The Washington herald., 1910-07-25


about it-how It happened"
1T is about Count DeIorme," said Toni.
gasping between his sentences. you
know, Paul. l always was q coward
about most things"
Yes, 1 know"
And when 1 was In the circus those
two rascals used 70 take me with them
sometimes on their robbing expeditions
and make me keep watch and help to
carry off the stolen things. I was fright
ened 10 death az what they made me do
too frightened 10 refuse 10 go with
them. never knew OF their killing any
body. except Count Delorme, but that
night they waylaid him in the dark,
swear to you-ohl God, | swear
to you a million times II never
touched Count Delorme. / thought they
were going 70 rob him only-I did not
dream they were going to kill him. But
he resisted when they tried to get his
money and Nicolas struck him a blow
and he fell over. And they put twenty
franc piece In my pocket and swore that
had killed him and robbed him. Then
determined TO get away from them and
SO when l was conscripted. could have
got of because ! was the only son OF a
widow. but l thought II I were In the
army I might escape them and I meant
then to hunt for you and TO tell you all
about IT, And I thought had escaped
them-oh! how happy I was-but they
turned up as you know and I have not
had moments peace since. Two weeks
ago they forced me to 20 with them
Forced you 20 go with themr said
Paul Indignantly. Toni, you are the
greatest coward"
I know It," replied Toni Il always
was And they told me that they meant
to kin you and we played a game OF cards
TO determine whether they should do st
or I-I-think OF Il! OF course lost, and
they promised me II I did not XIII you
that l should be killed. And they told me
to drop out OF the ranks and that you
would come after me, and they put this
knife where l could find It. Toni drew
il from his bosom. Il was an ordinary
table knife. but OF weH-tempered steel and
as sharp as a razor And 1 was 10 kill
you and leave your body here where II
could not be found for several hours-and
and make the best OF my way of. OF
course, I should. should have been
caught and guillotined. but what did they
! care about that?'
Toni turned and threw the '-nlfe as FAR
as he could into the bosky thicket behind
him. Paul Verney. who was as quiet as
lamb and as brave as a lion, looked ct
Toni sorrowfully.
I think can get rid Of those two rap
sallions in time" ne said. get them sent
20 Algiers. but they will have to come
back some time
That's what know" said Toni I'VE
are under sentence Of death. Paul. and #
is all my fault"
The ghost Of a smile came into Paul
verney's face.
No" he answered, mot exactly your
fault Toni You were born that way
so you can't help yourself"
And We are both so happy" cried
Toni, and at this he burst into
passion OF tears. sobbing as
he had not sobbed since no was a small
boy and his mother had the rheumatism
and he thought she was going 10 die.
Paul turned his back and walked I'D and
down in front OF Toni for a minute or
Two. and when he spoke his voice was
husky.
Yes" he said. I'VE are both very
happy. or would be except for those
wretches. But. Toni. you must keep
every hint Of this from Denise, and !
shall certainly keep II from my wife"
You may be able 20" replied poor
| Toni, because you are brave and self
! possessed, but you know how I am. I
am likely 70 let II out any time"
IF you do" said Paul sternly. you
may look 10 hear from me Toni, have
you no shame at being such a cowrad?''
Not a BIT" replied Toni LAS you say,
1 was born that way. I am not afraid
OF horses nor Of guns, nor Of anything
that other people are afraid Of
Paul inspected Toni In wrath and sor-
row. He was the Identical Toni that had
/ enjoyed a ride on the runaway horse.
and was cowed and terrified by the
laughs and Jeers OF a couple OF the tailor
| Clery's boys, either OF whom he was
1 perfectly well able TO thrash II he had
wished. PAU verney was not physical
/ ~, half the man that Toni was, but not
all the five Clery boys. with their father
at their head. could have frightened him
! when he was a very small boy himself.
Paul would have taken a thrashing from
them one day and be ready to repeat It
the next, but the mere thought OF q
thrashing frightened Toni out Of his
wits.
How much more. then. did the thought
Of being murdered scare him! Yet Il
Toni had been driven into the forlorn
hope-'the last children" as the French
picturesquely put 1.-THE would have be-
! haved as well as any man IN II.
Paul Verney looked around him at the
smiling. peaceful landscape basking in
the afternoon light, and thought Of Lucie
at the chateau. She was probably prac-
Using her music at that hour. and then
she would 60 for her afternoon ride with
only a groom to accompany her. He
would be absent fsom her for two whole
days. and Lucie had spent a week IN
devising schemes for getting rid OF the
time. Paul was as much in love with
her as she was with him, but It
never occurred to him that there was
any difficulty in getting rid OF the
time during his absence from her
ne had HIS work 20 do. and he meant
TO do It well. nor DID he let the
thought OF Lucie interfere in the least
with his duty. He had cheerfully given
that promise demanded OF all lovers that
he would tell Lucie everything. AS he
had nothing to tell her Of the least harm
or OF the least consequence, he had
laughingly made the promise. But now
there was something ne must conceal
from her; something. the mere thought
OF which would blight that merry, beau