Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-29

But hold him back, and cried: "And
m~demoiselle, what of her? Speak, you
drunken dog. Have you let her be
harmedr"
''She is perfectly safe" he answered, IN
his turn holding me back from rushing
to the inn. II do not think that she was
even awakened. What use to let her
know what has happened? II we rescue
the maid and the maid win hold her
tongue, mademoiselle will never know
what danger she has escaped.
''Or what vigilant protectors she has
had to guard her Sleep i said, with
bitter self-reproach, no longer daring
to blame Blaise for layity of which !
had been equally guilty. "lou are
right" | went on, "she must know
nothing. Now tell me at once exactly
what has occurred
Blaise would rather have looked for
his sword, and started off Immediately
10 the rescue of the maid, but | made
HIM stand with me IN the shadow OF the
inn and relate.
"From the time when | fell asleep
81 the kitchen floor he said, Il knew
nothing until little while ago, when l
awoke, and found myself still where |
had lain down, but tied up as you iound
me yonder. Four ours of hell were lifting
me to carry me out. | tried to strike,
but the deep sleep, induced by that
cursed wine, had allowed them to tie me
up as neatly as If had been a dead deer
Neither could speak, though tired
hard enough 10 curse, you may be sure.
So they brought me out, and laid me
down there by the inn-door. Would u
not be best to stick sword into hlmF
said one of the rascals, y soft speaking
womanish pup. \ hungry, looking giant
put the point of an old two-handed sword
at my breast, as II TO carry out the sug-
gestton: but a heavy, black-bearded
scoundrel, whose voice | think | have
heard before, pushed the sword away
and said: NO, the captain has a quarrel
tn adjust with him in person. We are 70
concern ourselves entirely with the lady.
Law him wonder. So they carried me
over 10 the bushes. And now for the
others said the giant Why lose time
over them said the burly fellow, who
seemed to bc the leader; they are sleep
ing like pigs in the shed. Comel We
can do the business without waking
them up
so they left me lying on the ground
aud went into the inn again, very quietly.
They must have gone, without waking
the landlord or his wife, into the room
Of mademoiselle and her maid. Presently
they came out again, carrying the maid
When they had gone about half way
20 the woods, they stopped and set her
on her feet. So far, suppose, 1T was the
wine that kept her asleep; but now she
awoke. and | could see her looking
around, very scared, from one to the
other Of the four rascals. Then she gave
a scrram. At that instant, there came
rushing from the woods, with his sword
drawn, your friend, the vi comte de
Reruuin. Stand of !. rascalsp he shouted,
as he ran up to them. They drew their
weapons, aud made a weak pretense OF
resisting him; then, when each one had
exchanged a thrust with hun, they all
turned tail, and made off into the woods.
IN. de Berouin now turned to the
maid, who had fallen TO her knees IN
fright. Taking her hand. he said,
sMsdemoiselle, ! thank Heaven | ar
rived in time to give YOU the aid your
own escort failed 70 afford. Perhaps now
vou will be the less unwilling to accept
my protection. the maid now looked
up at him. and he got n good view of her
face. He started back as if hell had
OPENED before him, threw her hand from
his. turned towards the woods, and
shouted to the four rsscals, You whelp
of the devil, YOU have made a mistake
and brought the maid'i He was about to
follow them, when it probably occurred
TO him that If left free the maid would
disclose his little project; for he stood
thinking a moment, then grasped the
frightened maid by the wrist, and nan
of into the woods, dragging her after
him. All this | saw through an opening
in the bushes while | lay helpless and