Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-02-11
Az THE RED
CT GIBBET.
H1 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
J How the Witch Of La Balme Wa
Avenged.
000000aOo000S0c
of La Balme Was


TOWARD the close of day the snow
ceased falling, the wind suddenly
veered into the north, and its gusts
cut like blows from a switch. Night
fell; the silver light of the winter
moon flooded the sky, lit up the er-
mine helmets of the Vabre and of
Bafignac, and was reflected from the
ice-covered rocks of the gorge which
overhung the raging Agout.
Just as the door of a wayside inn
opened with a great rafting of chains,
and the landlady stepped out on the
threshold, a horseman rode around a
turn in the road, and stopped in front
of the door of the village inn, his
horse snorting with terror. The wo-
man hastily summoned a servant,
while the traveller, dismounting, ex-
claimed, %brusQuely: Halo! Here's
Joue-en-Fleur! Wine and fire, my
good woman! Tell your boy to give
my horse a bountiful supper, and to
see whether he is not wounded in the
flank"
Holy Mother!" cried Thiebaude;
what a plight you are in, %seigneur!
Your corselet and sleeves and even the
knot on your sword-hilt, are dyed with
blood and dirt!"
MAY Astaroth choke every beast of
them!" shouted Amalric. "They have
ruined my best doublet. I look more
horrible than the Vabre butcher"
Angry and crestfallen, the reister
laid his heavy gun on the table, and
sat down before the roaring fire-a
genuine Christmas blaze. Half a
dozen carousers, sitting at one end Of
the room, resumed their interrupted
game of cards, whispering timidly to
each other, as if they stood in W Of
the newcomer. When his steaming
drink was set before him. Amalric
related his adventure to the hostess.
at is a bright night, to be sure,
on account of the moon. But what a
road, ventre de leZard-chasms, tor
rents, precipices, snowdrifts, and, in
the ravines, all the wolves in &C.
venues tiercer and stubborner than
the Calvinists! After I left Vabre,
they contented themselves with fol-
lowing me, watching for a misstep of
my horse. Near Therondel, 1 had to
slacken my speed a little, as it would
have been suicide to travel fast. Then
a famished creature leaped on Argant's
back and l had trouble in getting him
off; | had to use my dagger. And look
at the t%ourteauX on my doublet! At a
distance, one would take me for Gull
laume de Montpellier's herald"
Some of the players, leaving the
game, had drawn near the fireside.
One of them wen ventured to raise his
voice and question the formidable
reister.
"Monseigneur, do you think it would
be unsafe to go to Albignier t%o-night?'
"You would certainly lever reach the
end of your journey, whether you trav-
eled on foot or horseback. Stay here,
If you value your rustic hides; Joue-en-
Fleur can say your midnight mass for
you"
Isn't your lordship going to order
q battue soon for the famished beasts?'
1.-The first one will be called before
the Epiphany; all the wolf hunters OF
the neighborhood will then be sum-
moned."
But if m~onseigneur would condo
scend to put himself at the head of our
rabatteurs tomorrow"
SILENCE, knave! | hunt with youi
See those cowardly faces, Joue-en-
Fleur!" exclaimed Amalric, with in
snlting contempt. "Is there a man here
who could pass the Red Gibbet at night
without dying with fear?"
A thrill of terror passed over the
audience; heads dropped; no one re-
piled.
THE Red Gibbet!" exclaimed the
hostess, crossing herself; "but it is
Occupied! I know that very well!
1t was about a week ago-wasn't it,
that we hung the old witch Of La
Blaine, that old bag who practicet
witchcraft and howled every ones for
tune at him."
"L'Armassiere?" queried Joue-en'
Fleur, crossing herself again, ant
elancing furtively at the door, which
had just opened and closed noiselessly
Exactly! At this season she will
keep for a long time, and will serve az
a scarecrow on the Ferrieres road
Yesterday Argant SHE'D and nearly
threw me into the Agout under thu
old hag's hooked nose"
"Seigneur Captain" a trembling voice
was now heard to say, II dare go tt
the Red Gibbet!"
The reister started in surprise, ant
turned fiercely upon the speaker; hi
was a youth, almost a child, who's
large, dark eyes shone out from hi
pale face with an expression of perfec
fearlessness. Here's a whelp of a dan
gerots sort!" cried the captain. "Doe'
he come here often, Mistress THE
baude?"
mo, monseigneur."
aWho is his master? Does any on,
here know him?"
"We took him in tonight for thu
first time" stammered Thiebaude, un
der the compelling influence of tn
boys magnetic glance. I'VE neve
saw him before"