The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-03-27

The village square in Paradise was
nearly deserted. The children had
raced away to follow the newly arrived
gendarmes as closely as they dared,
and the women were indoors hanging
about their men, whom the govern
ment summoned to Lorient
Far away towards SainteYsole we
saw the blue woods which were our
goal. However, we had no intention OF
going there as the bee flies, partly be-
cause Tric-Trac might see us, partly
because the Lizard wished any prowl-
ing passer-by TO observe that he was
occupied with his illegitimate profes-
sion. All the while we had been twist
ing and doubling and edging nearer
and nearer to the Sainte-Yso woods,
until we we're already within their cool
shadow, and I heard the tinkle Of
stream among leafy depths.
The Lizards poacher's eyes began to
glisten and simmer in the forest dusk
like the eyes of wild things that hunt
at night.
Presently he beckoned me, stepped
into the moss, and crawled without a
sound straight through the holly
thicket.
Watch here" he whispered. Count
hundred when l disappear, then
creep on your stomach to the edge Of
that bank"
Before / had counted fifty l heard
the Lizard cry out, "Bonjour, Trio
Tract" but I counted on. obeying the
Lizards orders as l should wish mine
to be obeyed. / counted one hundred
and crept forward to the messy edge
of the bank, under the yellow beach
| leaves.
Below me stood the Lizard, intently
watching a figure crouched on hands
and knees before a small, iron-bound
box.
The person addressed as Tric-Trac
promptly tried to hide the box by sit
ting down on it.
"Flute!" he snarled. Like a mud
rat, you creep with no sound-c'est
pas polite, nom dun NOM"
whats that box?" asked the Liz
ard. abruptly.
BOX? don't see any box"
You're sitting on it," observed the
Lizard. whats In it?"
Don't know" replied Tric-Trac,
with brisk interest. 81 found it."
The Lizard was silent.
did you bring me anything to
chew on?" inquired Tric-Trac. shifting
at the poachers sack.
Bread, cheese, three pheasants,
cider-more than eat in a week" said
the Lizard, quietly. 1T will cost forty
sous"
He opened his sack and slowly dis
played the provisions.
/ looked hard at the iron-bound box.
On one end was printed the Geneva
cross. Doctor belmont and Professor
Tavernier had disappeared carrying
Tric-Trac having devoured the
cheese, bread and an entire pheasant
made bundle of the remaining food,
emptied the cider jug, wiped his beard
less face with his cap, and announced
that he would be pleased to "broil''
a cigarette.
The Lizard laughed, and Tric-Trac,
disgusted, stood up, settled his cap
over his wide ears, humming a song as
he loosened his trousers belt. Who
are you gaping at ?" he added, abrupt
ly. Bon; c'est ma geule. Et apres
Drop that box! The next time you
come here to sell your shared pleas
ants, come like man, nom de Dieu!
and not like cat Of the Glaciere!-or
I'll find way to stop your curiosity
He picked up his box and the packet
Of provisions, dropped his revolves
into the side pocket Nf his jacket,
cooked his greasy cap, blew kiss to
the Lizard, and started off straight in
to the forest
On our way home l drew from the
poacher that Tric-Trac had named
Mornac as head Of the communistic
plot in Brittany; that Mornac was
coming to Paradise very soon, and
that then something gay might be
looked for.
And that night took Speed into my
confidence and finally Kelly Eyre, our
balloonist.
| ITO RE CONTINTTFDO