El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-12
By H De We're

Merlin's edict against the suspected
held the axe above all mems heads;
revolutionary or aristocratic, member
Of the convention or ragpicker. no man
knew at what hour he might not be
called to meet a violent death, and no
man particularly cared
At s o'clock of the evening OF the
second Of June, citizen Poirier. stout,
red faced and somewhat brutal look
ing Individual, turned the corner Of
the Rue Richelieu, and entering the
Rue Neuve des Pettis Champs took his
seat at a zinc topped table in front
of the Cafe d'Italie.
The landlord brought the wine and
placed 1t before his guest
Good" said Poirier, put It down
to me-"
but citizen" said the landlord tim
idly, you owe me"
Poirier made no answer. He raised
his head and fixed the unfortunate
landlord with his eyes; the latter
wilted, turned and reentered his cafe.
taking his place behind the counter, at
which two men, one very tall. the other
short, were drinking.
~He's outside,r said the landlord,
making pretence to clean glass.
''WhoT asked the tall man.
PORTER"
"The beast-how strange that we
should be talking about him and he
taking his seat outside: 1t seems like
fate-hey, Bompard?"
The short man laughed.
ST have sworn to be even with him,
said he, Eyes, it seems like fate; let's
follow him when he goes, who knows
but that we may find way to deal
with him, even this?"
He pushed his cloak aside, and
showed the hiIt OF a knife protruding
from his pocket.
Now Poirier had given these meu
good reason TO hate him. and to fear
him, too.
He was one of those terrible charac-
ters who lived by denunciation and
threats OF denunciation. He had
brought a dozen men and women to the
guillotine. the first and chiefest OF his
victims being the beautiful Marguise
de Villecourt. ~
He was a bIackmai1er. beloved by
the convention for his present 10 them
OF the marquise de Villecourt, he fell
himself invincible; He lived on credit.
which no man dared refuse him; be
revealed in the pleasure OF trapping
men.
Said the tall man. leaning his arm on
the counter: IF we follow him, and II
he sees us-weu, what Them
The small man made no reply; he
had taken piece of black tobacco
from his pocket, and cutting some off
with knife that lay on the counter,
he placed a quid in his empty glass,
then taking his companions glass;
which was half filled with brandy, he
poured a little of the brandy on the
tobacco.
The tall man. whose name was MICH
olas Poussepain, stared.
How now, Pampardw cried he.
What are you about to dog"
At this moment the sound OF glass
being struck on the table outside came
through the open doorway, followed
by the voice of Poirier.
"Ho. there, Kabassindre. another
chopin, and look quick about IT
'1 thought So" said Bompard; ana
as the landlord was starting for the
door. with the mug IN his hand, he
stopped him and emptied the spoonful
Of tobacco extract into the wine
Poussepain turned to Bompard.
THAT is a new trick?
~OId enough" replied Bompard. i
learned it from a sailor at Marseilles.
IT makes a man tipsy IN his head with
out his legs giving way YOUTH see
our friend Poirier as fudd1ed as COM
pere Noah when he stepped from the
ark. Just you wait. Well have some
fun out of this.
Ten minutes had passed when Bonn
nard said: Hes going.
Poirier had risen from his seat. and
was now leaving the place. Come
said Poussepain. Let's follow him.
PORTER. his pipe in his mouth and
his hands IN his pockets, walking SLOW
w like a man at ease with the worlo
and himself, reached the corner OF the
Rue Richelieu and stood for moment
looking idly about him.
Ouite unconscious that he was being
followed, Poirier pursued his way,
crossed the Boulevard Montmartre and
entered the Rue de Provence
This street was not so well lighted
and was almost deserted. and he
might have turned back to seek some
more attractive thoroughfare had his
eyes not caught the figure OF
girl who having glanced about her
was making now in the direction OF
the Rue de Mont Blanc.
Like cat on the trace of mouse,
PORTER drew closer and at last ranged
up beside her
Good evening. cheyenne"
.It is late hour for you to be out
madame lie comtesse-
But she made no reply.
A. gateway set between two
square pillars, the woman stopped.
PORTER stretched out his hand 10
Mace IL on her shoulder, but she evaded
his grasp like a shadow
.T,ookr' said Bombard to his com
panion. as they crept along towards the
man they had been following, did you
ever see a man so drunk as that be-
fore? Look! He's talking as If there
were someone before him, and he's all
alone"
$50 he Isl said the other. Look
Poirier made another grab at the
figure of the woman; he heard her
laugh. then he heard the clang OF a
gate, and she was gone.
He seized the bars Of the gate and
shook it furiously. then he took
piece of chalk from his pocket and
made a cross upon the right hand sup
porting pillar so as to know the place
again.
Turning. he saw the forms OF Bonn
pard and his companion. without rec
ognizing them in the gloom.
seFJeln cftfzensP'- cried POirier: "a