The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-03-29

through the door after her. The
power of several men seemed to be
his as he hurled himself upon the
guards that were half carrying, half
leading his sister away. Gone forever
was the craven, dispicable despoiler
of women. The inhuman scavenger
who sought to live from the forced
immortality of his own sister. In its
place was an avenging mailman whose
uncanny strength grasped victim in
each hand, cracked their skulls to-
gether and tossed them aside. The
very suddenness of his attack, the
maniacal fury of his hands was de-
moralizing.
From the doorway the Comte
watched the struggle, then as Lescaut
crashed another guard to the floor
de Ravoir drew his sword and true to
his cowardly nature, plunged the keen
blade deep into Andre Lescaut's back.
When the Kings soldiers carried
Manon through the doorway she
knew that Andre was fighting to save
her, but she did not know that he had
ceased that struggle. She was dimly
aware Of the Comte lowering in the
background, giving directions to the
men, and her mind wandered back to
Fabien. With sobs that racked her to
her very soul she ceased her struggles
and with a whispered prayer for the
safety of her lover let herself be
borne away.
Manon had no idea where she was
being taken.
Fate had again separated her from
Fabien and put her in the Comtes
power. She was crazed with anxiety
to know what had happened to her
lover and if they would ever see each
other again.
When Fabien won the seclusion of
the little room at the head of the
stairs, and locked out the angry
crowd, he was frantic to find Manon.
The fact that she was not there
spurred him into action without fur
ther. delay, Of the three doors that
stared blindly from the surrounding
walls he chose the one to the left.
He hoped it would lead into the same
room he had seen Lescaut enter from
the corridor short while before.
Fortunately the door was unlocked.
Bursting into the room, Fabien saw
Lescaut leaning over chair, but his
thoughts were so concerned with Ma
non that he did not notice the deadly
stream of hood that slowly trickled
down the back of Lescaut's satin coat.
where is Manon!" demanded Fa-
bien.
"In there m m n t-ago,"
gasped Lescaut with difficulty, wav-
ing toward door opposite the one
Fabien had entered.
"My God, man you are wounded
in the back!' Fabien was all compass
sion and put his arms around Les
caut's dropping shoulders.
Eyes, generous last thrust from
the-Comte. Lescaut smiled ironical-
| ly with his hand pressed against his
breast.
Fabien turned livid with rage.
Cursing insanely he rushed to the
door Lescaut had indicated and pulled
it open. The room was deserted Ma
non had been taken away.
The sound Of hostile voices put Fa-
bien on his guard. With al possible
speed he bolted the door and dashed
across the room to fasten the one
through which he had come. 1t was no
sooner done that Richelieu and the
Comte, backed by numerous guards,
demanded admittance.
Fabien ignored them with feeling
Of contemptuous hatred. He knelt at
Lescaut's side and began christening
the wounded mans coat.
"Don't - waste time - with me!
Find - Manon 1t is-impossible-
to cheat-death!" For a moment their
hands met in firm grasp that wiped
away all past grievances. Then Les
caut's head slumped forward and he
spoke no more.
Fabien clutched the lfeless Shout
ders hopelessy. 1t was a tender, re-
gretful farewell to the man who had
once done him so great a wrong.
The door began to bulge from the
combined efforts of the guards. They
knew that Fabien must have locked
himself in the room and in as much
as the King had ordered his capture
they were determined to effect it
without further delay. The Comte and
Richelieu were standing by to see
that Fabien was brought to justice.
Both of them enjoyed the evenings
scandal and were reviewing it some
what in detail while waiting for the
door to be broken down.
Fabien heard the Comte explain, 81
persuaded His Majesty that it won d
be wise to let the girl go-she is such
notorious creature that she would
have made sport of his name in pub
lie"
what did he do with herr" Richie
lieu was intrigued.
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