Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-12-20
@THE~
REFUGEES.
By A. CONAN DOYLE.
Author of The Return OF Sherlock Hdues-
cePYRlGHT. 1898. BY HARPER & BRornrRs
By A. CONAN DOYLE



victim, but was half turned ever his
shoulder to confront a group Of sol
diers who were clustering at the long
open window which opened cut into
the balcony.
Suddenly the crowd gave a yroan OF
excitement. The young man had re-
leased his grip upon me Of the ankles.
a the dragon hung now by enc Onlt
his other leg tapping helplessly in Ia.
air.
Pull me up. son Of the devil, pull
me up he screamed. Would you
murder me. then? Help, good people,
help
do you want to come up. captain?'
said the strong, clear voice of the
young man above him, speaking ex.
cellent French.
Eyes, sacred name of God, yes!"
"Order OF your men, then"
Away, you dolts, you imbeciles. DO
you wish to see me dashed to pieces?
Away, | say! on with you!"
That Is better" said the youth when
the soldiers had vanished from the
window. He gave a tug at the dra-
goon's leg as he spoke. which jerked
him up SO far that he could twist
round and catch hold of the lower edge
Of the balcony. "How do you find
yourself now7" he asked.
"Let me up, sir: let me upr'
"All in good time. l fear that 1t Is
"inconvenient to you to talk with your
heels in the air. | am going to pull
you up, but only Oh conditions"
"Oh, they are granted! | am slip
ping!'
"You will leave this house-you and
your men. You will not trouble this
old man or this young girl any further.
Do you promiseT'
ooh, yes; we shall go! Only pull me
up!'
Not so fast. 1t may be easier to
talk to you like this. | do not know
how the laws are over here. Maybe
this sort of thing is not permitted. You
will promise M that | shall have no
trouble yer the matter"
"None. none Only pull me up"
"Very good. Come along"
He dragged at the dragoon's leg.
while the other gripped his way up the
balustrade until amid a buzz of con
graduation from the crowd he tumbled
all in a heap over the rail on to the
balcony, where he lay for a few mo-
ments as he had fallen. Then, stag
gering to his feet, without a glance at
his opponent, he rushed with a below
Of rage through the open window.
While this little drama had been en-
acted overhead the young guardsman
had shaken off his first stupor of
arfazement and had pushed his way
through the crowd with such vigor
that be and his companion had nearly
reached the bottom of the steps. The
uniform Of the kings guard was in it
self a passport anywhere, and the face
Of old Catinat was so well known In
the district that every one drew back
to clear a path for him toward his
house. The dOor was flung open for
them, and an old servant stood wiring
ing his hands In the dark passage.
"Oh, master! Oh, master!" he cried.
"Such doings! Such infamy!' e
As he spoke a clatter and shouting
which had burst u again upstairs
ended suddenly in a tremendous crash,
with volleys Of oaths and a prolonged
humping and smashing, which shook
the old house to its foundations. The
soldier and the Huguenot rushed swift
" up the first flight Of stairs and were
about to ascend the second one, from
the head of which the uproar seemed
to proceed, when four men, SO locked
together that they formed but one roll
ing bundle, came thudding down amid
q debris of splintered stair rails and
writhed and struggled upon the land
Ing, staggering up, falling down, and
all breathing together like the wind In
a chimney. SO twisted and twined
were they that it was hard to pick one
was clad In black Flemish cloth, while
the three who chung to him were sol
diers Of the king. Yet so strong and
vigorous was the man whom they tried
to hold that as often as he could find
his feet he dragged them after him
from end to end of the passage, as a
boar might pull the curs which had
fastened on to his launches. An Off
Ger, who had rushed down at the heels
of the brawlers, thrust his hands in to
catch the civilian by the throat. but
he whipped them back again with an
oath as the mans strong white teeth
met In his left thumb. Clapping the
wound to his mouth, he flashed out his
sword and was about to drive it
through the body of his unarmed OPP
ponent when De Catinat sprang for
ward and caught him by the wrist.
"You villain, Dalbertv' he cried.
The sudden appearance OF one of the
kings W bodyguard had a magic
effect upon the brawlers. Dalbert
sprang back, with his thumb still in his
mouth and his sword dropping, scowl-
Ing darkly at the newcomer. His
troopers had released their victim and
stood painting ! n a line, while the young
man leaned against the wall, brushing
the dust from his black coat.
II had a little account to settle with
you before, Dalbert," said De Catinat.
~unsheathing his rapier. Your sword.
sir"
Az ... IA -~