The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-04-06

luiIet. am utHl.
Tut said Milky, mopplng his cut
lip. "If you are dead. your spirit
speaks with an uncommonIy lusty
voice! Come, get up. We present TO-
gether a shameful picture Of defeat"
But he raised Peter Niburg gently
from the ground and, finding his knees
unstable, from fright or weakness
stood him against house wall. Peter
NiburG, with rolling eyes, felt for his
letter, and, the saints he praised
found it.
"Ahn' he said. and Strengthened up.
"After all, 1t Is not so bad as / feared.
They got nothing"
He made a manful effort to walk,
but tottered reeled. Milky caught
him.
Careful" he said. "The colossus
was doubtless the one who got US
both. and we are likely to feel his
weight for some time. Where do you
live"
Peter Niburg was not for saying.
He would have preferred to pursue his
solitary if uncertain way. But Milky
was no half Samaritan. Toward Peter
Niburg's lodging, then, they made a
slow progress.
"Thesc recent gentlemen" said Nix
ky, as they went along, they are, per-
hapS, personal encmies?'
Peter Niburg reflected. re thought
not. "But know why they came" he
said unguardedIy. "Some early morn
ing, my friend. you will hear Of q man
lying dead in the street. That man
viii be l."
THE thought has a moral" observed
Milky. DO not trust yourself out-of-
doors at night"
But he saw that Peter Nihurg kept
his hand over MS breast pocket.
Never having dealt in mysteries,
Milky was slow at recognizing one.
But, he reflected, many things were
going on in the old city in these tr0u-
bled days. Came to Milky, all at once
that this man on his arm might be one
of the hidden eyes of government.
"These are difficult times" he ven
tured, for those who are loyal"
Peter Niburg gave him a sidelong
glance. Difficult indeed" he said
briefly.
II think" Milky observed, that,
after l see you safely home, I shall
report this small matter to the police"
But here Peter Niburg turned even
paler. "Not-not the police" he
Stammered.
"But why7 You and I, my friend,
will carry their insignia for some days.
I have a mind to pay our debts"
Peter Niburg considered. He stop
ped and faced Milky. II do not wish
the police" he said "Perhaps I have
said too little. This is a private mat
ter. An affair Of jealousy"
II seer
Naturally, not a matter for pub
lefty"
VERY WELL" Milky assented. But
in his mind was rising dark suspicion.
He had stumbled on something. He
cursed his stupidity that it meant, so
far, nothing more than a mystery to
him. He did not pride himself on his
you were not alone, I think?"
Peter Niburg suddenly remembered
Herman, and stopped.
''Your friend must have escaped"
''He would escape" said Peter Nj
burg scornfully. "He is of the type
that runs"
He lapsed into sullen silence. Soon
ne paused before a quiet house, one
If the many which housed in cavernous
depths uncounted clerks and other
small fry of the city. "GoOd night to
YOU" said Peter Niburg. Then. rather
tardily. "And my thanks. But for
Tou l should now" he shrugged his
shoulders.
"Good night, friend" said Milky.
And better keep your bed tomorrow"
He had turned away and Peter Nj
,urg entered the house.
Milky inspected himself in the glow
# street lamp. Save for some dust,
md swollen lip, which he could not |
see, he was not unpresentable. Well !
enough, anyhow, for the empty streets. |
But before he started he looked the |
house and the neighborhood over care
ully. He might wish to return to that |
louse.
For two hours he walked, and re- |
umed his fntprr1IDtpd train of thOupht |
vt last, having almost circled the city,
lie came to the Cathedral. 1t was
Yearly midnight by the clock in the
Ugh tower. He stopped and consulted
lis watch. The fancy took him to go
Ip the high steps, and look out over
he city from the colonnade.
Once there, he,stood leaning against
column. looking out There was
omeone coming along the quiet
treets, with a stealthy. shuffling gait
hat caught his attention. So, for in
lance might a weary or a wounded
IAN drag along. Exactly so, indeed,
ad Peter Niburg shambled into his
ouse but two hours gone.
The footsteps paused, hesitated,
painful struggle up the
scent. Milky moved behind his col
mn, and waited. Up and up, weary
tep after weary step. The shadowy
cure, coming close, took form, be-
anne a 1nan-became Peter Niburg.
Now, indeed, Milky reused. Beaten
nd SOrp1v bruised Pptar Nihurp |