The Dermott news., 1914-04-02
CHAPTER Ill.
Without Fear.

The glider was at work gliding the great ball on top of the church steepie. Every twenty years this had 10 be done and 1t WAS an event in the vii lage Moreover. il was dangerous. and. like all dangers, fascinating
 The boys of Vicques stood in groups in the street with their heads bent back. watching the tiny figure of man that crept up an invisible ladder far In the air lashed to the side of the steeple. Up and up it went, like fly, crawling on the deche. and there was sinking feeling in each boys stom ach which was delightful. to think how at any moment that creeping black spot which was the glider might fall down, down. and be dashed to pieces
 Achille Dufour suggested, Even Francois would not dare climb that ladder to the ball Dare you?"
 The great brown eyes of Francois turned about the group. the boys wait ed eagerly for his answer. IL was al ways this one who led into the dan gerous places. always this one who went bit further Whan the others courage failed.
 "I dare" said Francois. Then the dark heads came together In an un- easy mass, and there was whispering.
 At the dinner hour that day several mothers of the village remarked that their small lads were restless not in tent as usual on the black bread and the soup of chopped vegetables and the green oeans--all anxious to finish and get away. Only the mother of Francois however reasoned from this that mischief was brewing. When the slim. wiry. little figure slipped from the table and out through the open door, she rose and followed and stood in the great entry watching him race across the field toward the church. He veered but once in his straight path to turn to the PrilpoteauX cottage. where the glider lodged while in Vic ques.
 How soon will one 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
 Tt may be in half an hour, my boy, Not sooner" And Francois raced on. By this time boy here and a boy there had stolen from their dinner tables and were gathering in groups down the street. but the elders paid no attention Francois disappeared in to the church the boys began Co grow breathless.
 Tt 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 steepie sprans- figure. looking very small so far up above them. Instantly it attached itself like a crawling fly, to the side of the steeple it moved up ward Henri Dufour, below ln the street, jumped as a hand grippcd his arm. He looked up frightened at La Claire
 "Is that my Francois ." she demand ed sternly. but the boy did not need to answer.
 With that by degrees people came from the cottaSc,s AS al some mysteri ous warning and stood silent. afraid to breathe. watching the ltttle figure creeping up. up the dizzy narrowing peak of the church steeple A rider galloped down the road seeing he groups, he pulled in hts bay horse and his eyes followed the upward glance of the whole village
 Who is It" he flung at the nearest knot of peasants, his voice was abrupt and commanding
 The men pulled on their caps, and one answered respectfully It Is lt- tie Francois Beaupra. my seigneur it Is a child who has no fear: he Is al most at the top. but we dread Il when he descends.
 Mon dieu," the man on horseback crowded If he looks down he Is lost, the lad Is a born hero or a born luna tic"
 The crawling spot up there showed dark in the sunlight against the new gliding of the ball It stopped. the blot was fixed for a second another second. From the crowd rose gasps and excited broken sentences.
 He has the vertigo! He is lost"
 The dark blot chung against the gild ing. Then suddenly 1t moved. began to make a slow way downward. and long sigh. like a ripple on water. ran through the ranks of people No one spoke, all the eyes watched the little figure slip down. down the unseen lad der in the air. Al last 1t was at the bottom; it disappeared into the trap door. Every one began to talk volubly at once: a woman cried for joy. then child spoke in a nigh voice
 See" she said shriily, the mother of Francois goes to raeet him.-
 Le Claire was txr down the street, gliding toward that church door