Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-03-26
By
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
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safe. DEAR" he answered. smiling.
There was never any danger. Lafe
was with me. and We went and came
on the tide"
As be spoke be noticed that the
crowd at the whaFf-head had drawn
nearer. He heard man shouting;
there seemed to be some disturbance
which he fancled they were trying 70
Quell. Lafe stepped upon the wharf
with the two girls. walking past Hill
airy. Madeleine turned.
Her eyes, lighting upon Marle's face.
and then Nanette's. sought Hilary's IN
establishment. But she asked nothing.
and waited. Her hand. which had
rested upon his arm, remained there.
But whereas II had been a living.
warm part Of her. II now felt cold and
heavy. and llfeless
Then out of the crowd burst Jean
Baptiste. screaming. He ran toward
Hillary. A knife was flashing In his
hand. His onset was SO swift that Il
took Hilary and Madeleine completely
by surprise. As the little man closed
with him Hilary just managed TO
grasp his arm.
"TiI KIN your painted Baptiste. and
the breath whistled through his throat
as II the force Of his passion had con.
strlcted II to pipes dimension. lit
Is she. and you took her from her
home last night. I sought for her; I
was waiting and watchful; did not
sleep. l swore you should die"
He fought for freedom OF the stab
bling arm llke a man possessed NJ q
thousand devils. Tie worked the hand
free, and II went mp and down. the
long knife flashing and siicing into
HIlary's coat. And Madeleine did moi
utter n word.
She watched the struggle like q
woman In a dream. Twice Hillary felt
the point OF the knife as II drove
through the air and slashCd 60 the END
OF Baptiste's reach. Then the GROVE
closed about them.
But Baptiste fought like q devil. II
hurled the lumbermcn asldei thEes
times he fought out Of their graaE
and made for Hilary. who. hCrrIaet
and still uncertain made no attempt
10 escape or strike. Each time he
caught the knife hand by q miraele ol
luck. and all tho time he fought Bnp
tlste never ceased shouting.
"Lct me get nj him r. no painted n
watched them. I waited. did MOI
} sleep. He took her last night % thl
island. I swore 20 kin him. Let ms
GO Let me goi"
His voice rang high above chs
shrleks Of the frightened girls md IA,
shouts OF the men. They had closeS
] about him now. but for the fourti
time be broke through and made f0i
: Hilary. the knife held low now. read!
Tor The ripping upward stroke. Hilnr,
, grasped Of his arm again and missed
+ The knife flashed back-and then II
+ an instant Madeleine stood where Bap
! tist0 had been. and the blood drtppel
from her sleeve. And still she hal
|. not uttered a sound.
They had got Baptiste down now
/ stlll fighting like a wild beast. The.
were holding him, one man 10 eacl
limb. and his body wFithed and curse
broke from his lips. And Madeleln
!. stood before Hilary. quiet and calls
! and silent.
He sprang toward her. Madeleine 1
! He seized her arm and tore N
sleeve away. There was a cash, Ions
I but not deep. from which the bloc
Il vas yelling. He felt beside himsel
with mingled fury and fear. He bega
!. TO bind II with his handkerchief. IN
n iclIy cold arm that had been war;
L against bis shoulder. But afadsleiu
Il drew herself away.
at IL nothing" she said, and bega
4 10 walk toward the head Of the whar
/. Her zig was waiting there, the horl
d held BY a boy.
lei Hilary walked b. her side, speaklf
he never remembered what IL waa
O. sald-lmpioTing Madeleine said not
o. ing. Nothing until cine reached q
carriage step. Drops OF blood mark
", her progress. There she paused az
~ looked at him. He could zee her fai
4 now IN the light Of the boys ianteE
II and Il was neither scornful nor prou
a. but very hard-Ilke the Seigneur
n Hilary thought afteTward.
But all bis thoughts were o. y
4. wound. Madeleine, Jour armf"
n cried. catching at Il.
1t "It IN nothing" she saId once rnOi
III turning to mount the step.
Then Hilary knew what 30 had a
% let himself know be knew. He eaug
I her hand and pressed II 20 hts M
30 s.Mareleine" he cried. "You do not
do n0t--aarely yea are net going
70 condemn me when -
q, She placed her foot On ne step.
e. II told you nothing but Jour faii
Il. leaznesa could KIN my love- she ~
v. IN q whisper. And, IN q lower WI
ar per. a1iooa-byf
N TIE wheels were mevlng before IA
~ aEy could grasp The scene. bring
- home al lila epmNcanumnsMa And mNft