Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-08-02
Copyright, 1884, by Stanley J. weyman.)
CHAPTER VIII.-CoNTINUED.

and raised her fork to her lips. But in
a moment she laid it down again. Il
connot." she murmured. 81 cannot
swallow. Oh, my God, at this moment
they may be taking him!"
| thought that she was about to
burst into a passion of tears and I re-
pented that I had induced her to
descend. But her self-control was not
yet exhausted. BY an effort painful to
see, she recovered her composure. She
took up her fork and ate with a fierce
undertook. 81 want to see Clon,' she
whispered feverishly. The man who
waited on us had left the room.
"He hnows?" l said.
She nodded, her beautiful face
strangely disfgured. Her closed teeth
showed between her lips. Two red
spots burned in her white cheeks and
she breathed quickly. felt, as I
looked at her, a sudden pain at my
heart; and a shuddering fear, such as
a man awaking to find himself falling
over a precipice, might feel. How
the5e women loved the man!
For a moment I could not speak.
When l found my voice it sounded dry
ard husky. "He is a safe %confidant,"
/ muttered. "He can neither speak nor
write, Mademoiselle."
"No, but" and then her face became
fxed. "They are coming" she whis-
S-red. "Hush," She rose stif1y and
stood supporting herself by the table.
Have they-have they-found him.
she muttered. The woman by her side
wept on, unconscious what was i'm
pending.
/ heard the captain stumble far dowR
the passage and swear loudly: and I
touched mademoiselle's hand. "They
have mott" I whispered. "All Is well.
Mademoiselle. Pray, pray calm your
self. Sit down and meet them as If
nothing were the matter. And your
sister! Madam, Madam" | cried, al
most harshly, compose Yourself. Re-
member that you have a part to play"
My appeal did something. Madam
.stifed her sobs. Mademoiselle drew a
deep breath and sat down; and though
she was still pale and still trembled,
the worst was past.
And just in time. The door flew open
with a crash. The captain stumbled in
to the room, swearing afresh. "Sacre
nom du Diable!" he cried. his face
crimson with rage. What fool placed
these things here? My boots? My
His jaw fell. He stopped on the word,
stricken silent by the new aspect OF
the room, by the sight of the little
party at the table, by all the changes
I had worked. Saint Siege!" he NUT
tered. what is this?" The l~ieutenant's
grizzled face peering over his shoulder
completed the picture.
"You are rather late, NJ. lie Capt.
taine," I said cheerfully. "Madam's
hour is eleven. But come, here are
your seats waiting for you"
Mile tonnerres!" h, muttered, ad-
vancing into the room, and glazing at
us.
81 am afraid The ragout is cold" I
continued, peering into the dish and
affecting to see nothing. 1.-THE soup,
however, has been kept hot by the fire.
But l think you do not see madam"
He opened his mouth to swear, but
for the moment thought better of it.
*'Who-who put my boots in the pas
;sage?" he asked, his voice thick with
rage. He did not bow to the ladies', or
take any notice of their presence.
Zone Of the men, l suppose" l said
indifferently. els anything missing?"
He glared at me. Then his cloak,
spread outside, caught his eye. He
STROBE through the door, saw his hol-
sters lying on the grass and other
things strewn about. He came back.
Whose monkey game is this?' he
ssnarled, and his face was very ugly.
''Who is at the bottom of this? Speak,
Sir, or +"
"Tut-tut! the ladies:" I said. "You
forget yourself, Monsieur"
Forget MYSELF" he Missed, and this
time he did not check his oath. Don't
talk to me of the ladies'! Madam?
Bah! Do you think, fool, that we are
put into rebels houses to bow and
smile and take dancing lessons?"
"In this case a lesson IN politeness
we're more to the point, Monsieur" I
said ~sternly. And l rose.
"Was 1t by your orders Tat this was
done?" he retorted, his brow black
with passion. Answer, will you?"
SsTt p,ocIv rooJiod o,+r;-l,+
""Then take that" he cried, dashing
his hat violently in my face. And come
outside"
with pleasure, Monsieur" I answer
ed, bowling. "In one moment. Permit
me to find my sword. / think it is in
the passage"
l went 1thither to get it. When I re-
turned l found that the two men were
waiting for me in the garden. while the
ladies had risen from the table and
were standing near it with launched
faces. "Xou had better take your sis
ter upstairs, Mademoiselle," l said
gently, pausing a moment beside
them. "Have no fear. All will be we'll"
"But what is it," she ans wered,
looking troubled. 1T was SO sudden. l
ann DID not understand. You quar-
relied SO quickly"
1T Is very simple" | answered, smil-
ing. IN. lie Capitaine insulted you yes
terday; he will pay for it today. That
is all. Or, not quite ALL" | continued,
dropping my voice and speaking in a
different tone. Ellis removal may help
YOU, Mademoiselle. Do you understand?
4 think that there will be no more
searching to-day"
She uttered an exclamation, grasp
Ing my arm and peering into my face.