The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-28

aLBhted from third-class carriage AT
the little station. They walked straight
TO their modest lodgings, and then Toni
went to seek Paul His leave was not
up by several hours, so he need not re-
port az once. He found Paul at the head
quarters building in a little room where
he worked alone. When Toni came in
and shut the door carefully bebind
him, Paul whirled around in his
chair, expecting TO see a radiant
rapturous Toni Instead Of that Toni
dropped the mask which he had
worn before Denise and looked at Paul
/ with a pair Of eyes so distressed. so
haunted. so anxious. that Paul knew in a
moment something had happened.
We'll, Toni he began, and then asked.
What is the natter"
Toni. instead OF standing at attention.
leaned heavily against the desk-his legs
could hardly support him.
The day I was married" he said.
when Denise and got in the railway
carriage TO go to Paris. Nicolas and
Pierre got in. too"
Pauls rudy. frank. and smiling face
grew pale as Toni said these words. They
might mean for him. as well as for Toni.
decree Of doom. and. ike Toni. he was
so happy that the thought he should be
torn away from it all seemed more than
cruel
And what did they say and dor he
inquired. after painful pause.
Ihey were very insulting at first 10
/ Denise, but told her not 10 notice
them and they wanted TO shake hands
I with me, but refused"
! Did you?" cried Paul. in arnazamAnf
Is II possible that you didn't act Ike q
! a poitroon and shake hands with them
and do whatever they asked you 10 do?"
This was no sarcasm on Paurs part.
but plain expression OF what he er-
pected Toni would do. and Toni was not
/ = AZ offended at this imputation on his
/ courage and good sense.
! Yes he said. Il acted the man with
them / never did it before. but I did
more than Jhat-I called the guard. who
made them go into another carriage"
/ Paul gazed at Toni in wide-eyed sur
! prise. Here was the most astonishing
/ thing that ever happened-Toni actually
showing a little courage with these men.
/ ! can hardly believe Il is you. Toni.
standing before me. II you had shown the
same spirit all the time, you would not
now live in dread about that DeIorme
affair"
Perhaps not" sighed poor Toni. but
you know how I always was. Paul"
i think YOU are going 20 be something
different now replied Paul, cheerfuIly.
II was not pleasant-the thought that
these two rascals, who had promised 10
XII him as well as Toni were alive and
In Paris. but PauTs nerves were perfect.
I and he easily recovered his balance
But the thought Of 1.-THE thought OF it,''
cried Toni. opening his arms and stand
! ing up straight The knife entering nv
breast or that blow on the side OF the
( head such as they gave Count Delorme.
/ feel them and see them everywhere I
! look II I see a man walking on the
/ street he seems 10 take the shape OF
/ Nicolas or Pierre Every time 7 turn
/ corner L expect 20 see them. and there
! is Denise-and then think OF you being
! found some night or some day. dead
/ Will ii be IN the morning or in the even
I ing?-wilI II be in the summer tina or
in the autumn? land madam and the
little one Falling into a chair. Toni
broke down and cried and sobbed bitter
~ Paul put his arm around TOMS neck.
) Their two heads were close together lust
I as they had been IN the old DAYS on the
bridge at Bienvlie. He said no word 10
Toni, but the touch OF his arm was
strength and comfort. and presently Toni
/ stopped crying and grew calm again.
Never mind. Toni" said Paul, 7 think
! We can take care Of ourselves. We must
/ go armed. Il would not do any good If
I you were 70 inform on those two rascals.
( OF course they would deny it-you can't
] punish a nan for crime he hasn't COM
mitted. We shall have 10 take our
/ chances-that is all But II one Of us is
/ killed, the other one viii be safe. be
| cause then your story viii be believed"
That was not much comfort to Toni.
J who replied:
II you are killed, what VIII lie be to
me? And If am killed. think OF Denise,
and you"
! They sat 4 little while longer talking,
Paul encouraging Toni and at last raising
in him some Of the spirit which had made
! him have Nicolas and Pierre turned out
/ Of the railway carriage. Paul said that
! they were comparatively safe al Beaupre,
/ where Nicolas and Pierre would not dare
70 come. but Toni did not take this view.
/ He thought that men who had committed
one murder and had contemplated an
other for two years would not hesitate
] 10 come 10 Beaupre IN order TO fulfill
/ their purpose. The effort TO keep his
| agony from being suspected by Denise
was, however. perfectly successful
Denise suspected nothing. nor did the
sergeant nor anybody, except Paul
| Verney.