Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-07-05
Whose orders?" retorted.

enough lHdl we medu " sSo yOu Oos
of the country, and out Of harms way"
But if l will not go?" I cried.
Monsieur will 60" he answered
coolly. There are no strangers In
the village to-day" he added, with a
significant smile.
do you mean to kidnap me?" | re-
piled, in a rage. Behind the rage was
something-I will not call it terror,
for the brave feel no terror-but 1t
was akin to it. / had had to do with
rough men all my life, but there was
a grimness and turbulence in the as
pect of these three that shook me.
When 1 thought of the dark paths and
narrow lanes and cliff-sides we must
traverse, whichever road we took, l
trembled.
"Kidnap you, Monsieur" he an
swered, with an everyday air. THAT
is as you please to call it. One thing
is certain, however," he continued,
maliciously touching an arquebuss
which he had produced and set up
right against a chair while | was at
the door; "if you attempt the slight
est resistance, we shall know how to
put an end to it, either here or on the
road"
l drew a deep breath. The very i'm
minence of the danger restored me to
the use of my faculties. | changed my
tone and laughed aloud. 80 that is
your plan, is it," l said. "The sooner
we start the better, then. And the
sooner l see Auch and your back
turned, the more | shall be pleased"
He rose. after you, Monsieur" he
said.
could not restrain a slight shiver.
His newborn politeness alarmed me
more than his threats. l knew the a
, and his ways, and I was sure that it
t BODIED i'll for me.
But I had no pistols, and only my
sword and knife, and l knew that re-
: sistance at this point must be worse
4! than vain. l went out jauntily, there
. fore, the landlord coming after me with
e my saddle and bags.
The street was empty save for the
S two waiting horsemen who sat in
: their saddles looking doggedly before
g them. The sun had not yet risen, the
t air was raw. The sky was gray, cloudy
{ and cold. My thoughts few back to the
Y morning on which l had found the
S sachet-at that very spot, almost at
y that very hour; and for a moment ]
grew warm again at the thought OF
n the little packet I carried in my boot
But the landlords dry manner, the sui.
n len silence Of his two companions
d whose eyes steadily refused to meet
l. mine, chilled me again. For an instant
l.; the impulse to refuse to mount, to re.
e fuse to go, was almost irresistible;
It then, knowing the madness of such 6
y course, which might and probably
1t would, give the men the chance they
desired, l crushed it down and wen
lie slowly to my stirrup.
u Il wonder O do not want m,
. sword" I said by way of sarcasm, al
I swung myself up.
" 1--WE are not afraid of it," the inn
ID keeper answered gravely. "You ma.
/; keep it-for the present"
Ia made no answer-what answer hal
er I to make?-and we rode at a foot
Id pace down the street; he and I leading
er Clon and the shock-headed man bring
ing up the rear. The leisurely mode c
our departure, the absence of hurry Q
re even haste, the mems indifference
ID, whether they were seen, or what Wa
thought, all served to sink my spirit.
and deepen my sense of peril. I feI
+. that they suspected me, that they NOR
~ than half guessed the nature of m
ut errand at Cocheforet, and that the
were not minded to be bound by mac
IL emoiselle's orders. In particular | aus
nd erd the worst from Clon's appearance,
.; His lean malevolent face and sunke
Sc. eyes, his very dumbness chilled m,
IN Mercy had no place there.
CT We rode soberly, so hat nearly ha
NY an hour elapsed before We gained tt
vi brow from which | had taken my fir
ny look at C%ocheforet. Among the diva
Ss' oaks whence I had viewed the vail,
" we paused to breathe our horses al
I" the strange feelings with which
eli looked back on the scene may
imagined. But I had short time f
ne %indulging in sentiment or recolle
7 l tions. A curt word and we were mo
ing again.
nd A quarter of a mile farther on II
re- road to Auch dipped into the vale
go When We were already half. way dov
'as this descent the inn-keeper sudden
tel stretched out his hand and caught Il
r a rein. This way!" he said.
mo | saw he would have me turn into
by-path leading south-westwards-
MT. mere track, faint and little trodden a.
ore e%ncroached on by trees, which LED
lad knew not whittier. checked my hor'
lot "Why| | said rebelliously. DO y
NO think do not know the road? tt
cup is the way to Auch."
art. "To Auch-yes," he answered blul
lell ly. But we are not going to Aucl
Are whittier then?' ! said angrily.
:" "You will see presently" he repli,
n with an ugly smile.
Yes, but I will know now!" I
the torted, passion getting the better
OF me. II have come sc far with "
.ich You will find it more easy to take
GUS farther. if you will tel, me your plan
no "You are a fool!" he cried, with
snarl.
mot So" answered. 81 ask only
!" | know whittier l am going"
UGH Unto SPAIN" he said. "W!I II
satisfy you?"
ed, "And what will you do with
ler- there?" 7 asked. my heart giving
IN orao+ hound