The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-06
cHApTER /.


W lfC FirED0G afGfVs
IN tho dark main room o1 the Flrcone
Mcrn the warm June or seemed to hare
lost all Its del'cacy. liiio degraded nngel
Il was sodden through and through. as
with The lees Of wine St Sas e'r.7cd ouA
shamyd with the Smells " hams add
chooses; Il was thick and heavy as II WITH
thc breaths Of an the rosacs and al t1e
varabonds that had haunted the h7F-ri-y
from It's evil dawn. Such guttedns lgats
nrd siimmcring flames as ~ the piace--
for there was small fire On the vide
hearth 10 spite Of tho fine weather pcopled
tho gloom with fantastic quivcrus shadows
rs OF lean fingers that uufoided ia usaIves
10 dlch. or clenched themselves 10 STAB IA
the back. But its patrons seemed to IKE
thc place well enough IN spite ~ It's
mlasma, and Master Robin rurrls. The ear
landlord, druwsy with his own vine aud
dripping from the heat, surveyed them CONF
pmcently, and waliCwed as II werc in the
ratue and cunk " mug and con. the fGil-
throGted laughter and the shrill chatter,
clisply emphasized uy uarhs, which as
sured him VI the Fircops's popularity win
It's intimates Master Houiu's Intelligence
WINS limited Ills Wit was simple. the r0o-
cesSes Of his mind moved easily along the
lines % least resistance. The BurEuutlHus
might be hammeing WITH mailed fists az
the walls at Paris. the ure-uew crown II
Louis XI might he falling from the royal
forehead; IL martcred hot a Jgt TO disc
honest Bobin SO long as the Flre5ue bri.u-
med with company
There was enough company in tine room
on tails evening 90 content even his wish.
II was not the Kind OF company tia, wise
nlan wonid desire - Keep nai If delight a
the innkeeper Tor " drank deeply and
spent freely. ami IN Koblas view ll was Of
10 more concert 30 him how tlc moley
tn ~ changed hands was cone by than 10
WIS how the profound pV,atious might af-
feet the brains and stonachs rL Als 90 hrs.
II any Ulcer " tb- INV bad questioned
him as 10 bis association Hitu certain
mysterious brotherhood ~ the CccEleshells
Pride Of the Court Of Miracles and the fear
~ citizens with strong boxes, be wUuld have
shrugged his fat shoulders and shaken ais
round head and dtsoWned al know ledge
Of any such unlawful corporation. Aet bis
face wrinBled win snd.es Gs his tlgnca
rested amiabiy upon toe bodily preseaces
~ certain iiUStrioua members Of tn broth
erhood, Wild nen In Witaer,d Lrippery,
wine-stSined 10 the very bones
They were five in num' er. and four Il
them we're huddlei around "a De 30 the
was sheltered from the heat ut "a tre =
the high-hacked settle the corner that v1'
nearest To the 10 liu door II one desited-Rs
one often did-to slip out In hurry. m.
TO the red-eurtsined windows, is one O.,
slred--as one seldom did--a mouthgul OF
fresh air Robin Turgs knew them an. adj
miUed them II. feared them all and YET
he held head against them because hi
Beaure vine vHH 50 lOubie, nud nccnrs
ne cOuIQ keep MS own counsel. SEM
Rene De Nout'guy ~ a jcrhn 0f runbe
ami faded purge velvet Win big ma'igu
Italinrate face snd bis delicate ItHhNnat
grace rotund Guy Tabarie, hlun, red au
I'D Casin Cholet tan 1n uirlHk@ wit,
ire fgure OF a stork and the features ~
Nird of prey Jehau le Loup. who Icoka
as vupine as bis nickname; these Rabil
TurCis eyed and catHloGued with Kind 20
pride. II was fearsome privilege for tu
Fircone m boast such patronage On tn
scttle with bis face % tine nre Colin D.
VI IL core eel HHH q al aNa..~
getting md forgotten harmless looking
Foo1-natured looking knave VINO was nclthr
harmless EO- g0sOd nAturei.
For every man of the gang there was
woman. and there was 4 woman over WI
was easily the central star NJ the dauuriu
fnlaxv Thu shabby bravery ~ the me
vas matched by tire -habhy bravery Il Hr
ont ri the glx women Gauiy pRintod rs
sertive strumpets with Young fHir. sham,
les worthy l:!s Of the ill-fuvor-
iR"fs who cuddled ,nem--Jehounee on r.
fair helm maker; neaise Blanche. Tsahe7
1nl Guillcmette the lnndlosda dan-btrt
rhH consorted gpiv ,1ough with theE
brightly plunged birds of rogue's rart