The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-29
CHAPTER iiil
(contInued)


(continusd)
when | am q man shall do such
work." Achille Dufour announced In 3
bold voice. Probably | shall be uI
there some day where the glider IL
now. and all OF you down below watch
ing me-"
/. And the others jeered frankly
"You-you who fall over q fence
you indeed" said his cousin Henri,
scornfully. But as for me, | would
not be afraid to climb up there to-
day" and at that there was a chorus
OF protest.
WHO was II, tell me, who was
afraid to climb the fiagpole by the
church? Who was that boy, Henri
Dufourr demanded Pierrot Tremblay
and the embryo Frenchmen Joined In
a sarcastic All" and pointed grimy
fingers at the mortified Henri.
That's nothing" Henri threw back
sulkfly. And I was not the only one
who was afraid. offered to climb
the pole. and was afraid after-but
rome Of the others even offered. And
II was no great shame to me. for II is
dangerous TO climb that pole. II IL
20 feet TO the s-bars, and beyond
that II IL so feet yet to the small
cross-bars at the top--it 10 very high
In the afro feet. Only Francois
Beaupre OF all the village has yet
i. climbed that fagpole, and all the
world knows that Francois is differ
ent. His stomach il different; he has
no fear OF things, inside him-Fran-
co.'s. -
There was murmur of assent, and
the hero put a friendly hand on the
shoulder Of the discredited Dufour.
ITS nothing" he agreed. IT'S only
that | am born different. do not feel
inside my stomach that thing which
YOU say Is being afraid | do not
know that feeling. SO II Is easy. IL
was not much for me to climb the
pole; 1t was just that could do it."
Ana the boys, seeing their honor
saved, agreed heartily.
All the same" Achille Dufour sug-
gested ungratefully, Francois would
not dare climb that ladder to the ball.
Dare your"
The great brown eyes of Francois
turned about the group: the boys
waited eagerly for his answer. II he
dared It was almost as II they should
all DO It; II was always this one who
LED into the dangerous places; always
this one who went a bit further when
the others courage failed: they ex-
plained 1t pleasantly by that fortunate
lack In Francois inside mechanism
which produced in the others the dis
comfort called fear. hindering bold
deeds.
He has no Judgment, Francois:
therefore he fears nothing" they
sometimes put the case.
But the fact remained that he was
AFRAID OF nothing. The boys waited
minute, eyes and mouths stretched.
ana at length came the decision.
dare. said Francois. Then the
dark heads came together In an un.
easy mass, and there was whispering.
Az the dtnner-hOur that day sew.
eral mothers OF the village remarked
That their small lads were restless
not intent as usual on the black breai
and the soup Of chopped vegetables
and the green beans-all anxious to
nnish and get away. Only the moth
er OF Francois, however, reasoned
from this that mischief was brewing.
When the slim, wiry little figure slip
ped from the table and out through
the open door, she rose and followed
and stood In the great entry watch.
ing him race across the field toward
the church. But at that moment the
baby cried and she turned back into
the house. and when she looked again
the boy had disappeared. Yet It was
on her mind that something would
happen, and from time to time she
LETT her work and went to the door.
ha.
her little lad. Meanwhile Francois
had veered but once in his straight
path--to turn to the Philpoteaux cot
tage. where the glider lodged while
In VicQues.
How soon will you be at work up
there again." he asked through the
window of Auguste Philpoteaux sit
ting at his dinner, and the man an.
swered. good-naturedly. enjoying the
publicity which made him the most
interesting person Of the village.
1T may be In half an hour, my
boy Not sooner" And Francois
raced on.
BY this time a boy here and boy
there had stolen from their dinner
tables and were gathering in groups
down the street, but the elders paid
40 attention. Francois disappeared
into the church; the boys began to
grow breathless.
ut will take some minutes for the
stairs. one said, and they waited.
Two minutes, three, perhaps five;
something rose out of the trap-door
leading to the platform from which
the steeple sprang--a figure, looking
very small SO far up above them. In.
stantly 1t attached itself, like u
crawling fly, to the side of the stee-
pie; 1t moved upward. Henri Dufour,
below In the street, jumped as hand
gripped his arm. He looked up fright
ened at La Claire.
us that my Francois?" she de-
manded sternly, but the boy did not
need to answer.
With that. by degrees people came
from the cottages as at some mystic
rious warning and stood silent. afraid
to breathe, watching the little figure
creeping up. up the dizzy narrowing
Peak OF the church steep1e. rider
salloped down the road. Seeing the
group. he pulled in his bay horse