Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1914-08-06

Achille Dufom suggested, Even
Francois would hot dare climb that
ladder 70 the bAll Dare you?"
The great 5roen eyes of Francois
turned about the group DE boys wait
ed eagerly for his answer. 1t was al
ways this one who led into the dan
gerous places; always this one who
went a bit further when the others
courage failed
81 dare. said Francois. Then the
dark heads came together I'm 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-all 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 Prlpoteaux cottage,
where the glider lodged while in Vic.
ques.
How soon viii one be at work up
there again?" ne asked through the
window of Auguste PhNpoteaux sit
ting at his dinner, and the man am
swered good-uaturedly
cit may be I'm half an hour, my boy
Not sooner" And Francois raced on
BY this time a boy here and q boy
there had stolen from their dinner
tables and were gathering I'm groups
down the street, but the elders paid
no attention. Francois disappeared in
TO the church; the boys began TO grow
| breatbless.
1T win take some minutes for tho
stairs" one said and they waited
Two minutes, three, perhaps FIVE;
something rose out Of the trap-doOi
| leading to the platform from which tho
l steeple sprang-a figure looking very
| small SO far up above them. Instantly
It attached itself, like a crawling fly
/ 10 the side of the steeple; it moved up
/ ward. Henri Dufour, below IN IN,
street, jumped as a hand gripped hil
/ arm. He looked up frightened at il
I Claire.
1 Us that my Francois" she demand
1 ed sternly but the boy did not need t
answer
With that. by degrees people cam,
from the cottages as at some mysteri
GUS warning and stood silent, afraid &,
breathe watching the little hgur'
creeping up. up the dizzy narrowing
I peak of the church steeple A ride
! galloped down the road; seeing tho
/ groups, he pulled I'm his bay horse an,
his eyes followed the upward glanc0
I of the whole village.
'Who Is 1t?" he flung at the neares
knot Of peasants; his voice was abrup
and commanding
The men pulled off their caps, ana
Z one answered respectfully: 1T is M
tie Francois Beaupre, my seigneur; 4
is a child who has no fear; he IFS al
most at the top. but we dread it whel
he descends."
Mon dieu!" the man on horsebacl
/ growled Of he looks down he is lost
the lad Is a born hero or a born luna
tic"
The crawling spot up there shower
dark in the sunlight against the ne,
gliding of the ball 10 stopped; th
blot was fixed for a second; anothe
second. From the crowd rose gasps
and excited broken sentences.
"He has the vertigol He Is LOST"
The dark blot chung against the Gid
ing. Then suddenly it moved, bega
TO make a slow way downward, and
long sigh, like a ripple on water, RAJ
through the ranks of people no on
spoke; an the eyes watched the it'll
Figure slip down. down the unseen lac
der On tho air. AT last IT was at Ia
bottom; it disappeared into the trar
door Every one began TO talk volubl.
eL onces a woman cried for joy then
child spoke On a high voice
/ "see," she said shrilly, "the mothe
OF Francois goes 10 meet himi"