Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1920-07-22
CHAPTER vi.
A Wandering EaqIe.

A Wandering Eagle.
My father seemed to be much Of Jim
H%orscroft's opinion, for he was not
warm to this new guest, and
looked him up and down with a very
questioning eye. He set a dish Of vine
CARED herrings before him, however,
and l noticed that he looked more
askance than ever when my compan-
ion ate nine of them, for two were
always our portion. When at last he
had finished, Bonaventure de Lapp's
lids were dropping v e his eyes, for
l doubt not that he had been sleep
less as we'll as foodless for these three
days. 1t was but a poor room to
which l led him, but he threw himself
down upon the couch, wrapped his
big blue cloak around him, and was
asleep in an instant. He was a very
high and strong snorer, and, as my
room was next to his, I had reason to
within our gates.
When l came down in the morning l
found that he had been beforehand
with me, for he was seated opposite
my father al the window table in the
kitchen, their heads almost touching,
and a little roll Of gold pieces between
them. AS l came in my father looked
up at me, and l saw a light Of greed
in his eyes such as I had never seen
before. He caught up the money with
an eager clutch, and swept it into his
pocket.
very good, mister" said he. 1.-THE
rooms yours, and you pay always on
the third Of the month";"
"Ah, and here is my first FRIEND"
cried De Lapp, holding out his hand to
me with a smile which was kindly
enough, and yet had that touch of pa
tronage which a nan uses when he
smiles to his dog. II am myself again
now, thanks to my excellent supper
and good nights rest. All, it is hun
ger that takes the courage from a
a That most, and cold next"
aye, that's right" said my father.
1--WE been out on the moors in a snow
diff for six-and-thirty hours. and /
,SgTsrEa, -. 49, ". -""=H
Ken what it is like"
81 once saw three thousand men
starve to DEATH" remarked De Lapp
putting out his hands to the fire. DAY
by day they got thinner and more like
apes, and they did come down to the
edge of the pontoons where we did
keep them, and they howled with rage
and pain. The first few days their
howls went over the whole city, but
after a week our sentries on the bank
could. not hear them, so weak they had
fallen"
."And they died?" 1 exclaimed.
"They held out a very long time.
Austrian grenadiers they were, Of the
corps Of Starowitz, fine, stout men,
as big as your friend of yesterday, but
when the town fell there were but four
hundred alive. and a man could lift
them three at a time, as if they were
little monkeys. 1t vas a pity. All,
my friend, you will do me fhe honors
with madame and with mademoiselle,"
1t was my mother and Edie, who
had come into the kitchen. He had
not seer them the night before; but
now it vas all l could do to keep my
face as I watched him, for, instead of
our homely Scottish nod, he bent up
his. back like a Looping trout, and
slid his foot, and clapped his hand
over his heart in the queerest way.
My mother stared, for she thought he
was making fun of her, but Cousin
Edie fell into it in an instant, as
though it had been a game, and away
she went in a great courtesy, until ]
thought She would have had to give
it up, and sit down right there in the
middle of the kitchen floor. But no,
she a up again as light as a piece
Of fluff. and we all drew up u stools
and started on the scenes and milk
and p%orridge.
He had a wonderful way with WON.
en-, that man. Now, if / were to do
it, or Jim Horscroft, it would look as
if we were playing the fool, and the
girls would have laughed at us; but
with him it seemed to go with his
style OI lace auu laSulOu u SpSSCu,
so that one came at last to look for
it. For when he spoke to my mother
or to Cousin Edie-and he was never
backward in speaking-it would al
ways be with a bow and q look as IL
it would hardly be worth their while
to listen to what he had to say; and
when they answered he would put on
a face as though every word they said
was to be treasured up and remem.
bered forever. Edie did not say much,
but she kept shooting little glances at
our visitor, and nee or twice he
looked very hard at her.
When he had gone to his room, after
breakfast, my father pulled out eight
golden pounds, and laid them on the
table.
eEhat think We Of that, Martha?'
said he.
you've. sold the two black tups
after all?.
.No. but it's a months pay for
board and lodging from Jocks friend