Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1878-06-29 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

TEE RED CROSS.  Ir was not an agreeable night,, by any means, out of ' doors, but jest such a night la renders is blazing fire i and cheerful company doubly pleasant. 1 In the kitchen of the "Moor's Head "a group of 1, people were gathered round the hearth, and were amusing one another by telling many a frightful story of drench f ill deeds committed by a gang of brevoe., whose depredations and atrocities were the talk of all 1 the neighbourhood. . . The country inn, known as the "Moor'. Head," I was an isolated building, in one of the most romantic i parts of southern France. It stood on the road which .-led directly threnwh-themeuntaie pas*, and etthoisgh mobedingly attractive in sunshine and summer weather, wins dismal enough one cold, bleak winter's night. A .wealthy merchant cif' Caret had put 'hp at the hotel, to . take refreshment before pursuing his journey, and the hoot and hostess bad been busily [employed in preparing his repast. This important work being finally accomplished, the merchant sat , aiiiin to his meal, and the group gathering round- the I fire resumed their stories. ' •  It was nearly ten o'clock. The cold was severe; and the north wind battered at the door, and 'rattled . the casement, and seemed disposed to 'shake the kign. board clean out of its crazy frame. It was just the sort of night for a terrible story. The wailing and sighing of the wind found an appropriate accompaniment; and now and again, when the terror of the listener was raised to thehighest Web, it shook the windows and best at the door with frightful violence, and apparently baffled in its attempt to get in that way, came nobly down the broad chimney, driving the smoke before it, and making everybody stand aghast. The chief story-teller was • wiry little -.man, in shabby black, who had a nervous way of saying things, that communicated a mysterious awe to his listeners. Even the fragrance and savouriness of the supper could not keep the attention of the traveller from wandering to the deeds of darkness which the little man related.  " Well," said the story-teller, breaking the silence which an awful gust of wend had imposed eixim, 'veil, the criminal made no confession, insulted the priest, jested with the executioner, and conducted himself altogether in dreadful way." "But they had his head—blessed Madonna, the arrantest knaves can't plunder and murder without heads  "Don't be too sure of that," said the little moo; they say—" The wind, like fifty cold and hungry travellers, bee, on the door, and everybody lietened. "They coy—" "Tee, yes—they coy." "Well, they say he hoe been seen in the neighbourhood of the Red Cross." "Where is the Red Cross, my friend ? " inquired 1 the traveller._ . . . .  'The Red Oross,sir, is placed in a lonesome cavern, in &lonesome part of the neighbouring forest; and it said to be the head-quarters of the robber band." "Then there are several of thole rascals?" "Oh, yes; and each one has done something worthy of death." "Hove they committed any robbery recently?" "Right days ago a young man—just such a night , as this—was, just about this time in the evening, I waylaid, robbed, and murdered. There were seven gashes in his body, each big enough to let out a soul." "Under these eircunietanoes my excellett heat here must provide me with a bed, and my horse with a stafie. I have an objection to be ushered into the other world by such gentlemen as Jou describe; no I think I'll stop here till to-morrow. Now, although every man there—the host in pare ' ticular—thought the traveller acted likes wise man, they professed to believe otherwise, and assured hint, not without a little badinage, that, he had best go on. "After what you have told me," said he, "I would not go on for half my fortune." A burst of laughter followed this assertion. The merchant—he and his saddle-bags were plethoric— reddened, and after a moment's pause, he said, " Well, gentlemen, as you are all 60 courageous, allow me to offer five golden lonia to any one who will Proceed alone to the Rid Cross in the forest." They looked at each other, but not one spoke. The little man nodded at the fire; the host shook his • head; the hostess raised her shoulders ; the cook