Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-06-24

the road, his mustache dropping dis
mally.
o turn will come" I urged. "Or,
II not yours. mine-of that / am GER
tain"
Yes" ne agreed, with a growl, II
will yet get my hands on him, and
when / do, he will have to reason To re-
member 1t. Adieu, citizen" he added.
My compliments to the lady. Come,
my children, march," and he and his
soldiers set off toward Tours. bearing
their dead with them.
watched them for a few moments
with something like regret. After ali
Duposq had spoken truly. l had seen
little or the world, and he a offered
me a chance to see more, in gallant
company. l could not but admit that
ne would have made an admirable
guide and companion. If his cockade
had only been white! But even Their I
could not have followed him. For l
was not free-another duty Law before
me. Would I ever be free, / wondered
tree TO march away whittier / listed, to
live a mans life and grow to mans
stature? Or would | always be tied to
some woman's petticoat, imprisoned in
a petty round of daily duties, as were
SO many men? Was /, on this journey,
simply exchanging one petticoat for
another?
with such thoughts for ~mpanio
surely, less pleasant than Dubosu!-
l turned my face again to the south,
gloomily enough, and strobe along with
such speed as my legs could
L am not fond OF foot exercise, and IL
was not at a. In this ridiculous fashion
that | had thought to make the Journey
TO Poitiers. Besides, there was need
that my entry into that city should be
made with a certain dignity, and I
knew well that the whole contents of
my purse would not purchase q new
morse, to say nothing of a new equip
ment.
That's Triboulet," he said. "A fine
fellow"
Yes" 1 agreed. And his wife"
My captor smacked his lips.
She made o an omelet 2"
The best | ever ate"
She is famous for that" he said, and
locke at me again, pulling pensively at
his mustache.
Come, citizen" he added. and this
time he actually smiled, az: IS evident
that you are not the game l am after"
/ should hope So" 1 agreed.
/ am looking for q wolf. not for a
mousse
AT least 1 am not a WOLF" 1 con-
ceded
"Old Dubosq has seen too much of
the world to be mistaken in a matter
so clear as this" he continued, throw
ing out his chest. "A conspiracy? Bah!
You don't know it's meaning. You're too
pink and white-too much Of the nur-
sery-its odor clings to you! Why. in
rant you've never before been away
from your mother!"
1 flushed, and he burst into a roar
Of laughter as he saw my face.
"A hit" he cried. "Ah, citizen,
would l could blush like that! But
Tor Dubosq that day is past and far
away. Come, my friend, all you need
Is q little knowledge of the world to
be a perfect devil with the ladies. Join
my troop and let Dubosq finish you.
polish you, give you the true air.
Come; 1t shall be my revenge"
Your r~evenge?"
Against the women. They have
made me suffer and have laughed A
month ago, l won my promotion. but
a petticoat interviewed, and the reward
winch should nave been mine passed
10 another. Some day L will tell YOU"
A shout from his men interrupted
him.
We sprang TO our feet and saw, lust
topping the rise in the road. another
rider. He drew short up at the shout
and at sight Of the guard barring his
passage. Then he wheeled around as
though to retreat, but again stopped.
Dubosq chuckled.
Caught" he cried.
But why doesn't he go back?a I
asked.
Because. my child, there's another
detachment across the road down
yonder, as you would have seen had
you looked around" He drew a pistol
from his belt and fired 1t I'm the air.
That will bring them on he added.
NOW, citizen, you will see the tran
trap of Sergeant DubosQ.
Advance, men! Bring him down If he
attempts to escape"
The Blues began to advance slowly,
their guns presented.
Hold your horse, Citizen said Du-
bosq, land wait here for me. have
more to say to YOU and he
set off after his men.
The fugitive looked about him again.
lie was Iairiy caught between two
fires. In a moment, he must surrender,
by 20 muskets. But he did
wait for that moment. Instead, he
put his horse at the ditch, leaped 1t
and made off across the fields.
"Fire!" yelled Dubosq. "Fire!"
A volley of shots rang out, echoed
by another from behind the knoll,
and my heart reioiced as l saw the
fugitive keep on unframed. But only
for an instant. His horse bounded
twice, then staggered and fell head
long.
The Blues gave a yell of triumph,
leaped the ditch and started after
their quarry, spreading fan-wise SO
he could not escape. But he
sprang from the saddle ever as his
horse fell, and ran with surprising
speed toward d cluster Of trees just
ahead. In a moment he had disap-
peared among them.
Continued Next Weekly