The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

the object of his jeers. BY the way,
you look little comical yourself at the
present moment. captain. and your
colonel would certainly say that you
had been getting into mischief. To con-
tinue. however. my boys youth and
his destitution-for his pockets were
empty-moved the pity Of q ldnd-heart-
ed major and he advanced him ten ma
poleons from his own pocket without
security Of any kind Into your hands.
Captain Baumgarten. return these tan
gold pieces, since I cannot learn the
name OF the lender. I am grateful
from my heart for this kindness shown
to my boy.
THE vile tyrant who commanded ths
escort accompanied the prisoners to
Durlach and from there to Carlsruhe.
He heaped every outrage upon my lad.
because the spirit Of the Chateau Noir
would not stoop to turn away his wrath
by feigned submission. Ay. this oow-
ardly villain, whose hearts blood shall
yet clot upon this hand. dared to strike
my son with his open hand, to kick
him, to tear hair from his mustache-
to use them thus-and thus-and thusl"
The German writhed and. struggled.
He was helpless in the hands Of this
huge giant whose blows were raining
upon him. When at last, blinded and
half senseless, he staggered to his feet
1t was only to be hurled back again
into the great oaken chair. He sobbed
In his fr7pOfapf
MY boy was frequently moved to
tears by the humiliation Of his posi-
tion," continued the Count. you will
understand me when say that it is
bitter thing to be helpless in the hands
Of an insolent and remorseless enemy.
On arriving at CarIsruhe, however, his
face, which had been wounded by the
brutality of his guard, was bound up
by young Bavarian subaltern, who
was touched by his appearance. 1 re-
gret to see that your eye is bleeding
so. VIII you permit me to bind it with
my silk handkerchief?''
He leaned forward, but the German
dashed his hand aside.
"I am in your power, you monster!"
he cried; Il can endure your brutali-
ties, but not your hypocrisy
The Count shrugged his shoulders
"I am taking things in their order. just
as they occurred" said he. 'T was un-
der VOW to tell it to the first German
officer with whom 1 could talk tete-a-
tete. Let me see. had got as far as
the young Bavarian at Carlsruhe.
regret extremely that you will not per-
NIT me to use such slight skill in sur
gerry as 1 possess. At Carlsruhe my
lad was shut up in an old caserne.
where he remained for fortnight The
worst pang of his captivity was that
some unmannerly ours In the garrison
would taunt him with his position as
he sat by his window in the evening.
That reminds me, captain, that you
are not quite situated upon a bed Of
roses yourself, are you, now? You came
to trap wolf, my man, and now the
beast has you down with his fangs in
your throat. A family map, too, I
should judge, by that well4hled tunic.
Well, widow the more Will make lit
tie matter. and they do not usually
remain widows long. Get back into the
chair, you dogl
''Well, to continue my story-at the
end Of fortnight my son and his
friend escaped. 1 need not trouble you
with the dangers which they ran or
with the privations which they en-
dured. Suffice it that to disguise them
selves they had to take the clothes OF
two peasants, whom they waylaid In
a wood. Hiding by day and travelling
by night, they had got as far into
France as Remilly, and were within a
mile-a single mile, captain-of crossing
the German lines when a patrol OF
Uhlans came right upon them Ahi
it was hard. was it not. when they had
come so far and were so near to
safety?''
The Count blew a double call upon
his whistle and three hard-faced peas
ants entered the room.
"These must represent my Uhlans,"
said he. ''WeI, then, the captain in
comand, finding these men were
French soldiers in civilian dress with
in the German lines, proceeded to hang
them without trialor ceremony.
think, Jean, that the center beam is
the strongest"
The unfortunate soldier was dragged
from his chair to where noosed rope
had been flung over one of the huge
oaken rafters which spanned the room.
The cord was slipped over his head and
he felt its harsh grip round his throat.
The three peasants seized the other
end and looked to the Count for his
orders. The officer, pale but firm,
folded his arms and stared defiantly
at the man who tortured him.
'You are now face to face with
death, and 1 perceive from your lips
that you are praying. My son was
also face to face with death, and he
prayed also. 1t happened that a gen.
eraI officer came up, and he heard the
lad praying for his mother. and it
moved him so-he being himself a
father-that he ordered his Uhlans
away, and he remained with his aid
de-camp only beside the condemned
men. And when he heard all the lad
had to tell, that he was the only child
of an old family, and that his mother
IT, fotI - ~.