The Virginia enterprise., 1908-08-28

The man stumbled hastily forward
down the dark. narrow street. every
now and then casting a frightened
look behind him. The streets of Paris
were not a pleasant or 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 we'll meant that
the sans-culottes had found another
victim.
At the end of the street he stopped
before little door set in high wall,
and opened it with key he held in
his hand. Springing inside, he quick
ly 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 q bitter curse at himself, he
followed the passage to its end, where
he unlocked another door and stepped
into brilliantly-lighted room.
Two persons were in the room. q
woman and a man. The woman was
about rs 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 certain hardness. Her
companion was an elderly man.
dressed in court costume, of q stern.
handsome cOuntenance and a 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-
ly and a hush burned the cheek of de
Labour.
Lucille" he cried, imploringly,
F'they have burned my house and are
looking for me to kill me. You can
save me II you will. 1 know that you
AOt Q006pOA l A1lOW LuaS yOu nave
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
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 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 flight, 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
1iage. defending himself against the
attacks OF six men. three of whom
were armed with swords while the
other three had pixies which they
thrust savagely at the legs of the car.
riage defender.
De Labour felt himself suddenly
aglow with courage. He ran forward.
calling to the men to turn. but before
he reached the place the end had
come. One of the pike men sprang
in upon the nobleman, who promptly
ran him through, but before he could
dtsengage his rapier one of the swords
mea had pinned him to the wall with a
fierce thrust.
Paying no attention to de Labour
the five men wrenched open the car
riage door and dragged forth young
girl who apparently was unconscious
The scene had passed so quickly
that the girl was on the ground be-