Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-05
| UNDER, THE
| RED ROBE
BY STANLEY j.. WEYr1AN
Copyright, 1894, BY Stanley ]. weyman.)
WEYMAN

anxiety to see more. What is IL!
What is the matter?"
The trap door was lifted foot or
more. The landlord thrust up his head.
"You called, did you not?" he asked.
He held up rushlight, which illumin-
ated half the room and lit up his grim
ming face.
"Called-at this hour of the night
you fool?" I answered angrily. NO!
did not call Go to bed mani"
But he remained on the ladder, gap
ing stupidity
ri heard you,' he said.
go to bed! You are drunk" an
swered. sitting up. 81 tell you did
not call"
ooh, very we'll" he answered slowly.
"And you do not want anything"
"Nothing-except to be left alone!"
replied sourly.
'.Umph!" he said. Goodnight"
Goodnight! Goodnight" an
swered, with what patience might
The tramp of the horses hoofs as it
was led out of the stable was in my
ear at the moment Goodnight"
continued feverfshly, hoping he would
still retire in time, and have chance
to look out 81 want to sleep"
Good" he said. with a broad grin.
But it is early yet, and you have
plenty of time" And then, at last. he
slowly let down the trapdoor and
heard him chuckle as he went down the
ladder
Before he reached the bottom was
at the window. The woman whom
had seen still stood below, in the same
place. and beside her man in a peas
ants dress, holding lanthorn. But
the man, the man wanted to see was
no longer there. And it was evident
that he was gone, 1t was evident that
the others no longer feared me, for
while gazed the landlord came out to
them with another lanthorn, and said
something to the lady and she looked
up at my window and laughed
1t was warm night and she wore
nothing over her white dress. could
see her tall, shapely figure and shining
eyes and the firm contour OF her beau
tiful face; which, If any fault might be
found with it, erred in being too regu-
lar. She looked like woman formed
by nature to meet dangers and difficult
ties; and even here, at midnight, in the
midst Of these desperate men, she
seemed in place. It was possible that
under her queenly exterior, and behind
the contemptuous laugh with which
she heard the landlords story. there
lurked woman's soul capable Of folly
and tenderness. But no outward sign
betrayed its presence.
scanned her very carefully; and
secretly, If the truth be told, was
glad to find Madam de Cocheforet
such woman. was glad that she
had laughed as she habitat she was
not little, tender, child-like woman,
to be crushed by the first pinch Of
trouble. For If succeeded in my task,
If but, pish! Women, said, were
all alike. She would find consolation
quickly enough.
watched until the group broke up,
and madam, with one Of the men,
went her way round the corner Of the
inn and out Of my sight. Then re-
tired to bed again, feeling more than
ever preplexed what course should
adopt. 1t was clear that, to succeed,
must obtain admission to the house.
This was garrisoned, unless my in
structions erred, by two or three old
men-servants only, and as many
women; since madam, to disguise her
husbands visits the more easily, lived,
and gave out that she lived, in great
retirement To seize her husband at
home, therefore, might be no impossi-
BILE task; though here, in the heart OF
the village, troop OF horse might
make the attempt and fail.
But how was I to gain admission to
the house-a house guarded by quick
witted women, and hedged in with all
the precautions love could devise?
That was the question; and dawn found
me still debating it, still as far as ever
from an answer. With the first light
was glad to get up. thought that
the fresh air might inspire me and
was tired, besides, of my stuffy closet.
crept stealthily down the ladder
and managed to pass unseen through
the lower room, in which several per-
sons We're snoring heavily. The outer
door was not fastened, and in hand
| turn l stood in the street.
1t was still SO early that the trees
stood up black against the reddening
sky, but the Dough upon the post be-
fore the door was growing green, and
in a few minutes the gray light would
be everywhere. Already even In the
roadway there was a glimmering Of it:
| and as l stood at the corner of the
| house-where could command both
| the front and the side on which the
stable opened-looking greedily for any
trace of the midnight departure. my
eyes detected something light-colored
lying on the ground. 1t was not more
than two or three PAGES from me and
l stepped to it and picked it up curious
| 1y honjpe II mi pht he a pota II was