The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-02-05
CHAPTER X.
1--WE Shall Have to Eat Red Meat
Now"

two centuries old, perhaps old
err. Under its signboard over
~ the threshold man with a
Grabbed looking face was standing,
seemingly plunged in unpleasant
thought If the wrinkles on his fore
head and the knitting of his brows
were any indication.
When Rouletabille and / were close to
him he deigned to see us and asked us
in tone anything but engaging wheth-
er we wanted anything He was no
doubt the not very amiable landlord of
this charming dwelling place. AS we
expressed q hope that he would be
good enough TO furnish us with a
breakfast, he assured us that he had
no provisions.
"You may take us in," Rouletabille
said to him. I'VE are not policemen"
'I'm not afraid Of the police. Tin
not afraid of any one" replied the
man.
had made my friend understand by
sign that we should do better not to
insist; but, being determined to enter
the inn, he slipped by the man on the
doorstep and was in the common room.
"Come on" he said. cit IS very com.
Portable here"
A good fire was blazing in the chin.
ney, and we held our hands TO the
warmth it sent out. 1t was morning
In which the approach of winter was
nnmistakable The room was a toler-
ably large one, furnished With two
heavy tables. some stools, counter
decorated with rows OF bottles of sirur
and alcohol.
That's Il fine fire for roasting
chicken" said Rouletabille.
"We have no chicken, not even
wretched rabbit" said the landlord.
81 know" said my friend slowly
know. We shall have to eat red meat
now"
81 confess l did not in the least I'M
derstand what Roulctabille meant by
what he had said, but the landlord as
soon as he heard the words uttered an
oath, which he at once stihed, and
placed himself at our orders as ODE
diently as NJ. Robert Darzac had done
when he heard Rouletabilles mysteri-
our. sentence, 1.-THE presbytery has lost
nothing of It's charm nor the garden It's
brightness"
A The man pushed omen a little side
,9oor and called to somebody to bring
him half dozen eggs and a piece Of
peefsbnk. The commission was quick.
~ executed by strongly built young
woman with beautiful blond hair and
sarge, handsome eyes, who regarded US
with curiosity.
The innkeeper said to her roughly:
"Get out, and If the Green Man comes
don't let me see himw
She disappeared. Rouletabille took
the eggs, which had been brought to
him In a bowl, and the meat, which
was on dish. placed all carefully be-
side him in the chimney, unlocked a
frying pan and a gridiron and began
to beat up our omelet before proceed
ing to grill our beefsteak. He then or
dered two bottles of cider and seemed
to take rs little notice Of our host as
our host did of him. The landlord let
us do our own cooking and set our
table near one of the windows.
Suddenly heard him mutter:
"Ah, there he is!"
His face had changed, expressing
fierce hatred. He went and glued him
self to one, of the windows, watching
the road. There was no need for me
to draw Rouletabille's attention. He
had already left our omelet and had
joined the landlord at the window. |
went with him.
A man dressed entirely in green vel |
vet, his head covered with hunts
mans cap of the same color, was adj |
vancing leisurely, lighting a pipe as he
walked. He carried n fowling piece
slung at his back. His movements
displayed an almost aristocratic ease
He were eyeglasses and appeared to
he about five and forty years Of age.
His hair as well as his mustache were
salt gray. He was remarkably hand
some AS he passed near the inn he
hesitated, as If asking himself whether
or no he should enter it, gave a glance
toward us. took a few whiffs at his
pipe and then resumed his walk at the
same nonchalant pace.
Rouletabille~ and looked at our host.
His flashing eyes, his clinched hands,
his trembling lips, told us of his tu-
multuous feelings.
"IIe has done well not to come in
here today" he Kissed.
"Who is that man?" asked Rouleta-
bile, returning to his omelette.
"The Green Man." growled the inn
keeper. Don't you know him? Then
all the better for you. He is not an
acquaintance TO make. Well, he is NJ.
forest keeper"
"You don't appear TO like him very
much?" asked the reporter, pouring
his omelet into the frying pan.
Nobody likes him, monsieur. He's
an upstart, who must once have had -
fortune Of his own, and he forgivcs
nobody because in order to live he
has been compelled TO become q serv.
ant. A keeper is as much servant
as any other, isn't he? Upon my
word. one would say that he Is IL u