The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-11-23
nDDG MYTH A Story OF the
Z OD1o w u 4 IL Cell am are
TIIE n u Conspiracy by
Il HI ~ IN L Burton Egbert
Copyright by --J B. Lppncott Company Stevenson
CHAPTER
AN ENCOUNTER WITH CAR
TOUCHE.

NJSit Hau ALREADY come as L ufSN
my cloak more closely about me and
stepped forth into the street. j had
fingered long over my meal, as a man
viii who has been alone all the day
and sees little chance of c~onlpaniGn-
ship before him. For in all the city
/ knew no one. and there seemed small
prospect Of the night bringing any en-
jeyment with it. 1 turned to the left,
away from that dingy house in the Rue
Baileul. which was the only home
had thus far found in Paris, deter
mined to forget for a tine at least,
it's narrow entrance leading to the
dirty interior court. where a thousand
odors struggled ceaselessly for mas
terry; the dark staircase mounting
steeply upward. and the close little
room, which a single weeks occupancy
me. All. il was different from the wide,
valley of the Loire.
AT the outset OF my career in Paris
l had been confronted by a problem
which demanded immediate solution.
l might lodge well and dress poorly.
or | might dress well and lodge poor
~, but l had not moucy enough TO do
both well. After mature deliberation
/ had chosen the latter course and eX-
Pended Kay money Upon my wardrobe,
reasoning that all the world would
notice MY attire, while no one would
pS.lStidlS 70 NY DuSIH My ItlSllpCiS
in the Rue Bailleul had not yet re-,
covered from the establishment with
which my advent had filled them, and
still gazed wonderingly and suspicious
ly after me whenever l CHANGED to
pass.
So I strobe through the night away
from that shabby garnet, and as l
went l thought somewhat bitterly of
the high hopes L had brought with
me to the city Il week b~efore-hopes
OF adventure and glory, after the fash
ion, doubtless, OF every youth who
came to Paris from the provinces, but
q week Il passed with no adventure,
and as for glory. it seemed farther away
than ever In faith. those same hopes
We're about my only possession, a fact
brought painfully to my attention
when l had opened my purse 10 min
utes since to pay my score, n some
thing must needs happen soon orwell,
l had seen a man taken from the
Seine the day before and his face
seemed peaceful. AT least, 1 would
never go back to the narrow life which
l had always hated.
a splash into a pool of mud brought
me out of my thoughts. 1 stopped
and looked about me, but did not rec
ognize the street, which seemed a very
squalid one. The dilapidated wooden
buildings with their plastered fronts
tottered together over my A pu-
trid stream filled the central gutter,
giving forth an odor which reminded
me fCrcibly of the court below my
window. l started to retrace my steps
and return toNa more inviting quarter
of the city when a hand was laid sud
denly upon my shoulder.
"Ah, monsieur" said q pleasant
voice. you seem to have lost your
way
Its not a difficult task in Paris
l replied, and as | did so, threw off the
mans hand and stepped quickly back
to have my sword arm free in case
of need.
Il should be pleased to conduct mon
sieur wherever he might wish to 60"
continued the voice. the face of whose
owner | tried in vain to distinguish.
"A thousand thanks" | answered.
IF monsieur will tell me the shortest
way Of reaching the Rue st. Denis l
need trouble him no further"
With pleasure. Take the first street
to the right. then onward three blocks
and monsieur is there" said my
strange companion. And hen as l
turned way. There is one Formally
which monsieur has overlooked"
and what is that?" 1 questioned
sharply.
"Monsieur's purse. No gentleman
ever leaves the presence of Cartouche
with his purse in his possession
And is this Cartouche?' I asked,
more to gain time than for any other
reason, for light as my purse was, |
could i'll afford to part with it, even
to the most famous thief in Paris.
"Assuredly," answered the fellow and
he held u his and with an air of
nOncllalance which eXasperated me.
Cartouche's fame had Travelled far, and
he had spoken truth when he said that
all men with whom he talked left their
purses with him. yet I was in mood
Fr- an D1unof1,1.a ord ynHnot1I thnt
q nan were better dead than penni-
less.
Il fear that you will have to break
your rule in this instance, monsieur"
l said. after q moments silence, dur
ing which his attitude had lost nothing
Of it's gay assurance. The contents
of my purse are of infinitely greater
alu to me h they can be to you.
Hence l must beg leave to retain it."
Does monsieur u the cost?" he
asked, quietly.
Fully I answered, and, leaping
back a pace. drew my sword and stood
on guard. At the same instant he
placed q whistle to his lips and blew
Ii shTin blast. I heard the sound CT
Fastening footsteps, and half a dozen
blackguards, who had doubtless been
concealed mean by, We're upon NE. while
Cartouche stood calmly to one side and
watched the conflict. TIL foremost ran
on my sword as UPON a spit, and as he
fell with a single sobbing cry, l stepped
back against the wall, prepared to give
the others a warm argument. Yet l
knew 1 must be overpowered in the
n by sheer weight of numbers, and it
was Teputed that Cartouche had only
one penalty for resistance. For some
minutes 1 managed to keep the space
in front of me clear, running one of
the ~scoundrels through the shoulder
before they saw they had a swords
man to G with and retired to a safer
distance. I heard windows near by
opening, and looked for assistance
from that direction, but in a moment
they We're closed again. Evidently no
one dared interfere with Cartouche.
Then back at M his rascals came,
all together, and evidently counting on
overwhelming me in the rush. as, in
deed, ] thought they must do. Another
fellow felt the point of my sword in his
thigh. but matters were growing des-
perate, for l a myself been stabbed
in the arm and was fast becoming
winded This vas hotter work than
/ had ever done.
~ hat have we herc?" suddenly rang
Jul a new voice above the clash of
swords a honest gentleman beset