Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-01
IHAPTER V.

Pierre Dubois and assuming those OF Cap
tain Maurice Raith. how came you here7
I left you a corporal in the C-ameronians I
find you q ragged deserter, about to be kid
napcd and pressed into the service OF the
enemy. You deserve to be had out and
shot. so far as I can sect"
Billy Marshall replied in the broad Call
oway speech which a dozen years Of desul-
tory military service had not overlaid:
"Malster Raith,' he said, Eye hae dune a
guild turn to Billy Marshall this day an
dell TAX him and breen him in reid pithre
gin he forgets II. But, do you hear that?'
Il hear william" said his lady. She was
seated buisily preparing a fowl for the pot.
which she had found ~straying upon the
road, and had nipped up beneath her apron
without permitting the moribund to emit
even a cry Of surprise. 1t was for this
craft (among other merits) that Billy, her
husband, graciously permitted Bet to ac-
company him upon his marches and cam
paigns.
Get on with your tale. Marshall" inter
rupted Maurice Raith. 81 have heard moth
ing yet to prove that you are not the de-
serter l thought you at first"
ANT what for no should | no be DOT on
juist sic a wee bit quiet job as your ain,
captain" insinuated the gypsy, shrewdiy.
W Il I an ubAlh hNlN NpNo W. hAAAN'
ately concern you said the disguised off,
Ger. 81 have saved you from the drill ser
geants Of King Louis. l want to be sure
before you and l go further whether I shall
have to deliver you to the halter of the
queens provost marshall"
The gypsy gave vent TO a low chucklc.
TITS easy seen that We are no a RIGHT
Galloway man, captain" he said, "or We
wad ken that no for a the hangln' pro-
vosts and cornels in the Armies or p the
queens an cmperors and siclike in Kirsen-
dom, wad Billy Marshall miss Keltonhill
fair. Sac said I to Cornell Grior o. the
Saxand Twentieth. says /, we ken Billy,
sir, an that II he doesna get leave to gang
to Keltonhill fair, he will TAX leave and
syne be hangit for his pains! And 'he
cornell. him kennin' me an me kennin' him,
babe me drive ABBOTT my business and ia
Bet wi me. But he CARED me swear on
the crossed horn-spupes that l wad be back
to him in three months time. An sac
will I gin the sole o. my feet dinna wear DOT
on the road"
But" said Maurice Raith. who knew the
colonel Of the Cameronians and recognized
that the tale was worthy of credit, 'in
that case what are We doin' here on a
mountain in the very middle OF France?"
The gypsy looked at him cunningly. ut
is no possible that we may haze your rea-
sons and that l may bae my reasons" he
said quickly, there's a sea to the south as
weel as to the north of France. And the
shortest cut is whyles the Largest t%ravell'
With which collection of proverbial lore
Maurice Raith had for the time to be per-
force content.
BY this time the horses were thoroughly
wearied. The long ascent OF the Cause
- - 49,. ar,Iv aud a. hnnorNa
necessary to rest them either at the first
wayside inn which presented itself, or TO
make their camp upon the open face of the
desert. They were. however, so close to the
disturbed regions that tue utmost care was
necessary. Maurice Raith took out a small
case OF arms which had been cunningly con-
cealed In the sacking under the first wagon.
The eyes of The gypsy glittered at the sight.
81 hae naething, but this gully'knife," he
said, IAN faith, a pistol or twa doesna
come wraug whites in this ootlandish coun-
tryi"
He strapped the satchel of powder and
shot carefully about his waist under his
battered blue blouse with chuckles of un-
concealed satisfaction.
Mind" said Maurice Raith, none of
your caird tricks here! Ye are to threaten
nome. take no mans purse, put no wayfarer
in fear. You are to consider yourself UNI
der my orders as much as II you were in
the camp OF my Lord Marlborough himself
And more, in word and deed, We are to
treat me as Pierre Dubois, the WAGNER OF
Roche au- Bayard and Hoo, who has picked
you up on the way"
with this he strobe of to test the hal
ters and heel ropes OF his horses. For the
true Caussenards, Camisard and Cadets OF
the Cross alike we're famous horse s%tealers,
and every stable in the limestone country
had two doors, one which opened outward
and the other inward, and that In spite of
drawn bolts and shot bars.
So Maurice Raith, till he should md him
self safe in the camp OF the Camisard lead
ers, preferred to stable his horses at the
sign OF La Belle Etoile, and guard them
himself with his pistols upon his knees.
Maurice wrapped his cloak closely about
him and sat sleepless, listening to the
voices OF the night. II was almost the
first time he had had time to think since
he left the cam OF the allies before Ma
muir. He had dealt severely with Billy
Marshall. as he told himself for the good
OF his gypsy soul, but he knew the good
qualities of the some time corporal OF Ca
meronians, his courage, fidelity and
strength, his answering purpose and ready
resource in time OF danger.
Maurice resolved that Billy should not
sec Keltonhill fair this year IL possible, but
bide with him upon the perilous tablelauds
Of the Cevennes II money OF love could keep
him there.
The stars swung silently overhead, de-
scribing their longer or shorter circles
round the polar star, and Maurice con-
tinued 10 look into the gray, indefinite
waste OF nothinsness. His mind went back
involuntarily TO the glowing vision he had
seen among the corn that day above the
Meuse-the light, girlish figure, the lips as
tonishtngly red, the eyes bluer than the
skies. at once sapphire-dark and diamond
bright. Would he ever see her again? A
voice seemed to speak from very far away,
go back and see that my lords letters
arc prettily copied or you will be whipped"
Then Il was that Maurice Raith slept,
and as he slept he dreamed, and as he
dreamed he smiled.
CHAPTER vi.
The Mysteries OF Love.
Perhaps, for who knows the mysteries OF
the influence Of soul on soul, the dream OF
tho might which descended upon Maurice
Rafth as he sat with his pistols on his