Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-06-27
CHAPTER XI.-CONT1NUED

0~H~ AAAS ~"~~~'
This quite changed the scene. The
raan in the mask staggered to his feet
and felt stupidity for a pistol. But
lie could not find one and was, 1
s;lw, in no state to use it if he had.
File reeled helplessly to the bank and
leaned against it, He would give no
further trouble. The man l had
wounded was in scarcely better condi-
ton. He retreated before me for some
faces, but then losing courage, he
dropped his sword and, wheeling round
cantered off down the road, clinging to
his pommel. There remained only the
fellow engaged with my man and I
turned to see how they were getting
on. They were standing to take
breath, so ran towards them; but,
seeing me coming, this rascal, too,
Whipped round his horse and disap-
leared in the wood and left us mas
ters of the field. The first thing did
and ] remember it, to this day with
pleasure-Was to plunge my hand into
my pocket, take out half the money
had i'll the world and press it on the
man who had fought for me so stoutly
I'd who had certainly saved me from
disaster. In my JOY I could have
kissed him! 1t was not only that
had escaped defeat by the skin of my
tceth--and his good sWord-but knew
and thrilled with the knowledge, that
the fight had altered the whole posi-
ton. He was wounded in two places
and | had a scratch or two and had
lost my horse; and my other poor fell
low was dead as a herring. But speak
ing for myself, l 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
from the beginning of the fight to
the end, met me with raised eyebrows
and peculiar SMILE Acknowledge
my virtue he said airily. II am here,
M. de Berault-which is more than
can be said of the two gentlemen
who have just ridden off,
EYES," I answered, with a touch of
bitterness. Il 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 turned to go towards him.
IN de Berault!" There was some
thing abrupt in the way in which
Cocheforet called my name after me.
I stood "Pardon?" said, turning
"That gentleman" he answered
hesitating, and looking at me doubt
fully. "Have you .considered-what
will happen to him, if you give hin
up to the authorities?"
"Who is he?" l said sharply.
"That is rather delicate question:
he answered, frowning, and still look
ing at me fixedly.
mot from me-" l replied brutality
''since he is in my power. If he viii
take oft his mask 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 tall man, of slender, hand
some presence, and though his dress
was plain and almost rough, espiet
a splendid jewel on his hand and fan
cied I detected other signs of hig1
quality. He still lay against the banl
in a half-swooning condition ant
seemed unconscious of my scrutiny
"Should know him if he unmasked? ?
l said suddenly, a new idea in my head
"You would" M. de Cocheforet an
swered simply.
*And?"
''It would be bad for every one"
clio, ho!" said softly, lookin,
hard, first at my old prisoner, and the1
at my new one. "Then, what do 70,
wish me to do?"
Leave him here,' NJ. de Cochefore
answered glibly, his face flushed, tn
pulse in his cheek beating. ha
known him for man of perfect homo
before, and trusted him. But thi
evident earnest anxiety on behalf Q
his friend touched me. Besides,
knew that was treading on slipper
ground; that it behove me to be care
full. II will do it," said, after me
ment's reflection. "He will play m
no tricks, I suppose? A letter OPP
"Mon Dieu, no! He will under
stand" Cocheforet answered eagerly
"You will not repent it, I swear
Let us be going"
"Well-but my horse?" I said, some
what taken aback by this extrem
haste.
"We shall overtake it," he reptile
urgently. 1T will have kept to tn
road. Lectoure is no more than
league from here, and We can give OF
ders there to have these two fetche
in and buried"
had nothing to gain by demurrin
and so it was arranged. After that "
did not linger. We picked up whe
we had dropped, M. de Cochefort
mounted his sister and within fiv
minutes we were gone. Casting
glance back from the skirts of tn
wood, as we entered it, l fancied ths
saw the masked man straighten hin
self and turn to look after us; but til
leaves were beginning to intervene
the distance was great and perhar
cheated me. And yet was not di.
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