The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-01-28

tie bag Into the bosom OF his gown.
In many ways an artistic nature units
man for practical existence
No sooner had the theft been accom-.
plished than Villon shook himself.
jumped 10 his feet ana began helping
10 scatter aud cxtinguish the cmbers
Meanwhile Montigny opened the door
aud cautiously pcercl into the street
The coast was clear There was no
mcddesome patrol In sight SIN II
was judged wiser TO slip out seyerally,
pnd Villon was the nrst 10y general CON
sent TO issue forth
The wind had triumphed and swept
all the clouds from heaven Only a
few vapors az thin as moonlight fleet
ed rapidly acOSs the stars II was
bitter cold. ana 10y common optical
effect. things seemed almost more deti
mite than In the broadcast daylight VA
Ion cursed his fortune Would IL were
stu showing, Now. wherever he
went he left an indclihle trail.
Two things prcoccupied him as he
went, the aspect OF the gallows at
MontfaucOn In this bright. windy
phase ~ the nights existence for one.
and for another. the look Of the dead
man with his bald head and garland of
red curls Roth struck cold upon his
heart. ana he kept quickening his pace
as II he could escape from unpleasant
thoughts by mere nectucss Of foot.
suddenly be SAW long way before
him black clump aud a couple OF Ian.
terms. The clump was IN motion. and
the lanterns swung AS though carried
by men walking Il was patrol
Just ON his left hand there stood
great hotel. with some turrets aud a
large porch before the door IL was
dark inside after the glimmer of the
snowy streets aud he was cropping fOr
ward with outsprcad hands when be
stumbled over some substance which
offered an indcsc ribable mixture % re-
sistanecs, hard and soft. arm and
loose iiis-heart gave a leap and h,
sprang two steps back and stared
dreadfully nt the obstacle Then NJ
gave little laugh of relief II was only
a woman. aud she dead Tie rnelt be-
side her 60 make SURF upon this latter
point She was frccxing coid aud urid
Ike a stick A little ragged nncry
huItered In the wind about her hair.
aud her cheeks had been heavily
rougcd that same afternoon Her porR.
cts we're quite empty but Ia her stock
Ing underneath the garter Villon found
two % the small coins thst went hy the
name Of whites. II was little enough.
but II was always something, aud the
poet was moved with a deep sense u
pathos that she should have died b.
fore she had spent her money.
While these thoughts were passing
through his mind be was feeling half
mechanically for his purse Suddenly
his heart stopped beating. A FEELING
of cold scales passed up the back Of
his legs and a culd blow SEEMED 20
fall upon his scalp. lie stood pctriflel
for moment. then he felt again with
one fcsertsh movement. then his loss
burst upon him. lie cursed Tie threw
the two whites into the street lie
shook his ast az heaven lie stamp
ed and was not horrined 10 nnd him.
self trnmpllng the poor corpse Then
he began rapidly 20 rctrace his steps
toward the house beside the cemetery.
He had forgotten all fear Of the patrol.
which was long gone by nj any rate.
aud had no idea but that of his lost
purse II was In vain that he looked
night aud left upon the snow Nothing
was 10 be- seen lie had not dropped
II In the streets. Had II fallen in the
house, lie would have fixed dearly 10
20 Ia ssd see. but the idcn ~ the grisly
occupant unnamed him and he saw
besides as be- drew near that their Fl
forts 10 put Out the tirc had been un
successful Gu the contrary. II had
broken into hlaze. aud rhaugeful
light played In the chiuks u door and
window aud revived his terror Tor the
authorities aud Paris eibbet
He returned 10 the hotel with tho
porch aud CROPPED about upon the
snow for the money b. had thrown
away 10 his childish passion but he
coald only hud one white. the other
had probably struck sideways and
sunk deeply in With n single white 10
his pocket an his projects for a rous.
Ing night ia some wild tavern vanish.
ed utterly away And IL was not only
pleasure that fed laughing from his
grasp. positive discomfort positive
pain, attacked him ~ hc ~topd ruefully
before the porch. His Precipitation had
dried upon him. aud although the wind
had now fallen binding frost was
setting In stronger with every hour.
and he felt beBumbed and sick nc
heart. What was 10 be dOnef Late as
was the hour. improbable rs was sue.
cess. be- would try the house OF his
adopted father, the chaplain Of ST BE.
mott
He ran there all the way and knock.
ed timidly. There wns no answer He
knocked again and again. taking heart
With every stroke. and NJ last steps
were heard approaching from within.
A barred wicket fell open In the iron
studded door and emitted gush OF
Ill.