Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-31

man QoSccn0ed lntO tne TUUm ouu stood before him.
 CHAPTER II.
 SHOWS HOW AN OFFICER OF THE GUARD ALMOST MAKES A DIsCOv-
 FRY. AND THE FIRM OF ToNTI
 AND COMPANY IS FORMED.
 There was good need of Tonti's sur- prise, for the suddenness of the ap- partition. it's means of entrance, to- gether with the grotesqueness of facial expression visible, were all calculated to startle even the bravest of soldiers. The figure was that of man little over five feet in height, whose age might have been anywhere between 30 and 45, clad in the black clothes that only condemned wear on their way to execution. His features were small and sharp, with look of min gled cunning and resoluteness. In places the skin was dist1gured with the marks of smallpox that in some lights seemed to extend themselves over the entire face. The scars above and below the eyes were so plentiful that in their healing they had appar- ently drawn down the lower and raised the upper lids, so as to present the wild staring eyes of a madman. The mouth was large and of plebeian shape, and the lower jaw, seeming to hang like a half-shut door, revealed three glistening fangs that resembled more those of wolf than the teeth of human being, while saliva dripped necessarily from the corners of the mouth down the chin. The ears, of unusual size originally, had been clipped so that only the lower two- thirds remained. A scar, starting be- tween the eyes at the root of the nose, ran upward until it was lost in the tangled masses of his reddish brown hair. His eyes, which were the most remarkable feature of all, in addition to their stare were of that rare and curious shade of gray which changed in expression according to the mood of the owner; then they seemed to gleam alternately with the mad fires of the hopeless maniac, and again with the all-but-quenched rays of reason of an idiot. All of these physical pecu- liarities were accentuated by the crea> ture, as he stood with arms akimbo, feet we'll apart, eyes almost starting from their sockets, tongue protruding. and ears slowly moving up and down. while most diabolical grin overspread the greater portion of his face.
 "Mordioux!" cried Tonti. What have we here? Some gargoyle strayed from his post on the stone corners of Notre Dame; or is it new court jester: or one of the Gadarene swine that be- came possessed of devils the good Abbe Renaudot told me of? Ha, ha! or best of all. one of the progeny of that hell-bound Mazarin or my Lord Colbert-hola! none of that, or out of the window you shall go as you came, only head first"
 This last exclamation was induced by sudden movement of the fantastic creature before him. During the first part of Tonti's speech the little man had stood playing the idiot, but as soon as Colbert's name was mentioned, he suddenly changed his expression. The gray eyes lost their look of mad ness and gleamed with light of in- tenseT@ hatred. Suddenly drawing small dagger from his person, he threw it in the face of Tonti, who stood about three paces of. The sol- dier had often seen that look in an adversary's eye in duel and battle, and he knew well it portended some sudden action. Instinctively he raised his hand to ward off the impending danger, as he saw the movement of the mans arm. The weapon glanced through the air, and struck the up- lifted palm of his left hand. Instead of piercing it, as one would have ex- pected from the force with which it was thrown, 1t stopped with a metallic clink and fell with blunted point to the floor. Quick as thought, the young soldier sprang to his sword, seized 1t,
  who stood awaiting his approach with out making the slightest movement. Tonti presented the point against his breast, exclaiming:
 "Now then, my fine fellow, if you have any more such compliments to give me, kindly do it now, and I shall show you in return how We spit a chicken for roasting in my native town"
 The man glared at him a moment, then with sudden effort reorganized his features completely. This was as much of a surprise to Tonti as the attack had been. for in an instant the protruding tongue and fangs disap- peared, the eyes became less promi- nent and lost their wildness, and the whole man was changed; even the scars seemed to lose their whiteness and become more like the surround ing skin. A supplicating look came into his face, and as Tonti's sword- point was dropped in his amazement, the man fell on his knees, murmur- ing: Pardon, Pardon."
 Get up, you rogue. or I shall turn you over to the authorities for an es- capped prisoner" vas Tonti's reply, as he stepped back with hand leaning on his weapon, so as to have it ready for another outbreak. Why and how do you come here. who are you, and what do you want?'
 The man arose and stood facing him with a respectful air, as he replied:
 Why do I come? A cornered mouse