South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-09-15
epn International MAGAZINE Company

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/ mounted. and rode off in the direc-
ton OF Nant.
Then Duchemin committed his
second error of judgment. which
consisted in thinking TO ind better
and cooler air on the heights across
/ the river.
Accordingly he crossed the Dour-
bic. reached the top in a bath OF
sweat. and sat down to cool and
breathe himself.
The view was splendid, almost
worth the climb: Duchemin could
see for miles up and down the valley
/ Across the wall Duchemin identified
the figure Of the landlord, standing
in the door Of the auberge with arms
raised and elbows thrust out on a
level with his eyes: the pose of a
man using field glasses
Having rested, he picked himself
up, found his road. a mere trail of
wagon tracks. and mindful of the
cooling drinks he had in the Cafe
de TUnivers, put his best foot fore
most
After a time something. call it in
stinct. impelled him 70 look back the
way he had come. Half a mile dis
tant he saw the figure of a peasant
following the same road. Duchemin
stopped and waited for the other to
come up. But when he stopped the
man stopped. sat down upon a rock,
filed a pipe. and conspicuously
rested.
Duchemin gave an impatient ges-
tUre and moved on. After another
mile he glanced overshoulder again.
The same peasant occupied the
same relative distance from him.
In dusk of evening he stumbled
down INFO the valley again and
struck the river road about midway
between the Chateau de Montalais
ard Nant. At. this junction several
dwellings clustered. Duchemin no
ticed a few shadowy shapes loiter-
ing about, but was too far gone in
fatigue and thirst 10 pay them any
heed. He had no thought but 10
stop at the first house and beg a
cup Of water. As he lifted a hand
to knuckle the door he was attack
ed.
With no more warning than a
cry. he signal for the onslaught.
and the sudden scuh!ng noise OF
several pair OF feet. he wheeled.
found himself already closely press
&c by a number OF men. and struck
out at random. His stick landed
on somebody's head with rcsound-
irg thump followed by yell of
pain. Then three men were crap
ping with him. two moro seeking
TO aid them. and another lay in the
roadway c,utching a fractured skull
and splitting oaths and groans.
His stick was seized and wrench
ed away. he was overwhelmed by
mum bers The knot OF struggling
figures toPpled and went to the
CUT
A VOICE CR-ED: QUICKLY,
MONSIEUR. QUICKLY
dust. Duchemin underneath. so
weighed down that he could not for
he moment move a hand toward
his pistol
Half-stffed by the reek OF un-
washed flesh. he heard broken
phases growied in voices hoarse
with effort and excitement:
The knlfe!" 49, Hold him 20
stand clear and let me"
e"The knife."
Struggling madly he worked a
leg free and kicked with all his
might. one OF his assailants howled
aloud and fell back to nurse a brok-
en- shin. Two others scrambled out
or he way. leaving one TO pin him
down with knees upon his chest.
another % WELD the knife.
Staring eyes caught a warning
cieam on descending steel Duchc-
min squirmed frautlcally 70 one
side, and felt co d metal kiss the
skin over his ribs Is tie blade pene-
trated his clothing. close under the
armpit.
Before the man with the knife
could strike again. Duchemin. rOus-
ed 70 a mightier effort, threw of
the ruffian on his knees and, rain
ing blows right and left as the
others closed RICH. and left as the
others closed in again. somehow
managed to scramble TO his feet.
Fist-work told. For an instant he
stood quite free. the center or a
circle OF uncertain assassins whose
cowardlce gave him time 10 whip
on. his pistol But before he could
level IL a man was on his back. his
wrist was seized and the weapon
twisted from his grasp.
a cry OF triumph was echoed by
ordinations OF alarm as dlsaru-
cd. Duchemin was again left free.
the thugs standing back 10 let the
pistol do IT'S work. II That instant
a broad sword OF light swung -ound
a nearby corner and smote the
group the twin. glazing eyes Of