Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-08-19

shall escape! God VIII not permit US
to be killed like this!"
1 fancied that she drew closer to me.
but l could not see her face.
Here we are" said M. lie Comte,
and heard him fuisbl!nS about foT
a moment. Then there came the click
OF a latch, the creaking Of rusty hinges
us. We pressed forward into h black
pit beyond. The door Changed shut be-
] us, and at the same instant a shot
rang out and l heard the pang Of q
bullet as 1t struck the iron.
Just a breath too latel" said NJ. JIG
Comte. with a grim laugh, and dropped
the bars into place. They will not
we stopped to take breath. 1T is as
solid as the wall itself. We are safe
for a time, at least"
you are there, Charlotte?" asked
madame's voice. You are safer"
Yes, madame answered my com
panion. M. de Tavernay has taken
good care of me-"
She gently drew away from me, but
left her hand In mine.
i trust you will leave her in my
care, madame" l said. 1T is a well
come trust"
so your spirits survive even this
misfortune, do they, monsieurY"
"Oh, madame" I answered, they
would survive much greater ones If
Well" she prompted, "if-continue.
monsieur"
If only l might choose the persons
with whom to endure them" I said
boldly.
You are right, T~avernay!" cried NJ
lie Comte. 81 long as a man has be-
side him the woman he loves, nothing
else matters. But come, let us ascend
to the platform and see what those
s~coundrels are doing"
We mounted after him, stumbling up
the stairs n flight, two flights, three,
To guide her steps in the darkness, /
Ventured again to slip my arm about
my companions waist.
You hear?" l whispered. You are
not angry that l permitted them to
guess 2"
NO." she W softly, and with
a queer little laugh. Il think they had
already guessed. Besides, L do not
think | shall ever be angry with you
again, M. de Tavernay."
All, you love me; you love me,
then!" / whispered, rapturously, and
drew her still closer to me.
mot now, my friend!" she protested,
TREMENDOUSLY. Il beg Of you not now!
Do not forget your promise"
4 shall not" l assured her, and we
mounted in silence.
Only when we came out into the
moonlight at the top did she draw away
from me and fling herself into the arms
OF madame, who embraced her tenderly
and kissed her again and again.
The tower was battlemented, so that
we could look down upon the chateau
n the grounds surrounding it without
danger or being seen by anyone below,
AS M. lie Comte and l peered down to-
gether. l was suddenly conscious Of
some one else beside me and turned to
see that 1t was Pasdeloup. In the stress
OF flight, l a quite forgotten him.
With a little feeling of remorse, / held
out my hand and gripped his great
rough one silently, then turned again to
a contemplation of the scene below.
But down there all was dark and
silent. Not a candle cleaned from the
windows, not a sound disturbed the
silence Of the night. 1t seemed almost
that there had been no attack-that it
was all a dream-a fancy-that we had
run away from shadows.
Can they have gone?" I asked. us
1t possible that, not finding us, they
have gone back to Danger"
You forget said M. lie Comte, grim
ly, that single musket shot, which al
eaO0h Ia OAC Va AZ. lSGpClIu upOh
&c, they know that we are here"
"gor what are they waiting, Them"
~Iney are preparing a plan of at
tack, no doubt; they are trying to de-
wise q way to get past that iron door
down yonder. They know they have
no cause to hurry"
Pasdeloup suddenly held UP his hand.
"Listen!" he said.
For a moment, l heard nothing-only
the insect noises Of the night; then
from afar off came q sound as of bees
swarming, a faint hum, vague threat
ening, incomprehensible. Louder 1t
grew and louder, swelling into a kind
of roar, as though a great flood was
sweeping toward us down the valley of
the river. Then suddenly the roar burst
forth in ~overpowering volume; 1t grew
strident, a~rticulate; lights danced
among the trees, and in a moment
more, a shrieking, cursing mob poured
out upon the road, through the gates
and over the lawn.
They AVE come" said Pasdeloup,
1.-The canaille OF DANCE"
And he folded his arms calmly as ha
stared modify down at them.
Continued Next Weekly