Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-01-07

The man stumbled hastiiy forWsTo
down the dark, narrow street. every
now and then casting frightened
look behind him. The streets OF Paris
were not pleasant or safe place for
gentlemen Of the court just then, and
Comte de Labour shuddered ana
Quickened his steps ~ . hoarse. sui
len roar rose in the distance. . roar
which he knew too well meant that
the sans-culottcs had found another
victim.
At the end Of the street he stopped
before . little door Get In . high wall.
and opened II with . key he held In
his hand. Springing inside. he quick
Iy 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
q noble and historic house. realized
what he wss-a coward.
With q bitter curse 1t himself. No
followed the passage to its end. where
he unlocked another door and stepped
into q briiliantiy-lighted room.
Two persons were In the room.
woman and 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
Communion was an elderly man,
dressed In court costume. OF n stern.
handsome countenance and com
handing figure.
lie turned on the comte rs the lat
ter entered. frowning look OF inter
rogatory. but remained silent. The
woman was the first TO break the
silence.
what IL the matter with my PipiT
she said In n mocking tone. He
looks frightened"
Her companion laughed disdainful-
IL and a flush burned the cheek OF de
Labour.
Lucille" he cried. imploringiy.
they have burned my house and are
looking for me TO kill me. You can
save me n 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
madeu,oiselle. let us not waste time
on this cur. My carriage waits"
The woman took the profered arm
and with a disdainfui smile over her
shoulder at de Labour swept out oil
the room.
The comte remained standing for a
moment overwhelmed with futile
rage. Then. with wild cry OF de-
spair. he rushed back into the pas
sage and out Into the street. He had
known that he was n coward. bu:
never before had he known how ut
terly craven he was.
As he wandered on n sudden clamof
broke on his ears. He heard a 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 Night. 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-dovn car
rage. defending himself against the
attacks OF six men. three Of whom
were armed with swords while the
other three had pixies which they
thrust ssyageiy at the legs OF the car
rage defender.
DE I.abour felt himself suddenly
agiow with courage. He ran forward
calling to the men to turn. but before
he reached the place the end Lss
come. One OF the pike men Spranf
In upon the nobleman. who pronptl,
ran him through. but before he coul'
disengage his napier one OF the swords
sen had pinned him to the wall with
fierce thrust
Paying no attention TO de Labour
the Ave men wrcnched open the car
riage door and dragged forth q ycunl
girl who apparently was unconscious
The scene had passed 10 quickly
that the girl was on the ground be
fore de Labour reached the spot
With a shout he ran blindly at th'
man nearest him and thrust hin
through.
The man fell without q sound. bu
a he did 90 the weight Of his bod
snapped the rapier on near tn
handle. De Labour hurled the useless
weapon into the face OF the pikema'
VII, was rushing At him. and snstche'
up the sword which had fallen iron
the hand OF the dead nobleman-
| A he turned three Of the ruiian
rushed ct him together. The remain
Ing man had had one Of bis eye
knocked out by the broken rapier ~