The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-11-23

breast without more aGo. Ills Te-
duced their number to three. III they
gave back a little, evidently appalled,
at cur workmanship.
"A pistol shot!'clied one of the
rogues to Cartouche. "A pistol shot!
Twill settle the business quickly"
With an indescribable gesture Car
touche drew his pistols from his belt.
SO let it be-" he said. "Your deaths
on your own heads, M braves" and
nay heart stood still as l heard him
pull back the triggers.
"Conle!' l cried to my companion;
''charge him. We cannot remain here
to be shot down like dogs"
He responded with a merry laugh.
why. this is better than the Com
edie," he said speaking for the first
time since he had entered the fray. 1T
thrills the nerves and makes the heart
beat high. But all things must end,
and so. M. Cartouche, l think it would
be Just as well to put up our pistols
and call your scoundrels off. You will
get no purses here this evening"
DE Richelieu!' cried Cartouche; and
then in a tone of deepest concern, be
.ieEe ne, II. .a-Due, l did not recognize
you IN the darkness, nor did / know
this gentleman to be a friend Of yours,
aiss this would ;ro; have happened.
Enough, enough laughed my com
panion, as G~artouche's men SUNK back
49, IN 51oclit. ~ lIiSIl Soulu "
recognize his mistress on a night like
this. My friend and / bid you adieu."
and sheating his sword and m%otioning
ME to follow. he turned away without
once looking back. l admit that for
my part | lacked his assurance, and
more than once glanced over my
shoulder to make certain that 1 was
not about to receive a stab in the
back. But my fears We're seemingly
S~roundless. Tor l saw no more of Car
touche or his men.
1t was not until we reached a more
frequented street that l turned my
thoughts to my companion. l glanced
at him with no little curiosity, for l
knew the young Due de Richelieu by
reputation. as, indeed, did every other
gentleman in the kingdom, yes, and all
the ladies, too. A granddaughter of the
great cardinal. he resembled in many
ways that intrepid and indomitable
a A fine swordsman, gallant lover.
and brave gentleman,-that is
what reports said of him-and 1
could wish no better cpl
taph upon my gravestone, should 1
ever merit one. saw a straight, slight,
handsome man of % or %, with blue
eyes and smiling lips. His hat was
worn well down over his forehead and
his cloak pulled negligently about his
chin, as though he knew the need of
disguise and yet disdained to use it.
which in the end l found to be the case.
There was something stringely famjl-
lar in the face, but l banished the
thought in a moment, for l knew very
Well that / had never before met the
Due de Richelieu.
We walked for a time in ~silense, and
as l glanced at him again l recalled
with amusement the story of his debut
at Marty. seven or eight years before,
when Madame de Maintenon had pro-
nounced him the dearest dol in the
world" lie had found favor with the
ladies from the first, and, SO the story
ran, had made such violent love to the
Duchess Of Burgundy that he was dis
missed from the court and sent home
under guard, together with a lettre-de-
cachet which had compelled his fathe
to AXE him to the bastille, where he
had been imprisoned more than a year.
The story had been repeated in all four
corners of the kingdom, and his reputa-
ton was mad from that moment. l
could not but admit his comeliness,
and of his courage l had already suf-
ticient proof. With this man for a
friend, | reflected, even a youth from
the provinces might go far. My arm
was giving me some pain where it had
been wounded, but 1 managed to bind
my handkerchief about it under MY
cloak and determined that it must wait
a more convenient season for atten-
ton. 1t was Richelieu who broke the
silence.
Twas fortunate I had some bust
ness in this quarter of the own tonight
and n to pass this way" he said.
with a light laugh. "Cartouche is an
old friend of mine. 1 did him a SER
vice once-saved him from the wheel.
in fact-and since then he has been
kind enough not to trouble me or my
friends; a forbearance which they
greatly value, and which may account.
in mart fnr M tn y-ioGr on r,,r,-, w.
perhaps heard him call my name and
so know III l am. May l ask who |
mad the honor of rescuing?"
In faith, it was no less thar a res
cue" answered, warmly. for the
rogues had me all but overcome. I
Jean &c Brancas, at your service
M. lie Due"
Jean de Brancas?' and Richelteu
glanced at me with a little air of sur
prise. You are from Poitiers %
Yes. from Poitiers,' | answered.
looking at him with establishment "Rut
may | ask how you know that, mon
sieur?"
And you are new to Paris, I sup
poser" he continued. smiling ana Dis
regarding my question.
L came here but a week ago, mon
sieur."
smiled yet more broadly. But I do
not need to ask. It was for adventure.
was it not? So many youths come
here for that; and though most of them
find adventures in great numbers, they
are seldom to their liking"
That is my case precisely, mon
sieur," ! said, with the exception of
this evening. which is greatly to my
liking"
Perhaps 1 may find you more of the
same kind" and his face darkened
grizzly. There are many such, If one
but knows where to look for them. May
ask concerning your family. mon
s~ieur?"
My father died a week before l
started for Paris 1 answered. simply.
Ny mother had preceded him to the
grave by two years. I had no brothers
nor sisters"
"Ah," he said, not u%nkindly. "and
VIA heritage did you father leave
you?"
AN honorable name, his sword and
some skill in welding it, monsieur" |
answered, proudly.
Heritage enough foi any gentleman
oil spirit" cried the duke, heartily. IN
truth, M: de Brancas, 1 think we shall
be friends
My heritage is at your service. mon