention. We listened, look
ing at one another. Through the win
DOW came unmistakable sounds of
voices. They have discovered our
hight said, my heart sinking.
Luckily we had the forcthought to
draw the curtain across the easement.
Beers people could, therefore, from
thelr windows, see no more than ours,
{ My lighted and indistinct. Yet they
Would, no doubt, guess the way I'VE had
escaped, and hasten to cut off our re-
treat below. For a moment / looked at
the door OF II room, half-minded to
attack 1t, and fight u way out, taking
the chanc OF reaching the street before
Beers folk should have recovered
from their surprise and gone down.
But then l looked at Madame. How
could we insure her safety in the strug-
Gle! While l hesitated the choice was
taken from us. We heard voices in
the house below, and heavy feet on the
stairs,
We were between two fires.
glanced irresolutely round the bare
garret, with its sloping roof, searching
TOT a better Weapon. / had only my
uagger. But in vain. l saw nothing
mat would serve. What will you dor"
Nine. de Pavannes murmured, stand
ing pale and trembling by the hearth,
and looking from one to another.
Croisette plucked my sleeve before
could answer, and pointed to the box
bed with its scanty curtains. IF they
see US In the room" he urged softly,
while they are half in and half out,
they viii give the alarm. Let us hide
ourselves yonder. When they are In
side-you understand"
He laid his hand on his dagger. The
muscles Of the lads face grew tense.
did understand him. Madame" |
us?"
She shook her head. The color re-
turned to her cheek and the brightness
TO her eyes. She was q true woman.
The sense that she was protecting
others deprived her of fear for herself.
The footsteps wehe on the topmost
stair now, n a key was thrust with a
rasping sound into the lock. But be-
fore 1T could be turned-it fortunately
fitted Hive three had jumped on the
bed and were crouching in a row at the
head OF 1t, where the curtains of the al
cove concealed, and only just CON
cealed, us from anyone standing at the
end OF the room near the door.
l was the outermost, M through a
chink could see what passed. One, two,
three people came in, and the door was
closed behind them. Three people, and
n of them a woman! My heart
which had been in my mouth-returned
TO its place, for the vidame was not
one. / breathed freely; only l dared
not communicate my relief to the 9TH
ers lest my voice should be heard. The
first to come in was the woman closely
cloaked and hooded. Nine. de Pavan-
mes cast on her a single doubtful
glance, and then to my establishment,
threw herself into her arms, mingling
her sobs with little joyous cries of "Oh,
Diane! oh Diane!"
MY poor little one!" the newcomer
exclaimed, soothing her with tender
touches on hair and shoulder. you are
safe now. Quite safe!"
You have come to tax me away?"
"Of course we have!" Diane answered
cheerfully, still caressing her. 1--WE
come to take you to your husband. He
has been searching for you everywhere.
He is distracted with grief, little one
Poor Louis!" calculated the wife.
Poor Louis, indeed" the rescuer an
swered. But you will see him soon.
We only learned at midnight where
you were. You have to thank M. lie
Coadjuteur here for that. He brought
me the news, and at once escorted me
here to fetch you"
And to restore one sister to an
other" said the priest silkily, as he adj
vanced a step. He was the very same
priest whom l had seen two hours be-
fore with Beers, and had so greatly
disliked. I hated his pale face as much
now as 1 had then. Even the errand
Of good IN which he had come could
not blind me to his thin-lipped mouth,
to his mock humility and crafty eyes.
II have had no task so pleasant for
many days" added he, with every APP
pearance of a desire to propitiate.
80 But, seemingly, Nine. de Pavannes
had something of the same feeling to-
wards him which / had myself: for she
started at the sound Of his voice, and
disengaging herself from her sisters
arms-it seemed it was her sister
shrank back from the pair. She bowed
indeed in acknowledgements of his
word, but there was little gratitude in
the movement, and less warmth. / saw
the sisters face-a brilliantly beautiful
face IT was-brighter eyes and lips and
more lovely auburn hair I have never
'seen-even Kit would have been plain
and dowdy beside her-I saw 1t harden
strangely. A moment before the two
had been in another.s arms. Now
they stood apart, somehow chilled and
disiilusioned. The shadow of the priest
had fallen upon them-had come be-
tween them.
At this crisis the fourth person pres
ent asserted himself: Hitherto he had
stood silent just within the door-a
plain man, plainly dressed, somewhat
over go and gray haired. He look ed
disconnected and embarrassed, and ]
took him for Mirepoix-rightly as I
turned out.
Il am sure" he now exclaimed, has
voice trembling with anxiety, or il
might be with fear, your ladyship will
regret leaving here! You will indeed!
No harm would nave happened to you
Nine. do does not know what she IS
doing, or she would not take you awaS,
She does not know what she is doing!s
he repeated, earnestly.
Mime. d'O!" cried the beautiful,
Diane, her brown eyes darling fire al
the unlucky culprit. her voice full of
N N ~ 1ic1nin ssIJnur Iora .,.-a