Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-02-18
BY Harrl. Dickson

streets ran together, branching out like
the fingers from my palm. 1 paused
now uncertaia which way to go amid
ss many devious courses, and deciding
almost at hazard, turned down the best
paved of all those dingy streets. had
hardly gone past mare than two cross
streets, when there stood at corner,
looking timidly this way and that, a
slight girl, with blonde hair and eyes
of Breton blue. She seemed SO brave,
yet sc out Of place and helpless at that
hour of the night, ON such an unfre-
quented road, / almost made so bold
as to address her, thinking l might be
of SERVICE to a lady in distress. But
my tongue was not formed for such
so merely held to one side, she stand
ing to the outer edge to admit of my
passage.
At the moment / got opposite her, 1t
seems she had misjudged the width of
the pavement, for heard her give a
slight ejaculation, and one foot slipped
off the paved way as IL she would fall
into the muddy street. l passed my
, arm quickly about her, and raised her
to place of safety, but even then could
bring no word of courtly elegance to
my assistance.
She thanked me prettily and daintily.
and as / pursued my course, /
could but turn and give yet an
other glance in her direction. She
caught my eye, and again looking
each way, bent her steps down by
way leading off to the left. which we
We're that instant nearest. There was
that in her manner, I could not say
exactly what, which led me to follow
her at respectful distance. seeing
which she turned her head, and I
fancied could observe thankful lit
tie smile playing about her lips. AT
any rate she quickened her pace and
walked with more assurance. no longer
in doubt about her movements.
For many rods at times she would be
lost to view in the dark, and her tread
was so light 1T scarcely made sound
or the great, clumsy Gathering I
created drowned 1t entirely. Just at
the time l thought had lost her, l
could catch a glimpse Of a fitting skirt
beneath one OF the fiambeaux, which,
stuck in inches Of the wall here and
there, lighted old Paris.
In a very pleasant frame Of mind, /
strode along behind her. 1t was Won
derful, l thought, how readily wo-
mans intuition recognizes protector.
And for I must admit was young
then; in the ways of women, far young
@. than my years. amused myself
VA many conjecturcs. concerning WHIT
carer of errand had taken this young
Woman abroad alone on such q night.
A L.ay she plainly seemed. Disguised
a little, that might be, for her quiet
dignity did not fully comport with the
style of her dress
A thousand airy castles I built for
my fair heroine to live in, and 1, like
the knightly heroes Of the Crusades,
was ever her defender even her cham
pion in the lists.
Busted with these fancies and ro-
mantle thoughts, l lost count OF streets
and passages, turning this way, that
and the other. through many narrow
and tortucus byways and alleys. until
1 realized | WAS hopelessiy lost. With
my fair guide in front and my good
sword by my side lightly I rocked of
streets or houses. Yet / dared not for
get 1 was on an errand for the gov
crnor and must not expose myself to
/, ECot:css peril.
AT last, and somewhat to my relief,
she stopped before great oaken iron
studded gate, possibly of five good
PAGES width, in one corner of which
was cut q smaller door SO low a man
must stoop to pass. Upon this smaller
door she raped and stood In the at
St!tude of waiting.
l had moment now to look about
nse, II was in {, quarter of the town
than was forbidding. Here We're two
lugeS dismal, gray-stone mansions,
separated BY IL court yard of probably
forty pieces across: a high wall fronted
The s,reel. banked by a tower on either
side the gate. On top, this wall wag
spikes of steei,>stuck into the mason
ny while 1t was yet-,s9ft. More than
this the hickeiing brazieT would not
permit me to zee. All of this ( look
In a glance; across the street the
murldness of the night shut out my
View. she raped again, impatiently.
but In the Same manner as before. A
tril!ing space thereafter the smaller
door was opened. whoever was inside
first having peeped out through a
round hole which closed Itself with a
shutter no bigger than his eye.
The lady looked first to me. then
stepped inside and stood back as if she
babe me enter.
This was an adventure had not bar
gained for. Thinking only to see that
TIE lady reached her destination in
saiety. here was q complication OF
which l had never dreamed. What
her singular errand was. or wherein
size desired my assistance, / could not
even hazard guess. Yet there she
stood and bccloned me to enter. and
w
could see within the door.
The concierge held the door ajar.
and more repulsive. deformed wretch
never laid eyes upon. His left arm
hung withered at his side; at his
grdle he swung bunch Of keys, with
any one of which strong man might
have Drained an OK. Every evil pas
sion which curses the face OF men had
left its Imprint upon his lowering coIn-
tcnance. Yet for moment. when his
gaze rested upon the girI, 1t was as
though some spark OF her loneliness
drove the vtllainy from his face. He
was hardly SO tall as she who stood be-
side him Watching me. the sembance
OF a hooking sheer about her lips.
Looking past them both could see
what manner of place 1t was A smoky
oil lamp sputtered in the rear, suft1-
ciently distinct to disclose the paved
court yard. covered with the green
slime which marks the place where no
sun ever shines Further than this
could see nothing except the tall gray
buildings which shut in every side and
this wall in front. That door once
locked upon the intruder there would
be no easy egress. Instinctively held
back.
Monsieur Is afraid?" she inquired,
then tossed back her head, and laughed
sucn low dlsdalnIul, mean laugh, as
fired my every nerve to hear. l hest
tated no longer Let come what will.
let the governors erranc l:G.1 to itself,
for no man or woman could ever laugh
at me like that.
Holding my blade at easy command,
I stepped inside. Immediately the door
closed. and the rasping Of the key told
me 1t was securely locked as before.
Then came regret, but came too late.
What I had SO foolishly commenced,
must now see finished. The cup had
been taken in hand and the dice must
be thrown.