El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-21

D
of the tap room of the roadside
4 inn and ordered a liter Of cider
You must be thirsty, Brunier, or
/ YOU would not order a whole liter" said
! the innkeeper.
I You bet I am. but I can afford a
( thirst on a day like this, when I have
four thousand francs in my pocket
( Pour nice crisp bown bills, and almost
half Of it is clear profit"
But are you not afraid to walk
home alone with that much money in
4 your pocket?"
Afraid! With fists and arms like
mine! Not bit Of it. and besides I
wear two amulets guaranteed to guard
you against any danger
He opened his shirt and showed two
greenish looking copper medals hang
/ ing in a string on his broad breast
Look at these" he said, this one is
the holy Benoit's. the patron of all
travellers. and the other St. Antoine's.
2 the protector Of the poor These saints
I have never failed and I feel as safe as
I If I were already at home. though it
viii be a dark night tonight
The innkeeper.
rs it really possible" he asked. that
a sensible fellow like you. who gets
{ the best of everybody in any deal. can
really believe in two old copper
medals2"
I
Brunier, you have to believe in some
/ thing you surely do yourself"
Il don't believe in anything" said the
! innkeePer and offered his customer
drink before he started
Wen, I don't mind. I still feel a
little dusty in NY thrOatT
Half an hour later when the sun had
set and darkness was setting in
Brunier started homewards. He carried
his hat in his hand and the evening
( wind played with his heavy dark curls-
cooling his hot head The innkeeper
stood looking after MIN with IrOWn
on his face and his lips pressed tightly
together. Then he called his sons.
DO you see that big fellow he
asked. That is Brunier, the cattle
dealer. going home from market"
The two boys looked like retrievers-
seeming game
You understand what I mean" said
the father. And If you two are not
fools you viii cut across the fields 10
the crossroads near the fOrester'S
house You viii get there at least half
an hour ahead Of Brunler- In two
hours YOU ought to be back here with
four thousand franCsNin your pocket"
The brothers did not waste any time,
the younger armed himself with a
heavy crowbar and the other with a
hunting knife.
DO you think we ought to kill him27
asked the younger
The innkeeper was silent for a mo-
ment, then he nodded
How long Brunier had been lying I
there he did not know He left sore I
all over and felt the blood tricl1ling (
from his forehead. His coat was torn. .
the pockets rifled, his heart was beat 4
ing hard against his ribs, and his 3
aTms+Tere so stiff that he could I
scarcely move them
After many attempts ne succeeded in !
getting on his feet and when he had I
bathed his face in a spring close by I
he felt much better and began to think !
of what he ought to do He was not
strong enough to reach home, so he
decided TO return TO the inn
Blood was still flowing from the
gaping wound, but he walked ahead (
without mindinE- Tt was quite clear
to him who had played the trick on I
him It must be some cattle driver or !
wood chopper But. thank God ne was /
still alive and had his money yet. He !
pulled forth his amulets and kissed .
them feTTenJiy. thanking the saints I
who had so wonderfully preserved MS I
life.
so YOU expect me to believe you did 4
not find any money you scOundrels' I
roared the innkeeper to his sons
NO. And still we searched every I
where, in the pockets, coat, vest, shirt 4
and stockings"
Then you are bigger fools than 4
thought you were" the father shouted I
Suddenly there was a knock at the I
window. The door was opened, and 4
ghastly silence followed the loud I
quarrel when the blOOdstained Brunier !
entered. The two sons turned pale as I
ghosts and beads Of cold persplratlOn I
stood on their fOreheads. The inn !
keeper stood motiouless in the middle 4
Of the floor staring at his guest
BrUnier dropped into a chair and {
gaEDed: Give me a glass Of brandy /
ard I shall be all right Somebody 4
trio TO kill me. attacking me from .
behind. but they did not succeed / am /
still alive and have my money yet IN /
fortunately L did not get chance to 1
see who they were
The three men breathed easier. He !
had. not recognized them. so the mat Z
ter was not serious
We'll" said Brunier to the innkeep- I
or, perhaps you viii believe in my {
amulets now"
He did not notice the innkeepers !
vicious scowL
But where did you hide your F.
money. Brunier," he asked in a trem- I
bling voice.
inside the lining Of my hat"
Brunier then asked for a room and Z
said he wanted TO sleep.
'I VIII give you my own bed said I
the innkeeper and conducted him to !
room above the taprOmO Brunier IN I
dressed and went to bed. but could not Z
sleep. His wound was very painful so
he decided 10 go down and get some J
oil for a dressing In the darkness he Z
felt his way and was just about to
open the door Of the taprOOm when he Z
heard somebody mention his name he
listened and what he heard made him I
shiver- He had to sit down on the
step not to fall They were planning
TO Kill him yet
He sneaked back to his room. Flight I
was out OF the question. but he would
sell his life dearly He had no weapon. [
not even his cane which he had LETT :
below but in a cupboard he found a
half filled siphOn Of setter. a dread
full weapon in the hand Of a determined
man.
He posted himself behind the door
and waited. a few moments later he
heard Sneal1ing stens on the creaking
stairs. tt was the innkeeper. He
STOPPED moment on the top step and
then opened the door AS he was ap-
preaching the bed the siphOn came
down on his head and he dropped with
out a sound.
You have got what you deserved"
said Brunier. Then he picked up his
hat and ran towards the village. while
the two sons were busy digging a grave
for his body in the garden.
1t was almost daylight when he
reached the village and told what had
happened An hour later the house was