Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-12

SWered, With noble courtesy. When
1t does, Monsieur, we shall be homeless
ourselves"
shivered, looking anywhere but at
her: for had not sufficiently pictured
this scene Of my ARRIVAL had not
foreseen its details; and now 1 took
part in 1t felt miserable meanness
weigh me down. had never from the
first liked the work! But. had had
no choice. And had no choice now
Luckily, the guise in which came,
my fatigue and wound were sufficient
mark, or should have incurred sus-
picion at once. For am sure that If
ever In this void brave man wore
a hang-dog air, or Gil de Berault fell
below himself, 1T was then and there
on Madam de Cocheforet's threshold,
with her welcome sounding in my ears.
One, think. did not suspect me.
Clon, the porter, continued to hold the
door obstinately ajar and to eye me
with grinning spite, until his mistress,
with some sharpness, babe him drop
the bars and conduct me to room.
DO you go also. Louis she con-
tinued, speaking to the man beside her,
and see this gentleman comfortably
disposed. am sorry" she added. ad-
dressing me In the graceful tone she
had before used, and thought could
see her head bent in the darkness,
"that our present circumstances do not
permit us to welcome you more fifty,
Monsieur. But the troubles of the
times-however, you will excuse what
is lacking. Until tomorrow, have
the honor to bid you goodnight"
Goodnight Madam" stammered
trembling. had not been able to dis
tinguish her face in the gloom of the
doorway, but her voice, her greeting.
her presence, unnamed me. was
troubled and preplexed; I had not
spirit to kick dog. followed the two
servants from the hall without needing
how we went; nor was 1t until we
came to a full stop at a door in. n
whitewashed corridor, and 1t was
forced upon me that something was in
question between my two conductors,
that began to take notice
Then l saw that one of them, Louis.
wished to lodge me here where we
stood. The porter, on the other hand,
who held the keys, would not. He did
not speak word. nor did the other.
and this gave queer ominous charac-
ter to the debate; but he continued to
Jerk his head towards the farther end
of the corridor, and, at last. he carried
his point. Louis shrugged his shout
ders, and moved On, glancing askance
at me; and I, not understanding the
matter in debate, followed the pair in
silence.
We reached the end Of the corridor,
and there, for an instant, the monster
with the keys paused and grinned at
me. Then he turned into narrow pas
sage on the left and after following
1t for some PAGES. halted before small,
strong door. His key Jared in the
lock, but he forced it shrieking round,
and with savage flourish threw tho
door open.
| walked in and saw mean, bare
chamber with barred windows. The
floor was indifferently clean. there was
no furniture. The yellow light of the
lanthorn falling on the stained walls
gave the place the look of q dungeon
turned to the two men. This ia not
very good ROOM" / said. "And it
feels damp. Have you no other?"
Louis looked doubtfully at his COM
panion. But the porter shook his head
stubbornly
why does he not speak?" asked
with Impotence.
He is dumb" Louis answered.
"Dumb!" l exclaimed. But he
hears"
HE has ears the servant answered
dryly. "But he has no tongue, Mon
sieur."
1 shuddered. How did he lose it?"
I asked.
"At Rochelle. He was spy and the
kings people took him the day the
town surrendered They spared his
life, but cut mis- tongue"
"Ah!" l said. l wished to say more,
TO be natural, to show myself at my
case. But the porter's eyes seemed to
burn into me, and my own tongue Glove
to the roof of my mouth. He opened
his lips and pointed to his throat with
horrid GESTURE and shook my head
and turned from him "You can let
me have some bedding?" ] murmured
hastily. for the sake of saying somc-
thing and to escape.
"Of course. Monsieur" Louis an
swered. II will fetch some"
He went away, thinking doubtless
that Clon would stay with me. But
after waiting minute the porter
strobe off also with the liant horn, leay-
ing me to stand in the middle Of the
damp, dark room and reflect on the
position. 1t was plain that Clon sus-
pected me. This prison-like room. with
its barred window at the hack Of the
house and in the wing farthest from
the stables, proved SO much. Clearly,
he was dangerous fellow, of whom
must beware. had just begun to Won
dow how MADAM could koon c,ch