Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-19

breath, so l ran towards them; but, seeing me coming, this rascal, too, whipped round his horse and disap- peared in the wood and left us mas ters of the field The first thing did and I remember it to this day with pleasure-was to plunge my hand into my pocket, take out half the money l had in the world and press 1t on the man who had fought for me so stoutly and who had certainly saved me from disaster. In my joy I could have kissed him! It was not only that l had escaped defeat by the skin of my teeth-and his good sword-but knew and thrilled with the knowledge, that the fight had altered the whole posi- | tion. He was wounded in two places and I had scratch or two and had | lost my horse; and my other poor fel- low was dead as herring. But speak ing for myself, I would have spent half the blood in my body to purchase ] the feeling with which I turned back to speak to M. de Cocheforet and his sister. had fought before them. Mademoiselle had dismounted and with her face averted and her mask pushed on one side, was openly weeping. Her brother, who had scru- pulously kept his place by the ford l from the beginning of the fight to the end, met me with raised eyebrows and a peculiar smile. Acknowledge my virtue" he said airily. T am here, M. de Berault-which is more than can be said of the two gentlemen who have just ridden off"
 "Yes," I answered, with touch of bitterness. "I wish they had not shot my poor man before they went"
 He shrugged his shoulders. "They were my friends" he said. You must not expect me to blame them. But that is not all"
 No" I said, wiping my sword. "There is this gentleman in the mask" ," And I turned to go towards him.
 "M. de Berault!" There was some thing abrupt in the way in which l Cocheforet called my name after me. I stood. "Pardon?" I said, turning
 That gentleman" he answered, hesitating, and looking at me doubt fully. Have you considered will happen to him, if you give him up to the authorities"
 "Who is he?" I said sharply.
 That is rather delicate question" !" he answered. frowning. and still look l ing at me fiXedly.
 Not from me-" I replied brutaIly. "since he is in my power. If he will take of his mask I shall know better what I intend to do with him"
 The stranger had lost his hat in his fall and his fair hair, stained with dust. hung in curls on his shoulders. He was a tall man, of slender, hand some presence, and though his dress was plain and almost rough, espied a splendid jewel on his hand and fan cied I detected other signs of high quality He still lay against the bank in a half-swooning condition and seemed unconscious of my scrutiny. Should know him if he unmasked?" said suddenly, a new idea in my head.
 You would" M. de Cocheforet an- swered simply.
 ,5s"And?" 1e g.,
 'It would be bad for every one"
 "Ho, ho!" I said softly. looking hard, first at my old prisoner, and then at my new one. "Then, what do you wish me to do?'
 Leave him here" M. de Cocheforet answered glibly, his face flushed, the pulse in his cheek beating. had known him for man of perfect honor before, and trusted him. But this evident earnest anxiety on behalf of his friend touched me. Besides, knew that was treading on slippery ground; that it behove me to be care. full. "I will do it." said, after mo- ment's reflection. He will play me no tricks, suppose? A letter of"
 Mon DieI, no! He will under stand Cocheforet answered eagerly You will not repent it, I swear Let us be going.
 ''Well-but my horse?" said, some. what taken aback by this extreme haste.
 We shall overtake it," he replied urgently. Tt will have kept 10 tn road. Lectoure is no more than league from here, and We can give or ders there to have these two fetched in and buried"
 I had nothing to gain by demurrint and so it was arranged, After that VI did not finger. We picked up wha we had dropped. NJ. de Cochefore mounted his sister and within hv' minutes We were gone. Casting 1 glance back from the skirts of thu wood, as we entered it, fancied tha I saw the masked man straighten him self and turn to look after us: but thu leaves were beginning to intervene the distance was great and perhapi cheated me. And yet I was not dis inclined to think the unknown a lit tie less severely injured and a trffi | rpora ohsprvrnt than te seemed