The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-04-12
CHAPTER vi -CoNrINuED.

The innkeeper was not far behind
him. An instant and he was down, too,
peering at the thing; and for an in
slant I thought that they would fight
over II. However. though their jeal-
ousy was evident. their excitement
cooled a little when they discovered
that the scrap of stuff was empty; for,
fortunately the pebble had fallen
out of IL. Still, il threw them into
such a fever OF eagerness as It was
wonderful to witness. They nosed the
ground where It had lain. they plucked
up the grass and turf and passed 1t
through their fingers. they ran to and
fro like dogs on trail; and, glancing
askance at one another. came back al
ways together to the point OF depart
ure Neither in his jealousy would SUI
Ter the other to be there alone.
The shock-headed man and | sat our
horses and looked on: he marvelling,
and | pretending to marvel. AS the
two searched up and down the path
we moved a little out OF il to give
them space; aud presently, when all
their heads were turned from me. I
let a second morsel drop under a
gorse- bush. The shock-headed man,
bye-and-bye. found this. and gave il
TO Clon; and. as from the circum-
stances OF the first discovery no sus-
picion attached TO me. I ventured to
find the third aud last scrap myself
I did not pick Il 40. but I called the Inn
keeper and ne pounced on IL as | have
seen hawk pounce on a chicken
They hunted for the fourth morsel.
but, of course, In vain. and in the end
they desisted. and titted the three they
had together; but neither would let
his own portion out Of his hands, and
each looked at the other across the
spoil with eyes of suspicion. Il was
strange to see them in that wide
stretching valley, whence gray boar
backs of hills swelled up Into the ST
lence of the snow-it was strange,
I say, in that vast solitude to see these
two, mere dots on its bosom. circling
round one another in fierce forgetful-
ness OF the outside world, glaring and
shifting their ground like cocks about
10 engage. and wholly engrossed-by
three scraps OF orange-color, invisible
at so PAGES!
At last the innkeeper cried with an
cath: Il am going back. This must
be known down yondar. Give me your
pieces. man. and. do you go with An
toine Il will be all right"
But Clon, waving a scrap in either
hand aud thrusting his CHASTITY mask
into the others face. shook his head in
passionate denial. He could not speak.
but he made IL clear that II any one
went back with the news he was the
man to go.
'Nonsense!" the landlord retOrted
nercely I'VE cannot leave Antoine to
90 alone with him. Give me the stuff ="
But CIon would not He had no
thought OF resigning the credit of the
discovery, and l began to think that
the two would really come to blows.
But there was an alternative, and first
one and then the other looked at me.
II was a moment OF peril, and knew
It, My strategem might react on my
self, and the two. to put an end to
this difficulty. agree to put an end TO
me- But faced them so cooIly ana
showed so bold front. and the ground
was 30 open, that the idea took no
root They fell to wrangling again
more viciously than before. One tapped
his gun and the other his pistols. The
landlord scolded, the dumb man CUR
eled At last their difference ended
as I had hoped II would.
VERY well then, we will both go
backl' the innkeeDer cried in q rage,
And Antoine must see him on. But
the blame be on your head. Do you
give the lad your pistols"
Clon took one pistol and gave il TO
the shocll-headed man.
"rhe other!" the innkeeper said i'm
patiently. AGRA
But Clon shook his head with =
grim smile and pointed to the argue
buss.
By a sudden movement the land
lord snatched the pistol and averted
Clons vengeance by placing both 1t
and the gun in the shock-headed mans
hands. "There!" he said, addressing
the latter. nov can you do? II mon
sieur tries to escape or turn back,
shoot him, But four hours riding
should bring you TO the Roca Blanca.
You will find the men there, and will
have no more TO do with it,"
Antoine did not see things quite in
that light. however He looked at rue
and then at the wild track in front OF
rs; and he muttered an oath and said
he would die II he would. But the land
lord, who was in frenzy OF im
patience. drew aside and talked to him
and in the end seemed to persuade
him: for in a few minutes the matter
was settled Antoine came back and
said sullenly. Forward. Monsieur, .
the two others stood on one side.
shrugged my shoulders and kicked al
my horse and IN twinkling we two
were riding on together-man 10 mau
turned once or twice to see wbai
those we had left behind were doinf