The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-12-21

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look behind him. The streets Of Paris
were not pleasant or a safe place for
gentlemen OF the court just then, and
Comte de Labour shuddered and
quickened his steps as a hoarse, sui
len roar rose in the distance. roar
which he knew too well meant that
the sans-culottes had found another
victim
Al the end OF the street he stopped
before little door set in a high wall
and opened 1t with key he held in
his hand. Sprlnging inside, he quick
" relocked the door, and for a mo-
ment leaned painting against the wall
Of the passage he had entered. In
that moment this, the last survivor Of
a noble and historic house, realized
what he was-a coward
With a bitter curse at himself he
followed the passage to It's end. where
he unlocked another door and stepped
into brilliantly-lighted room
Two persons were in the room, a
woman ana man. The woman was
about 25 and strikingly beautiful The
long cloak which she wore scarcely
concealed the lines OF her graceful
figure. but the beauty of her face was
marred by a certain hardness. Her
companion was an elderly man,
dressed In court costume, Of stern,
handsome countenance and com
manding figure.
He turned on the comte as the lat
ter entered, frowning look Of inter
rogatory, but remained silent. The
woman was the first to break the
silence
What is the matter with my Pipi?"
she said IN a mocking tone He
looks frightened
Her companion laughed disdainful-
~ and a flush burned the cheek Of de
Labour
Lucille" he cried, Imploringly.
they have burned my house and are
looking for me to kill me You can
save me If you will know that You
got passports. know that you have
deceived me always, but
BAH" broke In the elderly man
with an angry contempt Come.
mademoiselle, let us not waste time
on this cur. My carriage waits"
The woman took the proffered arm
and with a disdainful smile over her
shoulder at de Labour swept out Of
the room
The comte remained standing for
moment overwhelmed with a futile
rage. Then, with a wild cry Of de-
spair, he rushed back into the pas
sage and out into the street. He had
known that he was a coward, but
never before had he known how ut |
terIy craven he was.
As he wandered on a sudden clamor
broke on his ears. He heard man
calling loudly for help while the fierce
cries which answered him and the
clash Of weapons told him that the
nights foul work was not yet com
plete.
His first impulse was fight, but
rage at himself swept over him, and,
drawing his sword, he ran in the d.
rection Of the sounds. A turn in the
street brought him to the scene. An
elderly man In court costume was
standing before a broken-down car
riage, defending himself against the
attacks Of six men, three Of whom
we're armed with swords while the
other three had pixies which they
thrust sayagely at the legs of the car
rage defender.
De Labour felt himself suddenly
aglow with courage lie ran forward,
FALLING to the men to turn. but before
le reached the place the end had
some. One of the pike men spraag
n upon the nobleman, who promptly
an him through, but before he could
lsengage his rapier one Of the swords
men had pinned him to the wall with e.
ierce thrust
Paying no attention to de Labour,
he five men wrenched open the car
iage door aud dragged forth a young
.irl who apparently was unconscious.
The scene had passed so quickly
hat the girl was on the ground be-
ore de Labour reached the spot
With a shout he ran blindly at the
ian nearest him and thrust him
trough.
The man fell without a sound. but =
s. he did so the weight Of his body
mapped the rapier off near the
andle De fabOur hurled the useless
eapon into the face Of the pikeman
no was rushing at him, and snatched
p the sword which had fallen from L
le hand Of the dead nobleman.
AS he turned three of the rufHans 81
Ished at him together. The remain "a
g man had had one Of his eyes N
1ocked out bv the broken rainier and c'