Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-06-23

About this time. deep In rainy ana
pitch black night. Gaspard Ronssillon
came home. He tapped on the door
again and again. Alice heard. but she
hesitated TO speak or move. Was she
growing cowardly: Her heart beat
like a drum. There was but one per
son in all the world that she could
think of; it was not NJ. Roussillon.
All. no; she had well nigh forgotten
her gigantic foster father.
1T is |. ma cherie; il is Gaspard, my
love. Open the door," came In a boom
ing half whisper from without. Alice,
Jean. 1t is your Papa Roussillon. my
dears. Let me in
Alice was at the door fA a minute,
unbarring it. NJ. Roussillon entered.
armed TO the teeth, the water dribbling
from his buckskin clothes.
'Poufr' he exclaimed. MY throat is
like dust" His thoughts were diving
into the stores under the floor II am
famished. Dear children, dear little
ones, They are glad TO see papa! Where
is your mammaT
He had Alice in his arms and Jean
chung to his legs. Nine. Roussillon. TO
be sure of no mistake. lighted Il lamp
with ly~nd that smoldered on the
hearth and held it up; then, satisfied as
to her husbands identity, set 1t on a
shelf and flung herself into the affec-
tionate group with clumsy abandon.
making great noise.
"Oh, my dear Gaspardw she cried as
she lunged forward. "Gaspard, Gas
pardr' Her voice fairly lifted the roof,
her great weight. hurled with such
force, overturned everybody, and all of
them tumbled in a heap, the rotund
and solid dame sitting on top.
"Oufi Not so impetuous, my dear"
puffed NJ. Roussillon, freeing himself
from her unpleasant pressure and
scrambling to his feet Really you
must have Jared well in my absence,
madame: you are much heavier" He
laughed and lifted her up as If she had
been child. kissing her resonantly.
His gun had fallen with a great clat-
ter He took it from the floor and ex-
amined it to see if it had been injured.
then set ii in corner.
Il am afraid we have been making
too much noise" said Alice, speaking
very low. There Is patrol guard ev-
cry night now. If they should hear
you
"Sh.' whispered NJ. Roussillon. I'VE
will be very still. Alice, is there some
thing to eat and drop of wine handy !?
l have come many miles. I am tired,
hungry, thirsty-ziffr'
Alice brought some cold roast veni-
son, loaf and bottle of claret These
she set before him on little table.
''Ah, this is comfort" he said after
he had gulped full cup. Have you
all been wellT'
Then he began to tell where he had
been, what he had seen and the many
things he had done. A Frenchman must
babble while he eats and drinks. A lit
tie wine makes him eloquent. He talks
with his hands, shoulders, eyes. Nine.
Roussillon, Alice and Jean, wrapped in
furs, huddled around him to hear He
was very entertaining, and they forgot
the patrol until a noise startled them.
1t was the low of n cow. They laughed
and the master of the house softened
his voice.
NJ. Roussillon had been the guest of n
great Indian cniertafn whU was called
the Gate OF the Wabash because he
controlled the river. The chief was an
old acquaintance and treated him well.
"But wanted TO see you ALL" Gas
pard said. 81 was afraid something
might have happened to you, so came
back just to peep in. l can't stay, of
course. Hamilton would kill me as IL /
were wolf. L can remain but an hour
and then slip out of town again before
daylight comes. The rain and darkness
are my friends"
He had seen Simon kenton, who said
he had been in the neighborhood of
Vincennes acting as scout and spy
for Clark. Presently and quite casual
ly he added:
"And / saw Lieutenant Beverley too.
/ suppose you know that he has es-
capped from Hamilton, and Here a
big mouthfui of venison interfered.
Alice leaned toward him white and
breathless, her heart standing still.
Then the door, which had been left
unbarred, was flung open, and along
with n great rush of wind and rain the
patrol guard, five in number, sprang in.
NJ. Roussillon reached his gun with
one hand, with the other swung n tre-
nendous blow as he leaped against the
intruders. Nine. Roussillon blew <ut
the light. No cave in the depth of
earth was ever darker than that room.
The patrolmen could not see one an
other or know what to do, but M. Rous-
sillon laid about him with the strength
of n giant. His blows sounded as IL
they smashed bones. Men fell heavily
humping on the floor where he rushed
along. Some one fired pistol, and by
the darkness closed again. and before
they could get their bearings he was
out and gone, his great hulking form
making its way easily over familiar
ground where his would be captors
could have proceeded but slowly even
with light to guide them.
There was furious cursing among
the patrolmen as they tumbled about
In the room, the unhurt ones trampling
their PROSTATE companions and strik-
ing wildly at each other In their blind
ness and confusion. At last one of them
kcihought him to open dark lantern
with which the night guards were fur
nisled. Its fame was fluttering and
gave forth pale red light that danced
weirdly on the floors and walls.
Al q had snatched down one of her
rapiers when the guards first entered.
They now saw her facing them with
her slender blade leyeled, her back to
the wall, her eyes shining dangerously.
Mime. Roussillon had fed into the ad-
joining room. Jean had also disap-
peared The officer, Il subaltern in
charge of the guard, seeing Alice and
not quickly able to make out tina. 1t
was woman thus defying him, cross
ed swords with her. There was small
space for action. Moreover. the officer,
being not in the least n swordsman,
played awkwardly, and quick as
flash his point was down. The rapier
entered just below his throat with
dull. chucking stab. He leaDed back
ward, feeling at the same time a pair
of arms clasp his legs. 1t was Jean.
and the Lieutenant, thus unexpectedly
tangled, fell to the floor, breaking, but
not extinguishing, the guards lantern
as he went down. The little remaining
oil spread and famed up brilliantly. as
IL eager for conflagration, sputtering
along the uneven boards.
"Ilill that imp" cried the lieutenant