The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-29
CHAPTER XII.
Manon Lescaut, and a Rapier-thrust.


suggestion that the young man was
possibly carrying out his threat to dis
regard his parole.
He would be quite justified in doing
it: YOU know that very we'll. sald
Helm. with a laugh, and he's just the
OF course. however. he'll set scalped
for his trouble. and that will cost you
something, I'm happy to say.
Its matter of small Importance.
Hamilton replied but I'll wager you
the next toddy that he's not at the
present moment half-mile from TINS
spot. He may be fool. I readily grant
that he is. but even a fool is not going
10 set out alone in this kind OF weather
TO go where your rebel friends arc
probably toasting their shins by fire
of green logs and half starving over
yonder on the Mississippi"
Joking aside. you are doubtless
right Beverley is hot-headed. and II he
could he'd get even with you deVilish
quick; but he hasn't left Vincennes. l
think. Miss RoussiIlon would keep him
here if the place were on fire.
Hamilton laughed dryly. He had
thought just what Helm was saying.
Beverley's attentions TO Alice had not
escaped HIS notice
Speaking of that girl" he remarked.
after a moments silence. what am
To do with her? There's no place to
keep her, and Farnsworth insists that
she wasn't to blame" He chuckled
again, and added:
Its true as gospel. He's in love with
her, too. Seems to be glad she shot
him. Says he's ashamed of himself for
ever suspecting her of being anything
but a genuine angel Why, he's got as
fla bby as rabbit, and mumbles like a
fool,'
Same as you OF ! at his age said
Helm, taking a chew of tobacco. she
is pretty thing Beverley don't know
his foot from his shoulder blade when
she's anywhere near him Boys are
boys. I'm sort of a boy myself
IF she'd give up that flag I'd let her
go, said Hamilton. II hate like the
devil to confine her; it looks brutal, and
makes me feel like a tyrant.''
Have You ever happened to notice
the obvious fact. Governor Hamilton.
that Alice Roussillon and Father Beret
are not all the French in Vincennes2''
What do you mean?"
Il mean that / don't for a moment
believe that either the girl or the priest
knows thing about where that flag
is. They are both as truthful and hon
orable as people ever get to be. 1 know
them. Somebody else got that flag
| from under the priests floor You
may depend upon that. If Miss Rous-
4 u
and then dare you to make her tell
! where it's hidden"
'Oh, the whole devilish town is rot
| ten with treason: that's very clear.
There's not a loyal soul in it outside of
| my forces
Thank you for not including me
among the loyalists.
''Humph, / spoke of these French
people: they pretend TO be. but 1 be-
eIQN~ fh0r- al
You can manage them If you try.
| A little jolly kindness goes long way
! with 'sm. had ono trouble while /
| held the town.'iro~
| Hamilton bit his lip and was silent
Helm was eXasperatingly good tenn
pered, and his popularity was irresist-
4 ible- While he was yet speaking a
/ guard came up, followed by Jean, the
/ hunchback, and, saluting, said to Ham
| ilton:
THE lad wants TO see the young
| lady, sir oc
Hamilton gaZed quiZzieally at Jean
who planted himself in his habitual at
! titude before him and stared up into
his face with the grotesque expression
/ which seems to be characteristic OF
| hunchbacks and unfledged birds-the
look of an embodied and hideous joke.
/ Well, sir. what will you have2"
the governor demanded.
! Il want. to see Alice, if you please"
What for?"
Il want to give her a book TO read. y
"Ah, indeed. Where is it2 Let me
see it."
Jean took from the breast of his loose
/ jerkin a small volume, dog cared and
mildewed, and handed it to Hamilton
| Meantime he stood first on one foot
! then the other. gnawing his thumbnail
| and blinking raDidlV
Well, Helm, just look here."
WHAT"
''Manon Lescaut.''
| And what's that2"
! Haven't you ever read it?"
| Read what?"
This noveI-.Manon Lescaut' ?''
Never read a novel in my life. Never
expect to-
Hamilton laughed freely at Helms
expense. then turned to Jean and gav'
him back the book.
1t would have been quite military
had he taken the precaution to ex-
anime between the pages for something
hidden there, but he did not
Go, give it to her" he said. land
| tell her I send my compliments, with
great admiration for her taste in lit.
| erature.'' He motioned the soldier t.
show Jean to Alice. Its a beastly
French story" he added, address ne
| Helm: Immoral enough TO make {
pirate blush That's the sort of sir
! MademOiselle Roussillon isl
! Il dent care what kind of a bool
she reads blurted Helm. shes a fine
pure, good girl Everybody likes her
She's the good angel of this miserable
! frog-hole Of a town You'd like hei
yourself il you'd straighten up and
quit burning tow in your brain all the
! time You're always SO furious abou
! something that you never have
! chance TO be just TO yourself, or pleas
ant 10 anybody else"
Hamilton turned fiercely ON Helm
but a glimpse of the captains broad
good -humOred face, heartily smiling
diSpelled his anger There was nj
ground upon which to maintain
quarrel with a person so persistentll
genial and so absurdly frank. And il
fact Hamilton was not half so bad a,
his choleric manifestations seemed I,
make him out. Besides, Helm knew
Just how far to go. just when 10 stop
IF | had got furious at you ever
time there was overwhelming provo
cation for it," Hamilton said, you,
have been long since hanged or shot.
/ fancy that I have shown angelic for
bearance- I've given you somewha
more than a prisoners freedom
SO you have. so you have" assente'
Helm I've often been surprised a
your generous Partially in my case
Let's have some hot water with some
thing else in it. what do you say2
won't give You any more advice 70
five minutes by your watch
But i want some advice a once