The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-11-10

forth like whirlwind. Il will show
| you how He protects them!" and he
sprang toward the cot like a wild
beast.
A blind fury seized me--a fury
maddening, uncomfortable. / saw red
literally and actually, saw red, as
| though the world had been suddenly
drenched with blood. strained at the
cords about my wrists until II cut deep
into the flesh; hurled myself toward
f, him, only to be jeYked back cruelty by
the moose about my neck. / cursed him
i TILL could curse no longer: l offered
my souPs hope to eternity for single
moments freedom.
! Then, suddenly, realized my impo-
tence; great calm fell upon me. /
stopped and looked at him. He had
left the cot and came back to me,
bringing candle with him in order to
see more clearly. and he stood there
regarding me with the air Of a con-
/ noisseur
Well, citizen" he asked, with dia-
bolical smile. have you finished? II
you care to begin again, pray do so, for
1t Is very amusing. II not, l fear
shall have to bid you adieu."
A long sigh from the cot interrupted
him; he turned with a start, holding
the candle above his head. In an in
slant l saw my chance; I drew UP my
| leg and kicked him savagely, with all
my strength, fun in the belly.
He went back and down with one
terrible yell and lay writing upon the
floor. Again tore wildly at my bonds,
but the flap Of the tent was dashed
aside and the guard rushed in.
Goujon sat upright. with an effort,
swaying from side to side
String him up!" he yelled, his lips
white with froth like mad dogs.
Hang him! Out with him this in
slant! An aristocrat and q traitor!"
| The words rose to a scream OF agony.
ooh, he has killed mel" he groaned, and
! fell forward upon his face.
God grant it," murmured "Oh,
! God grant it,"
Already their hands were upon me-
| dragging me away.
"Tavernay!" screamed voice "Tav-
ernay! oh, my love!" and turned my
head to see Charlotte starting from the
! cot her hands outstretched.
/ For an instant shook them off, then
! they closed about me and hurled me
from the tent. l fancied that death
was upon me then and there, SO merci-
less were the blows they dealt me. BY
some miracle / managed to Keep my
feet, and suddenly gigantic figure
drove itself through the crowd like a
catapult.
'.Murderers!" he shrieked. "Assas-
sins!" and / heard the blows which
sent them to right and left. What"
he continued, taking his stand before
me. You would kill defenseless
man-20 against one? What sort of
| towards are your
He is an aristocrat," broke in the
man who held my halter Citizen
GouJon has ordered that he be
hanged"
Hang him and welcome rejoined
the newcomer. But don't let me catch
you worrying him like dogs. Now off
with you!"
The voice sounded strangely familiar
In my ears. and when had shaken the
blood from my eyes, l saw that my
rescuer was DubosQ.
Many thanks. my friend" said, and
he started around, astonished. 1T
| seems you do not know me-" added
as he stared his bewilderment, land
yet 1t was only two days ago that we
met on the road from Tours"
He seized torch from the hand of n
bystander and flashed 1t into my face
MY word, citizen!" he cried. Small
wonder! You looked like BRIDE
groom, then-and now. What have
you been doing with yourself?"
II have been trying to escape beil !
murdered" I rejoined. And it seems
that am not going to escape after ALL"
"Oh, yes, you WILL" he corrected,
you shall not be murdered, will see
to that--only prett!ly executed"
There Is difference, then?" I
questioned, with irony.
"All the difference In the world" he
answered with conviction. The one IL
irregular and is apt to be bungled: II
Is done without authority and without
fmethod, and Is often needlessly pro-
longed. The other is carefully planned
and quickly carried out; all unpleas-
antness Is avoided"
1 L..
laugh. II am glad to know that"
Citizen, you surprise met" protested
Dubosq, and saw that he was in earn
est. II thought you more Of philoso-
pher. Since this is the end, why worry
about ito"
II viii try not to-" said, but at 21
the end comes rather early"
True" he agreed. and gazed at me
contemplatively: Il had forgot that
you were so young"
eat any rate l thank you for your
interest" I said.
I Perhaps 1t is misplaced" and he
looked at me, frowning heavily. so
want Favras, after ell. You lied very
prettily that morning. citizen--and I
| would have sworn that you were fresh
from the nursery! That's one OH old
| Dubosq!"
mot in the least!" I protested. 'T
|
before. He took my horse by force.
as l related to you; but I found him
awaiting me at the next town. He
restored my horse to me and insisted
That spend the night at his chat
| eau"
Faith, citizen" said Dubosq, with
a laugh. you'd better have lost your
1 horse and spent the night under
| hedge. AS 1t u.s. you lose your life.
, and enter the eternal night"
Yes: there's no help for that,
| sunnose?"
mot If Citizen Coujon has ordered
it,"
He did order it," broke in one of
my prosecutors who had listened to
all this with ill-concealed impatience,
land at once"
VERY well, comrade." said Dubosq:
come along, then. But he didn't or
der you to torture this fellow, and,
pardieu, I'll see that you don't. If you
have any message, Citizen - I've for
gotten your name"
"Tavernay," / prompted.
"Oh, yes; / remember. Well, If you
have any messages, Citizen Tavernay,
I'll be glad to take charge Of them. It's
the only kindness can do you, I'm
afraid"
Thanks, my friend" 1 answered,
tears in my eyes ut this unexpected
favor. III you could convey news of
.la<. II. 4.