Las Vegas optic., 1914-01-02
CHAPTER II.
The stranger.

The Stranger.
On an afternoon in July In the year
of 1920, Francois, being ten years old
and dreamer, came alone through
the gate and sat down with his short
legs dangling over an ancient wall,
fifteen feet sheer down. He sat there,
quite comfortable and secure, and
kicked his heels, and thought of his
brilliant future, and also of the story
of the great dog and the treasure. The
tradition ran that ages back, in the
time of Caesar, fifty years after Christ.
Roman governor in this Gallic prov
ince had built formidable castle on
this hill outside the village. The castle
had great granaries to hold the grain
which the governor tortured from the
peasants and sent to Rome to sell. So
he grew rich by oppression, and the
gold wrung from the people he piled in
cellars deep in his castle When it
came to be a great amount he sent far
to the north and got huge dog, and
this dog he trained to terrible fierce
ness, so that anyone coming near in
the long underground corridors where
he guarded the treasure was sure to
be torn in pieces, except always the
governor.
For years things went on in this
way, the governor grinding the peas
ants, and the giant dog guarding him
and his treasure, till at last there came
thunderbolt-th governor was sent
for to come to Rome to give an &C
count 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 gath
cred and set fire to the chateau and
burned it to the ground, and the dog
and the treasure were buried in 1T,
and there they are to this day. The
people of Vicques believe that If a
man will go to dig that treasure and
will stay till midnight, that at twelve
exactly a 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 gov.
ernor wrapped in white, his face Gov
cred. And if the man will be bold
enough to take the key from the fam
ing mouth, then dog and governor will
vanish in a clap of thunder, and II
front Of the daring one win rise thu
door Of the treasure-vault, and he ma.
turn the key and go in and help him
self.
Francois considered, and, feeling n,
fear in his soul, decided that he wal
the man destined to take the key ou
of the dogs mouth and get the treas
ure, which he would at once transfer
intact to his mother. He had no neeC
for treasure; there were things more
important 1t was for him to become
a marshal of France. Napoleon had
said so; it must be SO; but he should
like, on the way to this goal, to face
the dog and take the key and give his
mother the treasure.
In the gaiety Of the thought, and
feeling both ambitious all but accom-.
plished by this decision, he lifted him
self on the palms of his hands and
kicked out lightly over the abyss. AS
he kicked there was sudden strong
grip on his shoulder; he was jerked
backward and rolled on the grass.
Are you tired OF life at this age
then?" strident voice demanded, and
Francois lay on his back and regarded
wondering, at ease. the bronzed lined
face of big man standing over him
Francois smiled; then laughed with
assurance of the others friendliness
up into the strange mans face. He
got to his feet and stood.
mo, msieur," he said politely. 7
was only pleased at thinking what ]
am going to be some day"
"Ah! Is it permitted to ask what
magnificence it is that you are to be?'
Certainly it is permitted, m'sieur. T"
Francois answered in his courageous,
courteous way. Il shall one day be a
marshal of France under another
Bonaparte.'
The stranger watched him, aston.
ished, and then he laid his hand OH the
slim shoulder in its homespun blouse,
and his grave voice was gentle. MY
child, be careful how you say words
like those; you may get your father
into trouble. 1t is a good belief to
keep In ones heart, and you and may
yet shout 'Vive l'Empereur' for Ma
poleon again. Yes, who knows? But
/ must 60 on. Good day. my friend
the marshal"