The Washington herald., 1906-11-01
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

though be could poi see be knew tha
both Desire and her grandfather stood in
the cavern There VAS short silence,
occasionally broken by the sound OF
stamping lest Then the count ,picr
rang out loud AMI clear, its accents
Unsed with vvnmous saNfe:
"Hs, what is this? Ny dear Desire.
YOU astonish me. Whs5 luxury, A flasN
Of my best wine meat. and bread bed
and blankets. So I perceive now the
reason that my engines build 50 slowly
Cursed little swine. lazy pig. that is " al
you do when l am from you, gorge and
guZzle and sleep.
Indeed. grsndfather-"
Silence. so wicked brat; give ne Al
once your key OF the tunnel door"
I Cressingham fell his blood run cold al
that
Here it rs. grandfather" whimpered
the girl Then followed the svund OF
slap, and she uttered cry OF pain
Shut up cried the count THAT is
nothing: presently / shall beat you so
that you wiI remember IL. can promise
you Pick up these things and follow
me
Il WON'T The words we're Desire 5.
and very sharply uttered. too. Cress s.ng-
ham felt thrill OF admiration tor her
spirit
You won't. eh?" said The counts voice
and he laughed DO what / tell you.
little swine, or Ill cut your flesh from
your body inch by inch. yes. by God. ]
VIII
You will not" flashed Desire. stop
she shouted Listen 10 me- You must
Listen 10 yOu7 / must must I? Liltls
thief you've been al my Jewels. too.
I've just been to the stoTehouse and
found aaif OF the bes, gone BY hell.
J wonder I don't shoot you as you stand %
on. don't shoot me. grandfather. put
away your pistol please On. OH"
What have you done with them? Give
them back 10 me
They are in the bcathouse."
IA glad TO hear IT, Why did you take
them"
Desire fell 10 whlmpering again. They
looked so pretty; ! meant 10 put them
back, grandfather. really I ID" Cress-
lngham devoutIy thanked Providence
that he WAS not the only thief
Ha. Ia. or course, Little swine. they
looked pretty, did they? One might take
you for girl" Il would be impossible
adequately to describe by words the
fendish ana malicious sneering Of his
voice.
But Desire was stung by it to reckless
ness You know I an a girl,7 she fash
ID holly.
~Ind-deed2''
Yes, and you can't deceive me any
'ongeF. 7 am girl. ard / shall be treat
ed as Q girL ] am going 10 make mother
dress ne Ike q girl. and | won't be
beaten any more. II YOU touch me again
J shall kill myself and then you ca?
build your engines without me"
The count spoke again after q moments
intense silence, but his voice had grown
quite soft and elncst caresslng. ''Wbo
was il put this business into your head.
Desiree"
NO one"
Don't lie TO me"'
I'm not lying, I-I-mother told ms
.ast night"
MY sweet pet 50 the secre, is out. is
Il. Yes you are a giri, Desire
I knew IT,"
E ! suppose YOU wonder why I've made
you act the boy these years, eh2
III never forgive you for IT, grand
father. never"
Bah. wait till you are asked"
Why did you do it, demanded De
sire.
All, BAH women are all cursed. hate
ful creatures Ike you. lazy as pigs and
brsinless as blocks Of wood."
But you like mother. grandfather"
She Is little better than the rest, and
has learned 10 do what is biddeu."
Why 90 you hate me so much? have
always done What you have told me to
"Pschut, You could not understand II
I were TO tell you"
I'm not the fcol you pretend 10 think
ne, you know I, am not"
That touched you. did IL? Ha. ha,
Well Desire. ] wanted your mother 20 be
q boy; / put Up with the disappointment
! received on that occasion. hoping that
she in time might give birth 10 q son
When you came il vas tco much, / have
always wondered since why I didn't kill
you on the spot But you give me too
much credit I never wanted you TO be
dressed Up Ike that; it was your mother.
She turned you into . boy TO spare my
feelings, I suppose. perhaps because she
thought the device might save her cubs
life. II is possible she was right. At
any rate, II you are offended, you must
blame your mother for it,
Sly mother" The two words were Ut
tered with such depth Of wonder and af-
tecticn that CTessingham was thrilled TO
hear them. and wished ardently that he
might see Desires face. but he dared
not move; he dared hardly breathe, for he
knew the count was armed. and that once
ne guessed the presence CT an enemy. his
life would be forfeited on the instant.
Yes, your mother" said the count
But come; we waste time here. Sapristi
Ha. ha, ha'" He gave vent to a grim
cynical chuckle- f have lest my servant
now. ] suppose. Wen, leave the things
there: they are not OF any consequences
And see here. Desire: I won't beat you
again; you shall be treated hencefor-
ward as woman, but on one condition,
girl"
What is that7"
That you finish those engines for ME
5 'sh, not so fast; think before you speak
ana understand IL you refuse your hours
are numbered. I'll not be baked for moth
ing by whining girl
DO them. grandfather. but ! want
to dress ike a woman"
See your mother about that. / don't
care Though I'd prefer you 70 continue
as you are. Come on now ard get me
me jewels at once Damnatien, bere's
naIt q morning sasted, and not q thing
done. All. the lazy swine that women
are,"
HIS voice became gradually thinner and
Ialhter' and Cressipsham realized that
ne was being abandoned in the cavern
without a lamp, and without a chance
OF escape from his position. as Desire
hao surrendered 10 the count her Fey
OF the tunnel door. and he knew that
ne eoGid never md his way through the
maze OF passages to the other exit with
out assistance, for his store of matches
was almost gone Scarcely a minute later
ne heard the distant clang Of the iron
coor as u was shut and locked barring
Llm IN prison house Of dreadful gloom
hS!uctanliy lighting one OF his precious
Festas. he scrambled back into the
cavern. and stretching himself upon the
sarcoDhagus. fought as best he could