Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-05-28
CHAPTER n (Continued).

dreamer, came alone through the gate
and sat down with his short legs dang.
ling yer an ancient wall. Is feet sheel
down. He sat there, quite comfortabl.
and secure, and kicked his heels, and
thought OF his brilliant future, ant
also OF the story OF the great dog ant
the treasure. This ruin, the anchen,
chateau of Vicques, had a legend Each
child OF the village knew 1t before he
could remember how-t had been sc
with all Of them Observation-Disclosures
had heard II from grandfathers fol
that ages back, In the time Of Caesar,
so years after Christ, a Roman gov
ernor in this Gallo province a built
q formidable castle on this hill out
side the yillage-"Vtcus," the Romans
called It simply. the village"-and
"vicus," changed to "vicques," 1t has
stayed. The castle had great granaries
to hold the grain which the governor
tortured from the peasants and e to
Rome to sell. This little ''vicus" was
on the main road to Rome, which made
1t convenient for the governor. So he
grew rich by oppression, and tho, gold
wrung from the people he piled In
cellars deep in his castle. When 1t
came to be a great amount he sent far
to the north and got q huge dog, and
this dog he trained to a terrible
fierceness. so that an one coming near
him In the long underground corridors
where he guided the treasure al sure
to be town In pieces, except always the
governor. The governor knew well
that the people hated him, even those
closest to him. and this savage beast
was his only friend. and his reliance.
For years things went on in this way,
the governor grinding the peasants. and
the giant dog guarding him and his
treasure, TIL at last there am q
thunderbolt-the governor was SEM for
to come to- Rome to give an account of
the riches which he had kept from the
emperor. He had to go, but he left the
dog in charge, and the night after he
was gone the ~peasantry gathered and
set fire to the chateau and burned 1t to
the ground, and the dog and the treas
ure were burned In 1t, and there they
are to this day. The people Of Vicques
believe that II a mar will go to dig for
thatstreasure and will stay till midnight
that at IL exactly q colossal dog will
rise from the ruined stones and come,
breathing flames: In his mouth will be
the key Of the treasure vault, and back
of him will stand the ghost of the
Roman governor wrapped in white, his
face covered. And II the man will be
bold enough to take the key from the
flaming mouth, then dog and governor
will vanish in a clap OF thunder, and
In front OF the daring one will rise the
door OF the treasure vault and lie may
turn the key and go in and help HIM
self. The people Of Vicques believe
this because the grandfathers have
known from the grandfathers how
there were men n ole@t.Hses Drawer
than common who stayed till midnight
In b ruins and saw the dog and the
ghost-but none brave enough ever to
take h key from the dogs mouth.
The child Francois. hAs heels hanging
over h drop Of the ancient wall, the
shadows of q LARGE chestnut tree
playing back and forth across his lit
tie figure and across the broken piles
of grass-grown stones which had been
the castle granarteS. revolved this tale
In his mind. The picture OF the huge
dog breathing nre and that ghostly
vision OF the pitiless governor, white,
-fAce-covered, dimly outlined In the
shadows, gave the boy q thrill OF
agreeable horror. bot not a thrill of
fear. Fear has bean, those who knew
him said, left out OF this lad.
"He does not think OF himself" said
the grandmother proudly. $50 he can
not fear for himself"
Francois considered, and, feeling no
in his soul, decided that he was
the man destined to take the key out
OF the dogs mouth and get the treasure,
which he would 1t once transfer intact
to his mother. He had no need for
treasure: there were things more Inn
portant. It was for him to become q
marshal Of France. Napoleon had said
so: Il must BIO 10: but he should like.
on he way to this goal. to face tile dog
and take the key and give his mother
the treasure. He knew b would like
II. for he had heard her say to his
father only yesterday. .Ah. Francois, *
weshad g little more silver We could do
that!" Il would be pleasant to Arrange
that for dis mother, and shortly after
to become q marshal Of France.
In the gaiety Of the thought, and
feeling both ambitions all but ac-
complished by his decision, he lifted
himself On the palms Of his hands and
kicked OF lightly over the abyss, AZ
he kicked there was q sudden strong
grip on his shoulder: he was jerked
backward and rolled on the grass.
Are you tired Of life at this age
then?" q strident voice demanded and
Francois lay on his back and regarded
wondering. at east. the bronxed ltred
face Of g big man sta1iding over him
The two Stared. and then: .You be-
lteve yourself to be anaeagle. and YOU
are on the point OF flyingf II that
1T, The abrupt virile voice threw thu
questions ut him, and Francois smilet
sunnily. He knew this to be sarcasm
though he did not know that name fol
II. and from thes sweet sounduess Of hi
soul the arrow Of Arcasm slid or a.
lways Z glanctng brightness and LET
nossapoisons rancoi smiled; theI
lAugher with assurance OF the other
1rtSndlines1 up into the strange n1ansl
face. Ho rot to hts fest and stood
mo sstenr.s. he oald.ssl did mot thinl
myeS1f m sAgie. ! 49, Of1y pleas&d .
thinking what@I U going 10 BE- rom
90 soIneshing much pettsr than 9