Las Vegas optic., 1913-09-27

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pictures stared back at me and my
spurred heels jingled in the silence.
Up, up, and still up, winding around
Gothic spiral, then through a pas
sage under the battlements and out
across the states, with wind and set
ting sun in my face and the signing
tree-tops far below.
In the north a spark Of white fire
began to flicker on the crest of Mount
Tonnerre. 1t was the mirror Of a
heliograph flashing out across leagues
of gray-green hills to the rocky pulpit
of the Pigeonnier.
Instantly | drew a flag from my
pouch tied it to the point of my sabre,
and stepped out along the projecting
snout Of a gargoyle.
/ had been tagging the Pigeonnier
vigorously for ten minutes without re-
suit, when suddenly dark dot APP
peared on the tower beneath the sem
aphore, then another. MY glasses
brought out two officers, one with a
flag; and, still watching them through
the binoculars, signaled slowly, using
my free hand: This is La Trappe.
Telegraph to Morsbronn that the in
spector of Imperial Police requires
peloton OF mounted gendarmes at
once"
1t may have been half a minute be-
fore l saw two officers advance to
the railing Of the tower and signal.
Attention, La Trappel"
Pencil and pad on my knee, / man
aged to use my feld-glasses and jot
down the message:
'Peloton OF mounted gendarmes
goes to you as soon as possible. Re-
peat"
l repeated, then raised my glasses.
Another message came by flag: "Atten- |
ttion, La Trappe. Uhlans reported near
the village Of Trois-F -Feuilles; have you
seen them?"
Prussian Uhlansi Here in the rear
Of our entire army! Nonsensei And
/ signaled vigorous:
mo, Have your"
To which came the disturbing re-
ply; BE on your guard. We are or
dered to display the semaphore at
danger Report is credited at head /
quarters. Repeat"
The Countess de Vassart had come /
up to where I was standing on the
gargoyle, balanced over the gulf be
low. Very cautiously began to step |
backward, for there was not room to
turn around.
I beg you will be careful" she said |
1T is useless risk to stand out
there
| had never known the dread Of
great heights which many people feel.
and laughed and stepped backward.
expecting to land on the parapet be- |
hind me. But the point Of my scab-
bard struck against the battlements,
forcing me outward: stumbled, stag
gered, and swayed a moment, striving |
desperately to recover my balance;
felt my gloved fingers slipping along
the smooth face Of the parapet, my
knees gave way with terror; then my
fingers clutched something ng-an arm
and | swung back. slap against the
parapet, hanging to that arm with all
my weight. A terrible effort and l |
planted my boots on the leads and
looked up with sick eyes into the eyes
OF the Countess.
Can you stand it?" I groaned, |
clutching her arm with my other
hand.
"Yes-don't be afraid, she said
calmly. Draw me toward you; can.
not draw you over"
Press your knees against the bat
Elements, ] gasped.
She bent one knee and wedged it
into niche
Don't be afraid; you are not hurt
ing me-" she said. with q CHASTITY
smile.
I raised one hand and caught her
SHOULDER, them drawn forward, d
seized the parapet in both arms, and
vauIted tc the slate roof
a foe seemed to blot my eyes: I
shook lrom hair to heel and laid my