The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-10
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IN" r-ri" The breath of the De-
stroyer smote the back of his
IGyEE7j neck, a strong hand clutched
49, him, pulled him violently to-
ward the ditch as something struck his
shoulder and Douglas Home was cast into
the brambles. The steam tram silently
climbed the hill without deigning to notice
its victim. Whereupon Home scrambled
out of the ditch and gave sorrow words
Anglo-Saxon words.
He crawled up to the top of the hill and
gazed at St Prudoc in the valley below
His knapsack CALLED him; he was hungry,
tired. thirsty; and the lights in the little
village below looked inviting. How his
head ached. TIE weird cleaning depressed
him; he wanted to get away from 1t, to
foregather with folk. This narrow escape
from being cut in two by the tramway en-
CINE made him think DULY of the pre-
seriousness of existence. He felt Boer
sharpshooters pinging at him as he dragged
poor Featherstone's body away from the
melee. Who was ii pulled him aside as
the engine came upon him unawares? Oh.
yes; this bue-eyed. tall slim girl in knick-
He was annoyed that Frenchwoman
with English-looking blue eyes should haze
saved him from a tram engine. He alb
horred knickers-for girls. Before he could
stammer his thanks to the girl she mount
ed her wheel like an athlete and. with few
ringing words in French, whirled away
through the cleaning. In the midst of his
confusion he felt grateful to her for not
exposing the badness of his French. He
had come abroad with the idea that any
kind of French was good enough for Brit
tany. Ugh! The growing bruise on his
shoulder warned him what would have hap
pened had not the girl pulled him away
from that monster He was quite unpre-
pared for such consideration from a
stranger. But that tram enginei All, if
he could only upset that!
"Just like the French" he muttered.
''what other nation would seek to STAY the
tourist on whom it lives, by having steam
engines which cross the road in the gloam-
ing and come upon one with hardly a
sound? Pouf, AS they say here. that was
a narrow shave. How am / to get even
with the girl for saving my life? What
would they say in Fleet street if my
mangled remains had been found in an
obscure corner of Brittany? The fellows
would feel annoyed that correspond
ent had come to so untimely an end. On sec
ond thought''-he ruefully surveyed his
knapsack, in which the engine had torn a
hole-'it would annoy me Also
He moved toward the valley, having once
more recovered tone" Not even the
ghostly purr of a whirling windmilTs sails
could startle him now. What right" he
muttered, limping lamely down the hill
what right has French girl to such beau
tiful eyes? And she needn't have hurried
away without waiting to be thanked. No
repose about French people. Always in a
hurry. Perhaps she wanted to get home
to dress for dinner
He entered the little triangular market
place of St. Prudoc and made his way to
the nearest inn. No one seemed particular
ly anxious to welcome him. People were
busy moving tables and chairs from the
big dining room.
He banged on the door until Madame
Lamerre appeared. Madame was voluble.
apologetic. ALAS! that monsieur should
think her neglectful when she loved les
Anglais much; but everyone was pre-
pairing for the dance"
Monsieur glad that she loved him.
but he was not interested in the dance.
Could he have bed and some dinner-the
dinner first, the bed afterward?
But certainly. Monsieur must not worry
himself. Monsieur was wounded. If mon
sieur would have the goodness to lean on
her she would show him to his room and
get him nice little dinner in the bar par
Tor. The ordinary room was being pre-
pared for the ball. Monsieur had met
with an adventure?
Monsieur had met with a steam engine
which had foully and treacherously sought
to STAY him unawares. He had done moth
ing to the steam engine. although it seemed
to resent his arrival at St. Prudoc.
Doubtless it lacked sympathy. Madame
Lamerre fastened to remark If monsieur
would give himself the pain to make him
self comfortable All, there was Marie
with the hot water
Monsieur gave himself the pain" and
the motherly old French woman helped him
upstairs, presented him with a stiff glass
of cognac and. stripping of his shirt in
spite of Homes protests. applied soothing
unguents to the big. black broken-skinned
welt across his shoulder. Then she re-
dressed him. put his in a sling and
looked at her work Il do not understand
how monsieur comes to have his arm so
nearly dislocated?"
1T was the girl" Home explained. "She
must have whirred up on her bike and
jerked me away just if she had been
failing bull on the Pampas. IL was in
a brown study"
Madame did not understand about tall
ing bulls. but she helped Home down stairs
into the bar parlor, and gave him the best
dinner he had had for years.
You mustn't take so much trouble with
me-" he protested. after having eaten his
fill "You are too kind
"Mais, oui," said madame. Monsieur
fails to comprehend. IL is for the honor
of France. Monsieur does not understand
that the steam engine has disgraced as
nation"
Home felt annoyed when the door opened
and rush Of chilly September air filled
the room.
Come in. mother. said an unmistak-
ably English voice. "or We shall be late.