Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-04-10
CONTINUED from last week.] Msf
BY ROBERT
LOUIS
STEVENSON

ehanfeally he stood still; another pas
1eiShboring floors he saw people
erowding to the windows. A conflagra-
ton could not have produced more dis
turbance in this empty quarter. And
yet il seemed to be all the work of
single man, roaring between grief and
rage like Honess robbed Of her
vhelps. and Francis was surprised and
alarmed to hear his own name shouted
with English imprecations to the wind
His first movement was to return to
the house; his second. as he remember.
ed Miss Vandeleur's advice, to con.
tinue his fight with greater expedition
than before, and be was in the act of
turning to put his thought in action
when the dictator, bareheaded, bawl
ing aloud, his white hair blowing about
his head, shot past him like ball out
of the lannon's mouth and went ca
1eering down the street.
'oThat was a close shave" thought
Francis to himself. what he wants
with me and why he should be so dis
turhed I cannot think, but he is plainly
not good compan! for the moment, and
/ cuntot do better than follow Miss
Vandeleur's advice.'
So saying, he turned to retrace his
steps; thinking to double and descend
by the Rue LEIPZIG itself Willie lis pur.
suer should continue to follow after
him on the other line of street. The
plan was i'll devised. AS a matter Of
fact, he should have taken his seat in
the nearest cafe and waited there until
the first heat of the pursuit was over.
But besides that Francis had no ex-
perience and little natural aptitude for
the small war of private life. He was
10 unconscious of any evil on his part
that he saw nothing to fear beyond
a .disagreeable interview, and to. dis
agreeable interviews he felt he had
already served his apprenticeship that
evening; nor could he suppose that
Miss Vandeleur had left anything un-
said. Indeed, the young man was sore
both in body and mind-the one was all
bruised, the other was full of smarting
arrows, and he owned to himself that
Mr.. Vandeleur was master OF very
deadly tongue.
The thought Of his bruises reminded
him that he had not only come with
out hat, but that his clothes had con-
siderably suffered in his descent
through the chestnut At the first
magazine he purchased cheap WIDE
awake and had the disorder of his
toilet summarily repaired. The keep
sake still rolled in the handkerchief
be thrust in the meanwhile into his
trousers pocket. '~>=" ~~::-~..~
Not nl;ffly steps beyond the shop he
was conscious of sudden shock, a
hand upon his throat, an Infatuated
face close to his own and an open
month bowling curses in his ear. The
. dictator, having found no trace of his
quarry. was returning by the other
way. Francis was stalwart young
fellow, but he was no match for his
adversary whether in strength or skill,
and after few Intellectual struggles
he resigned himself entirely to his cap.
tor
WHAT do you want xwith me?" said
he.
I'VE will Talk Of that at home" re-
turned the dictator grimly.
- And he continued to march thu
Young man up hill in the Giroction>n'
the house with the green blinds.
But Francis, although he No l":,::>> >
struggled, was only waiting an ol>.1cr-
tunity to make bold push for free
dom. With sudden jerk, he !<'ft t!s'
collar of his coat in the bands OF Mr..
Vandeleur and once more made OF at
his best speed in the direction of the
boulevards.
The tables were now turned. IT the
dictator was the stronger, Francis, In
the top of his youth, was the more
deet Of foot, and he had soon effected
his escape among the crowds. Relieved
Tor q. moment. he walked briskly until
he debouched upon the Place dc
vQpera, lighted up like day with cleo
bic lamps.
This, at least" thought he, "should
satisfy Miss Vandeleur."
And, turning: to his right along thu
boulevards, he entered the Cafe Amer
1cafn and ordered some beer. It wa
!, both, late and early for the majority o
- the frequenters of the establishment
Only two or three persons, all men
we're dotted here and there at separat
tables in the hall. and Francis was to
much occupied by his own thoughts t
observe their presence. -
= He drew the handkerchief from hi
rocket. The object wrapped in \
Il. proved to be morocco case. claspe
and orliamented j., gilt. which opene
By means Of q spring and disclosed
the Mortified young man diamond G
. nonstrous bigness and extraordinary
brilliancy. The circumstance vas
mexplicable, the value OF the stone wa
plainly so enormous, that Francis s;
staring into the open casket witho'
movement, without conscious though
Hike man stricken with iliocy.
!" A hand was laid upon his shcu!Us
Nightly, but firmly, and quiet VOC