The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-05-06

with heroic resolution. I'm your
man. How much?"
How much?" repeated the mayor,
in astonishment.
YES" returned the victim; Il
want to know what the commune
will pay. You don't expect me to go
and get shot for nothing. do your"
The councillors, completely taken
aback by this view of the situation,
looked at one another helplessly.
81 am sure" said the mayor, re-
covering his presence of mind with
an effort, that any last wish of
yours"
Bother my last wishesl" inter-
rupted Pere Martin callously. 81
don't care two sous about that.
haven't had a good meal for an age,
and | want one now"
"You shall have it," replied the
mayor, with alacrity.
THE best dinner to be got in
Fouilly?" the veteran went on.
"Of course; of course"
None of your cabbage soup and
horse-meat and piquette," Pere Mar
tin continued; "but good fat bowl,
and all that sort of thing. And I'll
take five hundred francs as well. 1t
will do me good to feel the money
in my pocket"
The mayor was about to protest
against Pere Martins increasing de-
mands, when the adjoint whispered
that they could easily get the five
hundred francs back when the exc
cution was over.
The bargain was struck, and the
party set out for the inn, the coun-
cilors keeping sharp watch on Pere
Martin in case he should change bis
mind and take to his heels. No such
idea, however, seemed to enter his
head. For man in his position he
was singularly cheerful His pipe
being empty, he borrowed the ad.
joints paper of tobacco and kept it.
/ At the inn he gave minute directions
for the promised banquet, took a
hand at manille while the food was
being prepared, and ate it with a
gusto.
! One o'clock struck before the guest
Of the evening rose from the table
and announced that he could eat nc
more, and that he was ready for the
five hundred francs. The mayor
who had hoped that the dinner would
efface this part of the contract from
Pere Martins memory, was Obliged
to turn out into the bleak night and
fetch the money. The victim care
fully deposited it in an inner pocket
and resumed his game of cards with
the blacksmith. To hints that he
should take a nap, he replied with
scorn.
AT o'clock the mayor, who had
furtively consulted his watch several
times behind Pere Martins back,
stopped the game
I'VE have had pleasant evening"
he said blandly, "and | should be
sorry to disturb anyone. but it will
be light in half an hour and perhaps
We had better be going, if Pere Mar
/ tin doesn't find it inconvenient."
The Prussian camp lay fully a
mile beyond Pere Martins hut, and
the way seemed painfully long to
everyone but the heroic man himself
The cold air seemed to have got in
to his legs, but he walked bravely on
shouting the "MarseilIaise" at the
top of his voice, and urging the 9th
ers to give it tongue"
! For goodness sake, stop his
noise!" whispered the schoolmaster
as they quilted the shelter of the for
est and began to strike across the
open fields toward the enemy's lines
The sentries will fire on us. Some
one must go forward with the white
flag while we stay here"
The party halted at once. The ad
joint, much against his will, was
sent ahead with a handkerchief tied
to a stick. In the gathered light
they saw him disappear over the
brow of the hill in front of them
Pere Martin sat down in the snow
and put his head on his knees. His
stentorious breathing alone broke
the silence.
| Five minutes passed without any
sign from the enemy. Five minutes
more, and the adjoint reappeared in
view-alone. AS he drew near, the
anxious villagers saw that his face
wore look of blank amazement.
| Aren't the Prussians coming?'
asked the mayor.
They're gone!" was the reply.
"What?"
Gone! Not a sign of them any
where!"
And so it was. The German,
threatened by large French force
had retreated, without waiting to ex
act the price of blood from FouiIly
les-Oies.
The mayor turned to Pere Martin
in righteous wrath.
The scapegoat looked UP sleepily
That was a good dinner" he said
George A. Raper.