Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-12-06
CHAPTER VIII

he was dressed only in a stained and
Weli-Worn pair of gray linen trousers
and ragged blue flannel shirt. was en-
gagged in taking down the shutters of The
Hotel de Paris, facing the levee Of New
Orleans.
The Hotel de Paris was small, two
story building, which seemed so thin and
puny between it's two four-story neigh
bors that one might have imagined some
body had found 1t In quite another spot,
and had maliciously dropped it into its
place to fill up the gap. 1t was brightly
distempered In salmony pink, and the
green shutters and green window blinds
gave it a cheerful aspect, to which the
faring signboard. adorned with the leg
end, John Roberts, Proprietor" in gold
letters On a green ground, added consid-
erabiy.
Just then the rather unsteady and I'M
even tramp of many steps resounded on
the broad stone flags, and company of
the newly enrolled Louisiana State Vol
unteers, in gray uniforms with red cord
ingS. came marching by in open order car
rying their converted Brown Bess mus
kets in any manner from the trail to
the right shoulder Shift" singing
Away Down in Dixie" and looking for
all the world as il no thought of a posi-
bic death or the battlefield found a place
in their minds.
The short, dark man, who had been
watching the soldiers pass ny, shrugged
his shoulders in disapprovei OF their IN
disciplined gait, and grunte9 impatiently
as he dragged the heavy shutters from
their places. This portion of his work
being over, Monsieur Henri Sainton-
for 1t was he-sat himself down on a
wooden stool and looked about him like
man dazed by his exertions.
de had been sitting on the stool for
the space Of about FIVE or six minutes,
when sharp, scowling face appeared
at the top of small staircase, a face
as bearded as his own, but with the
difference that the hair was Of a coarse
red of various shades.
Look here, Henri" cried rasping
voice. what on earth are you up to now 2
Ase you going to kick your legs about all
day! And the red-bearded man. dressed
in linen trousers and flannel shirt only,
came with slippered feet downstairs, and
stood facing Henri with his arms crossed
over his chest what do you think
brought you here for?" he asked, with a
sheer OF disgust. DO you think it was
to eat sponge cakeT
NO" growled Monsieur Henri Sain-
ton, in reply to Mr. Bernard Quayle, for
he was the gentleman who had resumed
his old patronymic of John Roberts. you
not bring me for sponge cake. You bring
me for clean knives, scrub floor all day,
all night. You bring me for fight ven
sailor call you zief and make your eyes
black viz zrowing oyster can. l rebel, l
clean knife no more. ! scrub floor no
more. Negro cheap. You buy negro
clean knife. scrub floor. | go bed"
You ungrateful sweep" said Mr.
Quayl4. with slow, kissing emphasis.
Where would you be now if had not
taken pity on your"
Me-" retorted Henri, defantly. "In
Paris. You come ere, and zere are cafe
concerts in Paris
Yes" rejoined Mr.. Quayle; there are
cafe concerts, and there are also police;
and a nice figure you'd cut-you, an es-
capped convict. They'd have you by the
neck before you were up to many of
your larks. Thank your stars you are
with me. and be grateful"
"Gratefulp' nearly yelled Henri. ''Vat
for grateful?"
I'm tell you what you ought to be
grateful for" Missed Mr. Quayle you
ought TO be grateful to me for teaching
you the beastly English you are speaking.
You ought to be grateful to me for allow
ing you to share with me when we re-
lieved that confding Dutchman of his
two thousand three hundred dollars"
Yes" interrupted Henri, two zou-
SAN zree 'underd. You take zousan' five
underd. You give me eight 'underd.
ave nozings. You buy hotel. You boss.
You ave all you want. l scrub floor,
clean knife, take down shutter"
At this outburst Mr.. Quayle thought
it polite to change his demeanor. He
became friendly. changing the subject
and saying: Confusion to that villain
Adams. who sent us to slavery in the
galleys."
"Deaz to Eat pig Adamsr exclaimed
Henri, with great fervor. I've will make
of i'm food for dogs. l svearr'
And death to that wretched hussy
through whom we were sent TO the gal
leys," Ouayle went on.
Henri's retort was not so fervent He
pursed his lips and shrugged his shout
ders.
Yes" he cried. after moments
pause. "But she beautiful. and if she
nice viz me, l not know
What d'you mean?" snorted Quayle.
''YOu are not alone to be considered In
this matter. l suffered through her as
well. and / have got my reckoning to do.
You swore you would kill her when you
got the chance"
YES, l swear, and 1 keep my swear. -
replied Henri But if she nice. very
nice, not know" he added, with a
sigh.
Quayle looked at his companion again
as if he would have poisoned him with a
glance had he been able
"I'I keep your nose &c the grindstone,
my friend" he muttered to himself. IF
You were not intended TO be my catspav,,
I'd soon make short work of YOU"
At that moment the sounds of bugls
piaying a march made both Henri and
ouayle prick up their ears. The clear,
pulse-quiekening melody seemed to grip
them. and they both stepped to the door.
Another mass OF soialers-a battalion
this time-were coming with swinging
step along the road. A couple of horse
men and-what seemed more strange
n lady on horseback rode at the head Of
the column. Henri's eyes instinctively
hrirhtened as he recognized the uniforms
those WNE0 " AAG regular rSOC1
2N,,aves-dark blue jackets, red
breeches. red caps with blue tassels. and
blue Wristbands
1T is the Louisiana Zouaves." said
ouayle. "and that hound Adams IS rid
ing at the head OF them"
Il was indeed Col. Latrobe Adams,
commanding the battalion Of Louisiana
Zouaves. who at that moment passed the
Hotel De Paris. He was in civilians
dress. aud gentleman who accompanied
him wore the same undistinguished gdrb.
Quayle instinctively shuddered as Adj
ans cast an unrecognizing glance toward
him and rode on. He had in no wise
altered since the day when Helene had
knocked at his door in Paris. Indeed.
one might have thought that be had
grown younger. 50 upright was his car
rage. 50 unwrinkled his face.
While Cuayle looked at the man. Hen
ri's eyes were glued unon the woman