The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-31
By ROBERT BARR

draw her still nearer, braced back, re-
sisting Their appeal She spoke IN
"Pleaser' she said. I rest secure in
the courtesy and chivalry Of De Car
| The young mans left hand swung
! down to his side with a certain pendu-
! lum-like helDlessness. His right he
drew across his brow, as il in perDIex-
| ity. The girl stood free. watching him
! intently.
with new hesitancy in his speech.
where have I heard those words be-
! Why" she said. don't YOU remem-
| mythical nun to the mythical De Car
dillac.
What num-"
THE nun Of Francois story. It made
an impression on my mind. Did it not
Francois? Francois? All. that was
the horseman. But I did not harm the
mo, Of course you did not Mon
sieur. what is wrong with your You
speak strangely. as If you were talking
In your sleep"
Cardillac laughed a little.
Il am asleep. or dizzy I have had
no sleep fer weeks, 1 think I don't
know how .ong. L am rather tired"
lmpulsiveiy she stepped forward He
swayed rs though he would fall and
held himself erect by visible effort.
drawing his hand again and again
! across his brow as II to brush away
6ewiiderment. She grasped him by the
lett arm, but he WINGED. and spoke ir-
Don't do that" he said.
Turn round into the moonlight" she
commanded Il want 10 see your face,
He leaned back against his patjent
horse. throwing the right arm over the
animals neck The girl gave q little
cry Of dismay as she saw the CHASTITY
! Hgr
moonlight now upon it, She felt warm
moisture on her hand and looking AT
| her hlger-ups saw them red with blood.
y GU are wounded she cried
"Oh, II is nOthing-nothing at all he
answered impauently, but a sword
thrust through the arm. 1t would have
been a.! right hut for my coming care
lessly down the rope from the convent.
I was showing of. because YOU were
there. I burst the bandages' and re
opened the wound
Who wounded you, and why?"
1t IS Of no Importance. I tell YOU.
The DC de Montreuil ran his sword
tnrOu gh my arm-that is all"
The due de MontreulI?"
Yes"
But why. why why?"
Don't reiterate a silly word like that.
Why do you ask so many questions?
curiosity IS the bane Of woman Keen
, quiet. and let ne gather my Wits
He was Breathing hard Shining SLOW
~ down along the horses neck hanging
on his OverreachiDg right arm. hut
while his plight brought deep sympathy,
10 the girls eyes. her lips again de
mandcd.
Why Why did the Due de Mon
Because-because 7 attacked him. I
tried % assassinate him.
The right arm loOsed its hold. and
Gardiiac fell prone upon the ground
The horse started back I'm fright and
/ the girl gaZed down upon his white
face
Saints ct saintes,'' she cried. from
bling. In what a web OF faIsehood am
l involved Who is this man NV faith
er friend on my fathers murderer Nv
( fathers friend, ds the horsemau said
ana as Cardiac COntended. or HIS vile
ASSASSIN, as he has himself admitted n
moment since Where IS my father? A
: victim 10 this mans treacherv. or sa p
az LocheSE i shall go TO Loches. instead
or 10 Blois- But no. that is impossible
LoChes IS eighteen leagues away and
BlOlS but six II anything has happeu-
ed 20 my father I shall learn that at
E!ois. and there my duty calls me to
She turned her face to the west and
TOOK a step in that direction. but
paU sed again.
or. what is the truth? What is the
UutEE He seemed honest and brave
yes, and kind. 4 lad like him cannot
bear murder in his heart. and vet his
/ own Words-and that wound in his arm.
wy AfAilbi = oMiiu4 IleQ 10 assassin
ate himi DeliriUm has its madness as
well as its truth
What am 7 20 do? II I leave him
/ here. It Is death by exhaustion. or
death by execution. and il ne should be
[ my fathers friend after all, and my
father safe In LOChs-hOw am TO de-
cider My duty Is 10 the queen: 60 plan
1 her escape and aid her. vet I stand
/ here hcSitatinE. why have I allowed
I this man 20 come between me and my
| duty-tO bring this hesitation, which
/ IL any case, guilty or innocent. what
/ is the death Of Oae man to the fate Of
! a dynasty2 To Blois. OF course; there
/ Is no second choice"
This time she took FIVE steps reso-
lutcly toward BlOiS. faltered and looked
/ back. The horse had moved forward
/ had bent its head aTectiouately over
/ its master. snOrting with alarm at the
/ warm scent OF blood.
THAT dumb brute Is more mercifui
| than I. Cardillac guided me safely
( lance with patience Thinking me
servile, he called me a lady. Here,
] alone. and in his power, at my
/ slightest command he reiterated from
me. one who was vile would not
| have done that, and all the while in
pain and leSscning strength, no word
| of complaint from his lips. a smile
/ instead Of frown; and his last
conscious words were used TO per
| suade a woman to allow him. reckless
/ OF his own safetE, to ward of danger
from her, while she tainted him
| about money! vsCh woman TO a son
| Of poverty. he admitted himself to
y be. Merciful hea zen, what am = to
hold myself aloof from so great