Middletown transcript., 1914-01-31

tie blue skirt on Speeds knees. Have
they harmed that child?"
l told her.
A beautiful light grew In her eyes
as she listened. did not warn you
that we Bretons know how to die?"
she said
There were noises outside our door,
loud voices, hammering, the sound Of
furniture being dragged over stone
floors, and l scarcely notieoA 7 when
our door was opened again.
Then somebody called out our
names; a file of half-drunken soldiers
grounded arms in the passage way
with a bang that brought US to our
feet, as Mornac, flushed with wine, en-
tered unsteadily, drawn sword in hand.
I'm damned if stay here any long
err" he broke out, angrily. 'Tll see
whether my rascals can't shoot straight
by torch-light"
The shutting tread Of the insurgent
infantry echoed across the gravel court
extinguished; blackness enYeloped the
cliffs.
WELL" broke out Speed, hoarsely,
yard; torches behind the walls were
/ "Good-by, Scarlet"
He held out his, hand.
"Good-by," 1 said, stunned.
Then he went to the countess and
offered his hand.
81 am so sorry for you," she said,
oh,
to live for. But you must not feel
lonely, monsieur; you will be with us
we shall be close to you"
She turned to me, and her hands fell
to her side.
Are you contented?" she asked.
"Yes," l answered.
'T, too" she said, sweetly, and Of
fered her hands. 1 held them very
tightly. You say" l whispered, that
it is not-love. But you do not speak
for me. I love you"
A bright blush spread over brow and
neck.
"So-it was love-after ALL" she
said. under her breath. God be with
us today love you"
march," cried Mornac, as two
soldiers took station beside me.
Speed passed out first; l followed;
the countess came behind me.
Courage" 1 stammered, looking
back at her as we stumbled out into
the torch-lit garden.
She smiled adorably. Her forefa-
theirs had mounted the guillotine smil-
ing.
A soldier dressed like Turco lifted
torch and set it in the flower bed un-
der the wall, Illuminating the spot
where we were to stand. As this sol
dier turned to come back 1 saw his
face.
'Salah Ben-Ahmed!"I cried, hoarse-
ly. do Ma-abouts do this butchers
work = :
The Turco stared at me as though
stunned.
"Salah Ben-Ahmed is a dfsgraced
soldier!" said, in ringing voice.
tits lie!" he shouted, in Arabic
its lie, o my inspector! Speak!
not Prussians?"
Silence! Silencel" bawled Nor
nae. "Turco, fall in! Fall in, sayl
What! You menace me?" he snarled,
cooking his revolver.
Then man darted out of the red
shadows Of the torch-light and fell up
on Mornac with a knife, and dragged
him down and rolled on him, stabbing
him through and through, while the
mutilated wretch screamed and
screamed until his soul struggled out
through the flame-shot darkness and
fed to its last dreadful abode
The Lizard rose, shaking his fagot
knife; they fell upon him, clubbing
and stabbing with stock and bayonet,
but he swung his smeared and sticky
blade, clearing a circle around him.
And think he could have cut his way
free had not Tric-Trac shot him in the
back of the head.
Then frightful tumult broke loose.
Three of the torches were knocked to
the ground and trampled out as the
AAiSu S0HIS' uOeOlJ oIuuAeH Will WluC
and the taste Of blood, seized me and
tried to force me against the wall;
but the Turco, with his shrill, wolf
like battle yelp, attacked them, saber-
bayonet in hand. Speed, too, had
wrested rife from a half-stupefied
rufian, and now stood at bay before
the countess; I saw him welding his
heavy weapon like fail; then in the
darkness Tric-Trac shot at me, 50
close that the powder flame scorched
my leg. He dropped his rife to spring
for my throat, knocking me fiat, and,
crouching on me, strove to strangle
me; and l heard him whining with
eagerness while 1 twisted and writhed