The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-12-20

the man stumbled hastily forward
down the dark, narrow street, every
now and then casting frightened
look behind him. The streets Of Paris
were not a pleasant or a safe place for
gentlemen of the court just then, and
Comte de Labour shuddered and
quickened his steps dis a hoarse, sui
len roar rose IN the distance. roar
which be knew too well meant that
the sans -culottes had found another
victim.
At the end Of the street he stopped
before a little door set in q high wall,
and opened it with a key he held in
lhls hand. sprnging inside, he quick
~ relocked the door and for 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 a brillIantly-lighted room.
Two persons were in the room,
woman and a man. The woman was
about 25 and striklngly 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 countenanee and a COM
mandlng figure.
He turned on the comte as the lat
Ter entered, q 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
Hooks frightened"
Her companion laughed disdainful-
II and a flush burned the check 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 viii. | know that you
got passports. / know that you have
deceived me always, but"
eBahv 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 a
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
terly craven he was.
As he wandered on a sudden clamor
broke on his ears he heard a man
calling loudly for help while the fierce
cries which answered him and the
clash II weapons told him that the
nights foul work Vas not yet com
plete.
His first impulse was flight. bul
rage at himself swept over him, and
drawing his sword. he ran In the di
rection Of the sounds. A turn in the
street brought him to the scene. Al
elderly man IN court costume waE
standing before a broken-down car
rIage, defending himself against thl
attacks Of six men. three Of whom
were armed with swords while thl
other three had pixies which the.
thrust savagely at the legs Of the car
Fiage defender.
De Labour felt himself suddeni.
aglow with courage he ran forward
ealling to the men TO turn, but befor
he reached the place the end hal
come. One OF the pike men spran
III upon the nobleman. who promptl
ran him through, but before he coul
disengage his rapier one Of the swords
.men had pinned him to the wall With
fierce thrust
Paving no attention 70 de Lahoul
the five men wrenched open the cal
riage door and dragged forth youn
girl who apparently was unconscious
The scene had passed so quickl
that the girl was on the ground b
fore de Labour reached the spo
with a shout he ran blindly at tn
man nearest him and thrust hiI
through.
The man fell without sound. bu
as be did so the weight Of his bod
snapped the rapler on near th
handle. De Labouf hurled the useles
weapon into the face Of the pikema
who was rushing al him. and snatche
up the sword which had fallen froI
The hand Of the dead nobleman.
As ho turned three Of the ruflan
rushed at him together. The remain
Ing man had had one Of his eve
Knocked out by the broken rapler an