The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-03-14
"Rocroy," I answered.

ftOCTOy, i answered..
A right, my friend, wait a mo-
ment," and he placed his hand on m
Of h gates and half opened 1t as the
commandant came running from the
house, his orders still in his hand.
Hold, Batard!" he cried to the SEN
try. Il wish to see this gentleman
The man paused, still holding the gate
half open.
Let me see" he continued, holding
the paper up to the light and scanning
it closely. About 20--gray suit-gray.
cloak-light mustache-light hair
mounted on black horse" he looked at
me for a m keenly. You cannot
pass. monsieur" he said. TT seems to
me that you are Monsieur de Brancas,
whom / have just received an order TO
arrest and hold at all hazard. Close
the gate, Batard."
But I had understood before he fin
ished. / drove my spurs deep into the
horses tanks. and with one bound up
set the fellow who was still holding the
~half-opened gate. : At the same in
slant the horse struck the gate, the
force of the shock swinging it still
farther open. We were through the
opening before the guards had time to
realize that l was escaping and plunged
into the darkness without the walls.
For the third time that night / knew
that / should receive a volley in the
rear, anu i DeDL low III NY Sduule dS
the shots rang out behind me. Luckily,
the rascals were too astonished to aim
accurately, and the bullets whistled
harmlessly over me. But there might
be a pursuit, and I did not allow my
horse to 'slacken his pace until the bar
rier was far behind.
AS i rode / reflected upon this new
perfidy Of the duchess, for that she had
furnished Herault the description
which had been sent to the Versailles
gate 1 did not doubt, and was amazed
anew at the daring and ingenuity of
this woman, who knew how to use even
her enimies in accomplishing her enc
AT last, believing myself safe from pur-
suit, I drew up and looked about me.
1t was lighter here than in the narrow
streets of the city, and the moon was
just peeping over n horizon, but still
l could see little. L had been delayed
not less than half an hour at the bar
rier and knew that / had no time to
lose, so l put spurs to my horse again
and continued rapidly onward. In a
few moments l came to a place where
the DAD forked. Which was the road
to Versailles, the right or the left? l
did not know, and seeing no way Of
finding out, chose the left at a hazard
and continued on. 1 had not ridden far
when / "a at the side of the road
ahead of me q dim light. AS l drew
iiCdlel 4 DGICtiNtu llldL II CdllIc lIOIl
the window of a low and squalid hut.
Here. perhaps, l might be able TO gain
the information I sought. ] rode my
horse up to the door, and. drawing a
pistol from the holster, raped with it's
butt.
There was silence for n moment
within the house, and the door slowly
opened. AS it did so I was astonished
to see that the candle which had been
burning a moment before had been ex-
tinguished.
What is It, monsieur? ?" asked a voice
from the darkness within.
is this the road TO versailles" l
questioned.
NO. monsieur" answered the voice,
without hesitation: you doubtless took
the wrong % at the forks a mile
back. Return there, monsieur, and take
the right hand road. Follow 1t straight
ahead and it will lead you to Yer
sailles."
MANY thanks" I answered, and
turned my horses head. AS I did so,
1 heard the click Of a pistol within the
room.
who goes to Versailles at this hour
and for What?" cried another voice,
which / seemed to recognize and yet
could rot place. Hold, monsieur it
continued; do not move. l have you
covered with my pistol and / never
miss"
There was a note of braggartry in
the voice which refreshed my memo
".Ah. it is ~Cartouche," / said. II wish
you good evening, monsieur"
And who may you be?" he asked.
have the best Of me, MONSIEUR"
Doubtless" I laughed. You meet
go many people, and usually in, the
dark. But you may, perhaps, remem-
Der an encounter some nights hack
with u man who was lost in Paris, and
who was saved from your rascals only
by the timely arrival of the Duo de
Richelieu."
by my soul, yes" he answered. 81
ave cause to remember it, since / lost
three sturdy rogues. Are you that
MANI"
II am he" and I smiled down at
the invisible form within the doorway,
for / could imagine the expression
which must be upon his face, land I
am glad of the opportunity Of a word
with you. You do not know, perhaps.
that Richelieu is a prisoner In the Bias
tile and that his head is in great dar,
ger?"
mo. I did not know it."
1T is so. nevertheless. He told me
that he did you a service once and that
you have not forgotten it,"
That is so. monsieur said Car
touche.
Perhaps you will now have oppor-
tunity TO repay that Kindness"
Perhaps" he aSsented. "If the worst
comes to the worst a rescue in the
Place de Greve is not impossible. II
has been done before"
And may be done again." I cried
"if you can muster so rogues who are
not afraid of steel"
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(CpnftproJ Aya-k yy-