Oxford Democrat., 1914-08-11

mans pockets with a practiced hand
and divided the money into four equal
portions on the table. There's for
you," he said.
The monk received his share with
deep sigh. and a single stealthy glance
at the dead Thevenin. who was begin
ming to sink into himself and topple
sideways off the chair.
Were all in for It." cried Villon.
swallowing his mirth "It's hanging
Job for every man Jack Of us that's
here-not to speak Of those. who aren't"
Then he pocketed his share Of the spoil
and executed shuttle with his feet as
If to restore the circulation.
Tabary was the last to help himself.
He made q dash at the money and re-
tired to the other end of the room.
Montigny stuck Thevenin upright In
the chair and drew out the dagger,
which was followed by jet Of blood.
"You fellows had better be moving"
he said as he wiped the blade on his
VlCtlm uOuDleC-
II think we had" returned Villon,
with a gulp. % his fat head! he
broke out. 1T sticks in my throat like
phlegm. What right has a man to
have red hair when he is deadT And
he fell all of heap again upon the
stool and fairly covered his face with
his hands.
Montigny and Dom Nicolas laughed
aloud, even Tabary feebly Ginning In.
"Cry baby" said the monk.
II always said he was a woman,
added Montigny with sneer. "Sit up.
| can't you?" he went on, giving another
shake to the murdered body. TREAD
out that fire. Nick"
But Nick was better employed. He
was quietly taking villon's purse as
the poet sat limp and trembling on the
stool where he had been making bal
lad not three minutes before Montig-
nv and Tabary dumbly demanded
share Of the booty. which the monk
silently promised as he passed the lit
tie bag into the bosom Of his gown.
In many ways an artistic nature units
q man for practical existence.
No sooner had the theft been accom-
plfshed than Villon shook himself.
jumped to his feet and began helping
to scatter and extinguish the embers.
Meanwhile Montigny opened the door
and cautiously peered into the street.
The coast was clear. There was no
meddlesome patrol in sight. Still 1t
was judged wiser to slip out severally.
and Villon was the first by general con-
sent to issue forth.
The wind had triumphed and swept
all the clouds from heaven. Only n
few vapors as thin as moonlight fleet
ed rapidly across the stars. 1t was
bitter cold. and by common optical
effect, things seemed almost more def
mite than in the broadest daylight. VII
lon cursed his fortune. Would 1t were
still showing! Now, wherever he
went he left m indelible trail.
Two things preoccupied him as he
went, the aspect Of the gallows at
Montfaucon In this bright. windy
phase Of the nights existence. for one.
and for another, the look Of the dead
man with his bald head and garland OF
red curls. Both struck cold upon his
heart, and he kept quickening his pace
as If he could escape from unpleasant
thoughts by mere Heetness Of foot. :.
Suddenly he saw long way before
him black clump and couple OF Ian
terms. The clump was In motion. and
the lanterns swung as though carried
by men walking. 1t was patrol.
Just on his left hand there stood a
great hotel. with some turrets and a
large porch before the door. 1t was
dark inside after the glimmer OF the
snowy streets, and he was cropping for
ward with Outspread hands when be
stumbled over some substance which
offered an indescribablc mixture OF re-
sistances, hard and soft. firm and
loose. His heart gave leap, and he
sprang two steps back ana stnreu
,lreadfully ut the obstacle. Then he
gave Il little laugh Of relief. 1t was only
"A woman. and she dead. He knelt be-
side her To make sure upon this latter
point. She was freezing cold and rigid
like II stick 4 little ragged hnery
,lutterptl la the wind about her hair,
tnd her cheeks had been heavily
roured that same afternoon. Her pock-
cts were quite empty. but IN her STOCK
Ing underneath the garter Villon found
TWO of the small coins that went by the
name of whites. 1t was little enough.
but It was always something. and the
poet was moved with deep sense OF
pathos that she should have died be-
fore she had spent her money.
While these thoughts were passing
through his mind he was feeling hull
mechanically for his purse. Suddenly
: his heart stopped beating. A feeling
of cold scales passed up the back OF
his legs and cold blow seemed to
fall upon his scalp. He stood petrihei
for II moment; then he felt again with
oue feverish movement: then his loss
burst upon him. He cursed. He threw
the two whites into the street. He
shook his fist at heaven. He stamp
ed and was not Mortified to find him
self lrampling the poor corpse. Then
he began rapidly to retrace his steps
toward the house beside the cemetery
He had forgotten all fear Of the patrol
} which was long gone by at any rate
, and had no idea but that Of his los,
purse 1t was in vain that he looked
. right and left upon the snow. Nothing
was to be seen. He had not dropped
} It in the streets. Had 1t fallen In thu
house? He would have liked dearly II
90 in and see. but the idea Of the grislJ
| occupant unnamed him. and he saw
besides as he drew near that their ef
, forts to put out the fire had been un
! successful. On the contrary. 1t hat
: broken into a blaze. and changefu
, light played in the chinks of door ant
window and revived his terror for tn
3 authorities and Paris gibbet
He returned to the hotel with tn
. porch and groped about upon tn
, snow for the money he had throw'