Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-02-14
CHAPTER III.
WITHOUT Fear.

Every twenty years this had to be
done, and it was an event in the vii
lage- Moreover, it was dangerous. and,
like all dangers, fascinating
The boys of vfcques stood in groups
in the street with their heads bent
back, watching the tiny figure of a
man that crept up an invisible ladder
far in the air, dashed to the side of the
steeple. Up and up it went, like a fly,
crawling on the f1eche, 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 1t was al
ways this one who led into the dan
gerous places; always this one Iwho
went bit further when the others
courage failed.
Il 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 beans-aH 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:
1t may be in half an hour, my boy,
Not sooner" And Francois raced o.
By this time a 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 to grow
II VIII take some minutes Tor 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 |
steeple sprang-a figure, looking very |
small so far up above them Instantly |
t attached itself, like crawling fly,
20 the side of the steeple; it moved up
ward Henri Dufour. below in the |
street, jumped as a hand gripped his /
lrm. He looked up frightened at La
Claire.
rs that my Francois" she demand
ID sternly, but the boy did not need to
answer
With that, by degrees people came
rom the cottages as at some mysterf-
JUS warning and stood silent, afraid to
breathe. watching the little figure
Keeping up, up the dizzy narrowing
'eak of the church steeple- rider
,allOped down the road; seeing the
,roups, he pulled in his bay horse and
us eyes followed the upward glance
# the whole village.
Who is it?'' he flung at the nearest
not of peasants; his voice was abrupt
nd commanding
The men pulled off their caps. and
ne answered respectfully: 1T is lit
lie Francois Beaupre, my seigneur; it
) child who has no fear; he is al
lost at the top but we dread it when
e descends"
Mon dieut" the man on horseback
rowled. If he looks down he is lost; +
ne lad is born hero or a born luna
c.
The crawling spot up there showed ]
ark in the sunlight against the new I
ilding of the ball 1t stopped: the
lot was fixed for a second; another
-cond- From the crowd rose gasps.
nd excited broken sentences {
He has the yertigol He is LOST"
The dark blot chung against the gild- s
e. Then suddenly it moved. began s
make slow way downward, and a I
ng sigh. like 4 ripple on water, ran
rough the ranks of people. No one S
'oke: all the eyes watched the little Il
CURE slip down. down the unseen lad a
er in the air. At last it was at the
,ttom: it disappeared into the trap b
Dor Every one began to talk volubly d
once, a woman cried for JOY. then a t
lid spoke in high voice d
See" she said shrilly. the mother Z
Francois goes to meet him." \
LIE Claire was far down the street, la
iding toward that church door