The Bismarck tribune., 1923-03-31

above or below; sometimes drivers
were too careful. On the fourth day,
however, success rewarded our per-
severance. \ small automobile
which | had spotted from u dis
lance came round the corner where
We were, SO to speak, anchored.
driven with that full measure of
rec|l,esSncss which only d French
man, anxious to have his engine.
can obtain. There was wild cry
from the driver. crash into our
wagon. and over went the automo-
bile and man down the side OF the
prccipice.
1t was ! who clambered down to
whcre our victim was lying. and
drew Il pleasing looking black pock-
ctbook from the inside of his coat.
Afterward felt his heart, and dis
covered that he was still alive.
ordered Pierre to move the wagons
over to our side of the road, and we
secrcted the pockclbook among the
logs we were carrying. Presently
Il public touring car from Cannes,
on its way to llycreS, arrived. The
accident was explained: room was
made for the injured man: and a
liberal pOurbOirc was given us, col
lectcd among the passengers. We
then made our way home. and la-
ter on. when we had lighted our
evening fire. we opened the pocket
book. Z | divided The money into
three portions, but ! spoke to them
us Il master.
i Listen. Jacques and You, Pierre"
! said. Il am Il man of justice. but
although am one of you. have
travelled beyond these forests, and
know the world. If you take this
money with YOU to the village to-
night. YOU will be drunk. the truth
viii be known and we shall all go
to prison. ! viii swear to you the
wood-cuticrs' oath. the oath across
the flames. that your share shall be
saved. But so to the village to-
night with 20 francs each, the pour
boirc given us by the Englishmen.
and let me keep the rest for you. or
hide it for themselves"
They had Just sufficient wit to re-
aIize that | was their superior in
intelligence and that my advice was
good. SO we growlcd an oath i'm
the strange dialect of those parts.
and gripped their gnarDcd and
y knnttcd hands, which reminded me
always of the roots of the trees we
felled.
>, Our next adventure, engineered i'm
| similar fashion to the last, brought
us a matter of a couple of thousand
francs. This time. however, there
was trouble, for the drivers neck
was broken as he pitched head fore
most from the seat of his car; and
his wife, who was only slightly in
iurcd. gave vigorous evidence as to
the position of our wagon and the
disappearance of her husbands $
pocketbook after we had dragged
his body up from Il ledge of the
precipicc. \ gendarme from the
neighboring village visited us that
same night and made a careful
search through our belongings.
There was lfOthing to be found how
ever. and by preserving a stolid ST.
lcncc and leaving all speech to me,
my companions escaped suspicion
Just as did. Aftcrward, however,
| spoke to them seriously.
Comrades" ! pointed out, this
game is too good to last. For time
we must 30 wariIy. Afterward we
will seek one more adventure, which
we must select with great care, for
it will be my last. If it is. success
! full, | shall leave you. Aftcrward
you two had better bury your saw
ings in the ground and abandon the
game, for it needs brains to be
made successful. and you two have
not the brains of a rabbit between
ypu."'
They knew that ! was right. and
they held their peace. 1t was Il
month later, indeed, before we made
our last coup, and it ended i'm a
very different fashion from what
had anticipated. From my lookout
above the wagons. | saw Il gray
touring car, piled with luggage and
solf-clubs. approaching from the di-
rectiOn of Cannes. There was a girl
in front. seated by the driver, and
an elderly gentleman behind. |
called down to the others.
Comrades, this is our chance" l
announced. ''Motc the wagons on
around the corner, and be prepared
for what may happen
What did happen was not in the
least what had expected. From
where | lay, crouching amongst the
scrub, could see that something
was wrong with the car. The chauf-
fcur was rocking i'm his scat, and
the car was swaying from side to
side.
But it was the girls face from
which ! could not remove my eyes.
She must have fully realized the
danger she was in, but she showed
not the slightest signs Of fear. She
leaned over and tried to put on the
foot brake, succeeding so far, in fact
as momentarily to check the prog
ress of the car. The chauffeur. sud
denly seizing his opportunity,
jumped from his seat and rolled
over i'm the dust. The girls foot
apparently. slipped from the brake,
and the car once more gathered
speed.
saw her eyes, as the car came
humping down the hill, heard the
wild shouting and cxclamations Of