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

second. From the crowd rose gasps,
and excited broken sentences.
He has the vertigo! He 10 LOST"
A man spoke that plainly. aud
Henri Dufour felt Claires fingers on
his arm loosen as II life had gone
out OF them. A strange sound came
from her lips. but the boy did not
| stir his eyes from the church steepie.
In the stiffness he heard q woman
yards away whisper as II to herself:
He will fall now-at this mo-
ment."
And the dark blot chung against
the gliding. Then suddenly 1t moved,
began to make slow way down
ward, and a long sigh. like ripple
of water, ran through the ranks OF
people. No one spoke; all the eyes
watched the little figure slip down,
down the unseen ladder In the air.
At last 1t was at the bottom; 1t dis
appeared into the trap-door. Every
one began to talk volubly at once; q
woman cried for Joy. then child
spoke In a high voice.
"See," she said shrilly, the moth
er of Francois goes to meet HIM"
Ia Claire was far down the street,
gliding toward that church door
which was under the steeple. AS she
reached 1t the little lad came out,
his face flushed, his eyes shining with
excitement and triumph. She took
his hand silently. hardly looking at
him, and turned SO, quietly, without
word OF either Joy or reproof, her
face impassive. She had got her boy
h.
Claire. and those frst moments were
beyond words or embraces. TO touch
his warm hand was enough. The man
on the bay horse trotting SLOWLY
along, saw the meeting.
1T is a woman out OF the CONN. on,
that one" he spoke aloud. She rules
herself and the boy And the boy
looked up as he came and smiled and
tugged at his cap with the hand
which his mother did not hold.
Good morning, M'sieur." he said
with friendliness. and the rider stared.
"Sacre bleu." he flung back in his
strong sudden voice. 1T IL my
friend, the Marshal Was 1t you.
then, glued up there? Yet another
fashion to play with death, eh? Nom
dun CHEN! You have star Of good
luck-you are saved for something
great, 1t must be. Madame he
spoke to the mother, you should
guard this adventurer. He tells me
that his life Is of Importance to his
country, yet he risks It with damnable
freedom. I caught him kicking over
precipice. and here he Is running
his neck into danger again. France
will lack a marshal and you to blame
yet he is hard to kill. confess it,"
HE Is hard to guard, my Seig-
neur," La Claire answered seriously.
Il never know the next danger. He
is more obedient than the others. yet
1t Is he who will make my hair gray.
But he Is good, my Francois" and
her arm slipped around the boy. She
drew him close, as II only now real
izing how nearly she bad lost him.
II believe 1t IL simply that fear IL
left out Of him, AZ they say In the
village. He does not know how to
be afraid, lie petit"
The stranger turned q glance like q
blow on the little fellow. Francois"
lie demanded, what made you still
so long at the top Of the ladder just
now? Were you afraid?"
mo. M'sieur," the child answered.
II was not afraid. was looking at
the chateau-the new chateau. There
IL some one living in 1t now. M'sieur.
thought as l looked that when l
grew big and an oficer. l might 90
there and place my soldiers about
that chateau. arranged how to at.
tack 1t very we'll. | also arranged
how to defend It, There should be
infantry to take the little gates while
the cavalry kept the defenders busy
at the great gate"
The bay horse, FESTIVE. whirled and
plunged sidewise: the rider sat close
yet loose as he played the reins, and
In q moment had the beast facing
again toward the boy and the wom-
an. His brows down, he stared at
the lad with his keen hard glance,
but he spoke to the mother.
Madame" he said. 1T is q soldier
you have there. have not heard OF
another boy who fingers at the top of
church steeples to plan military oper.
atoms. He has love for the bust
ness---if he have the genius also he
may go far. He should be instruct.
ed" The two waited, attentive. a
little astonished to be noticed 80 long
and then the heavy brows lifted and
smile came into the stern eyes.
making them astonishingly kind. 1T