Nebraska Newspapers

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TIlE orrr.1. DAILY BEE : St1NDAY.TULY 2.1 ' '
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7t I Ashes ol [ mpire.
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y . I I9 By ROBERT W. ChAMBERS.
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C11AP'r1R xxS.T.
. 'Ihe ItoIII1InrdIItitI ( ,
f On the Cth of January , at seven mlnutcB
titter 5 In the nfternoon , the flrt he1l fell
I In I'arlfi. The projectile entered the city
a little northenst from the fort of Vanves
ant ! plunged Into the street , exploding with
I frightful force. A moment Inter the ominous
quaver of another sh1i was heard from th
Porte Rouge. The huge projectile seemed
to iang aboiro the rue d'Ypres , growing
larger anti larger as it neared the street.
Ruddcnly It exploded , sweeping the rooftops -
tops with a hail of Iron fragments , wrecking -
ing chimneys and tiles and showering the
street with shattered slntes ,
An old woman ran shrieking along the
fliiewalk ( , her gray hair dripping with blood.
A cannaieer on the rampart lay writhing
beside the Prophet. The artilleryman recovered -
covered from theiramamont and swung
the great gun southwest. A clap ot thunder -
der shook the bastions , a white cloud , ever
spreading , wrapped tlio Prophet. But ngain
came the terrifying , shrlek of a she1 , nearer ,
nearer-then the street trembled 4cith Its
Impact and the houses rocked and reeled
t to their foundations as the Prophet thundered -
dered it rcpy.
The forts of the south were flaming and
hlazir , from every embrasure ; the batteries ,
the redoubts , th , southern bntions of the
L foruflcations were covered with smoke ; but
still into the city plunged the I'russian
Bhclls , blowing houses to ruins , setting Ore
to roofs , exploding in the streets , on he
BItIOWOIkS , on bridges and qunys , squares
and boulevards , hurling death and destruction -
tion to the four quarters of the city. Thrco
2lttii children crossing the flue Malaise were
, - _ _ . bovhi to atoms ; a woman running for lieI-
\ tor to the Prince Murat barracks was dis.
K. embowelled in the rue d'Yprcs. A convent
q struck repcatedly two shells entered z
1 ' hospital and tore .tlio helpless wounded to
shreds , another killed a poor Anierican
student In his roont In the rue 1e Seine.
1"aster and faster came the shelis ; night
nddcd to the horror of the scene ; the dark-
fleas was lighted with the lltunes of burn-
lug houses. The uproar of the forts , the
ecicam and hiss of shells , the deafening ox-
pToions of the cannon blended in a tumu't '
s' Indecr1bab1y frightful. At. moments , In the
brief lulls of the uproar , the Iron nelling
of the tocsin was heard , the fainter booming
of drums calling to arms , the distant rush
of nrtilicry , gallolIng pelinioll to the bas-
tionh.
Ia the rue Sorpento , illido and Yoletto
crouched , half dead with terror. A shell had
fallen at the corner of the street and had
tora a cafe to pieces. I3ourke had bceii
away since noon , and Yolette's fright and
anxiety for him drove Ilildo to forget. her
own fear.
In that dark , narrow street , with its rows
of ancient houses , women and children , frantic -
tic , shrieking. tllshovelied , ranhlther nnd
thtther to escape the shells. Some shouted ,
"The other 81(10 of the river ! Save yourselves -
selves ! " Others ran back Into the tall
crumbling houses to cower on the worm-
' ' caton atairs or crawl into the cellars.
"We must go to the cellar , " repeated
Illido with. white lips. "Yolette , everybody
Is o1ng to the cellar. '
"I cannot-I will not stir until ho comes
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N . OLD WOMAN RAN SHRIEKING
ALONG TILE SIDEWALK.
back , " whisperct Yolette. "Go to the cellar
U , 'ou wish. "
iioli after shell , moaning , whistling , flow
high overhead. The air hummed with the
quaver ; the windows vibrated. There came
a terrific report from the corner of the
street ; a house bulgeti outward , falling
slowly amid tim crash and crackle of
wooden beams. A heap of Plaster choked
the stret. Some woodwork afIre lighted
lip the mass of limo and bricks , under which
somethIng writh'd feebly-a man , perhaps ,
lied Riding Ilooti knelt clinging to
Ilildo's skirt in an agony of fright. The
child was still in her night gowa RflI ( her
little limbs , numb with cold , quivered ,
Somebody on the stairs cried out : "The
4 root t on fire ! " i\nother rushed scream-
lug to the cellar.
, "Couo ! " jnurmered Ililde , "we cannot
4 . stay , Yoictte-vo shah be burned If we
' stay 0 ewnel"
L "Not to the cellar ! " crkxl Yolotte.
; : " 'hat are you doing-the houu will burn
ri over you ! " They were on the stairs now ,
, i : JiUdo tiragging the child by the hand , Yo.
r3 lotte following and trying to make herself -
self heard In the din.
,
, "Don't go Into the stroeti" she cried
again ,
"We can't stay in the house ! " panted
Jildo , desperately.
"Go buck ! Go back ! " shouted a crowd
of soldiers , who caine stampeding through
the street and poured Into the houses ,
"The cellars are safe , Go to the cellars , "
. .4 They lusllecl past the doorway , motioning
lildo to follow , She shrank against the
'
doorpost , holding tight to Yoletto and fled
Itiding IIool.
The street outside was ruddy with the
glaFe of burning houses : the shells streamed
high overhead toward the Pantheon now ,
foiling beyond the rue Serpente , some In the
boulevard St. Michel , some on the Sorbonne ,
lanai eli the Val do Grace and a few even
in the river. The fire of the I'russian guns
shifted capriciously ; . now the Montparnasse
quarter was coycre1with projectilts , now
the Luxonibourg , no the Latin quarter.
Hut ahays the hells streamed thickest
toward tim 1i.oRpitals , the barracks , the
churches , palaces and great public build-
lags.
An the shells coaseI failing in the rue 5cr-
pente , the PCOIle crept from the cellars ,
the soldiers of the Garde Mobile slunk oft
and a company of thenien , came UI ) on a
run , dragging their hand machine. Bands
of skulking vagrants prowled through the
street , half bold , half timid , peering Into
doorways , linngin about shell-wrecked
houses , shoving , prying , Insulting women.
Ono of these ruffians entered the hallway
where flUdo stood , and started to ascend
the stairs , but ; evidently considering the
shabby house not worth his attention ,
turned and stood hesitatingly Ia the full
glare of a. burning house.
"Mile , Ililde , " whIspered fled Riding
Hood , "Look ! Look ! " At the same nio-
mont the vagabond saw lIiWe and shrank
back against the wall. It. was the Mouse.
Ilildo sprang to the shaky stairs and seized
the Mouse by his ragged sleeve , That
startled young rufihian suffered himself to
be dragged up the stairs and into the hittlo
apartment , now brightly Illuminated by the
flames from the burning house on the cot-
nor. . Toletto and Ited RIdIng IIooil fol-
lowed.
"Now , " muttered hide , breatlilcssly , "tell
me where ho is.Vltat have you done with
hiiiii ? " She stood before the Mouse with
flashing eyes and little fists clenched , io-
peating harshly : "You swore to me that
you would lie wIth him , that you would keep
him from hinrm ! You slunk out of the
house with that promise to me-and I let
you go-I promised to say nothing to the
others. What have you ( lone with hIm ? "
"lie's been shot , " gasped the Mouse. "lie
was- "
was"Shot
"Shot ! " whispered Ililde.
"ho Isn't ( lead , " growle&I the Mouse. "I
came to find M. burke , but when I went to
the rue dYpres you had all decamped. "
"Thou , " lie cpntinued , wIth a cringing
gesture , "I started to look-and quite by accident -
cident , mademoiselle , I met some friends-
but I was not. stealing ! " ho whined , glancIng -
Ing furtively around , "no indeed , I stole
nothing. as the others did. You will tell Id ,
Ilourke that ! You will tell Id. Bourke that
I was not pillaging houses. "
"Whore is Id , Ilarowood' ? " interrupted
Ihlide.
"I was going to toll you , " said the Mouse ,
submissively. "I was going to tell made-
molsello that Id. llarowood Is In the case-
mates. of the Nanterre fort-very sick since
they cut the bullet out. And It is quite
true I was not pillaging , God is my wit-
ness. I have never stolen a pin. "
lb looked obliquely at Yolette , snivelled a
little , hItched his tatterred trousers and
sniffed ,
Twice IllIde strove to speak , but her cot-
orless 111)5 scarcely moved. Yoletto put one
arm around her and turned to the Mouse.
" \Vhnt message have you for Id. llourkeV'
she asked. "Did Id. hlarewood not send a
message ? "
"Yes. " said the Mouse , "lie wants to see
him. It wan not until last night that those
sacro Prussians gave me a chance to leave
the fort. We have been there since Le
Bourget , when Monsieur was shot as ho left
the church. "
Ho did not add that ho hind half carried ,
half dragged Harewood across the Mollette
under a frenzied fusillade from the Prussian -
sian pickets. lIe was a coward , as cowards
go ; his 'ery ferocity proved it. Yet lie had
instinctively clung to Hare'ood when a
bullet through the leg knocked him sprawling -
ing ; Ito had hauled him out. of the I'rus-
sian fire , much as a. panther hauls its
young from a common danger , with no tea-
Eon in the world that human minds could
fathom , totally unconscious that lie de-
servel credit. The Mouse bad received
hlarewood's thanks with ennui , if not sus-
piclon , and now it never occurred to him
to say that ho had saved Harewood's life ,
although , like most criminals , ho was a
keen appreciator of the dramatic. No-
what occupied the meager brain of the
Mouse was the fear that I3ourko might to-
turn and learn from Ihlido and Yolette that
he , the Mouse , had been looting.
lie hooked sideways at Yoletto. who was
leading llikle to the bedroom , Ho listened
stuIidiy ) to the paroxysms of grief when
Ihildo flung herself on. the bed. That was
all very confusingi but what wou1d flourke
say ? lie looked .dQWa at his blackened
hands , at the bludgeon still grippeti iii one
bleeding fist , evidences of his share In the
riotous night's work.
' 'Mince ! Jo me sauvo ! " ho blurted out ,
and at the same moment he saw fled Itid.
big hood staring at him from the sofa.
" \S'hat are you making eyes at-bela ? "
ho demanded , sullenly. "Perhaps you are
going to say I was pillaging houses ! "
The child , seized 'with ) a fit of shivering ,
cos'eretl against the wall , drawing her feet
in under 11cr nightdress.
Tile Mouse regarded her fiercely , twirl-
lag his bludgeon between his blackened
fIngers , Thieii , apparently satisfied that she
was too terrified to understand , ho pulled
his cap over his sightless eye , vut the bludgeon -
geon in his Pocket and started tos'ard the
door. ileforo ho vcnt out he hesitated , The
sight of the frightened child seemed to cx-
orciso a certaifl fascInation for him. lIe
looked back , frowning , just to see whether
it VOUli frightea her a little more , It did ;
but , strangely enough , her fear gave him
110 gratificatIon ,
" \'oyons , petite , do t scare you ? " he
asked , curiously.
"Yes , " whispered tile child , A curious
sensation , an unaccustomed thrill , something -
thing that had never come over him before ,
BOUt the blood tingling in the Mouse's large
ears , lie peered at the ehild narrowly ,
"Don't look like that. " lie said , "for I
ain't going to hurt you , "
The child 'was silent.
, UWe1tSiots
Are better than hand.owcd shoes but cost less , Men ,
women and chiljreu wear them , All kinds are made ;
A all dealers sell them. GOODYE.R lIOE MAOUINERY CO. , BO5LON.
"You're cold , " said the Mouse , awkwardly ,
"Go to bed , "
"I'm afraid , " she ih1.pered. :
"Of me ? " asked the Mouse , with a strange
sinking of the ] ieort.
"Yes , and the shells. "
"I'll knock the head oft any pig of a Pru-
elan who harms you , " said the Mouse , way-
log his club. "You aeser mind the shells ;
they won't hurt you. Now are you afraid
of me , little one ? "
¶ 'No , " sighed the chld , A glow of pleasure -
uro suffused the Mouse's ears again , Then
lie felt ashamed , 'then ' lie lOoked at. the child ,
then lie wondered why ho should take pleas-
tire In telling the little thing not to be
afraid. For a. while they contemplated enehi
other in silence ; then the child said : "When
you cre in the flue d'Yprrs I used to make
Ton spilt. woQl. Do you remember ? "
. . " es" said . the Moue , much gratified ,
"Anti you 'were nfrald of the lton" put-
sued Reti Riding llootl.
"Dame , " muttered the Mouse , "I nra afraid
yet. "
The child laugheil-sueh a sad , thin little
laugh. The Mouse , to idense her , matte an
awful grImace anti winked with his sightless -
less eye.
"Will you stay with us now ? " n.ked the
child ,
The Innocent question conipletely upset
the Mouse ; th idea that lie was wanted
anywhere , the sonsaton of protecting anything -
thing was eo new , so utterly astonishing
that even his habitual suspicion was car-
tied away Iii the overwhelming novelty of
the proposition.
fled RidIng hOOd rose from the sofa , went
'to ' the bed and climbed In , then turned
gravely to the Mouse.
"Don't hot anything harm us , " ho said.
"Good night. "
For a long time the Mouse stood and stared
at the palo little face on the pillow. There
wcro blue circles under the closed eyes ;
ister's , 'And , my darling , before we go ,
you must marry me , "
"Marry-now ! " faltered Yohette ,
"Otherwise the American minister cannot -
not protect you. If you are my wife he
Is bound to do so. I can't stand this sort.
of thing ; tlio city has gone distracted , no-
bod' is sate outside an embassy. The
Prussians must rt..pect our flag , dear , and
anarchists and kindred rumans dare not
enter the embassy. Shall I tell you what
has happened In the flue d'Ypres ? A gang
of communists , cutthroats and thieves have
broken open our house and are carousing
in the cellar with our red wine. Statiffer ,
Mortier and lhuclcliurst are there and they
will do us mischief if they liav a chatice.
lIe went. up to her and drew her head
down to his shoulder.
" \'ili you inarr inn tomorrow , Yolette ? "
he asked , "so that I can leave you safe
at. the embassy and go to my friend ? "
"Yes , " she whispered , then threw both
arms about him in a passion of tenderness
and fear.
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/ ChAPTER XXVIT. ' I'
An tlnilergrouitl AlTii tr.
When the Mouse left the hue Serpente
the bombardment had shifted to the south-
ern'forts and the southeast seeteurs of the
fortifications were covered with .exptoding
ihells. As he slunk across the city ho
could hear the fracas of tim distant born-
bardinent cad ho gave tIm danger zen
wide berth , Ills mind was preoccupied by
two problems-how to conceal his silver
forks and how to get back to the Nanterre
fort ,
The second problem could wait till morning -
ing ; the first needed serious study. lie at-
ready irnssesseil one burrow , It was in the
cellar of the house in the flue d'Ypres. For ,
while doing menial service for Ilourko and
Ilareu'ood , ho had managed to abstract
booty from neighboring windows-a spoon
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THE NEXT MOMENT HE WAS AT BUCKHURST'S THROAT.
the clustering black hair cast shdows oven
the hollow temples. The exhaustion from
hunger , fatigue and fright brought sleep to
tired lids. Even when Yoletto and iBIdo
came in the child did not wake.
"I'm going to stay , " said the Mouse , suit-
lenly. "If the shells come the little girl
will be frightened , "
As he spoke ho furtively felt for some
purloined silver forks that. filled one pocket ,
found them still there , glanced maliciously
at Yohetto and coughed gently.
"Where Is the Nantcrrcu fort. ? " asked
Ililde , faintly.
The Mouse explained in a weird whisper ,
apparently much relieved that nobody of-
fared to examine his pockets.
"Is ho all alone ? " said ililde.
"Parbleu ! There's not much society in
the casemates , " observed the Mouse , "no ,
nor many surgeons to spare. I'm golr.g back
to him tomorrow. " lie said it indifferently ;
ho might have added that. lie was going at
the risk of his life. but risks were too corn-
mon at that time to occupy t'n attention
of even such a coward as the Mouse. Wher-
even lie went. there were snetis and bullets
and bayonets now , and It mattered little
whether they were French or Prussian.
Ho boldly rattled the silver forks In his
pockets , leered , puhleti his cap lower , for
the reflection of the flames annoyed him ,
and said :
"A ha guerre commo a ha guerre nes-
dames , "
At the same moment hurried steps sounded
on the landing. Yolette opened the door and
J3ourko entered , ,
When ho saw Yoletto and 1111db he could
not speak at first.
"Don't , don't" sobbed Yolette ; "we are
all safe-all of us , It. s'as you that I ( cared
for. Oh , if you know , if you know , "
"I was in the rue d'Yprez , ' ' stammered
liourke. "The shells ruined on the ramparts -
parts , and I ran to the l'rinee Murat Bai'-
racks. I ziever dreamed they were shelling
this part of the city until iiomebody said the
Luxembourg had been struck , Then I Caine
Yolette , look at , mc ! Good God , what a
tool I was ! ' '
She clung around his neck , smiling antI
weeping , telling him she should never again
let him go away. 1111db was silent , Thin
Mouse fidgeted by the door. The child
slept.
Then 1111db epoke of I1aros'ood , of tile
message sent by the Mouse , 'z'olette cried
out. that she could not let Cecil go away
again , and liourke , devoured by anxiety ,
questioned the Mouse until that young
bandit's mind was a hopeless chaos.
"Vail can't ask him to go , lillde , " implored -
plored tier sister , "Oh , how can you asIc
Cecil to go to the forts , when you know
what they are doing out there ? I can't let
him go-I cannot ! "
"if Jiiui Is not in danger I can go out with
tIle next escort , " said Burke gravely. "if
lie is , then I must go at once. "
The Mouse was vague ; he didn't know
what might happen since they cut out. the
bullet , his habitual distrust of doctors , of
science iii all its branches , made it plain
to Ilourko that there was nothing accurate
to be learned ( rein him.
Thin Mouse lingered a minute or two ,
watching the sleeping Child in the bed.
Ilourko told him he might go and lie wont
its a dienlibsed dog goes , apologbticaliy , half
resentful , half conciliatory , clutching the
forks Ic his pocket with dirty fingers , hliltlo
turned and went into her room , closing
the door behind her ,
"I must sleep with thei.hilld , " said Yo-
lotte ; "she vakes Ia the night. and trein-
bles so I almost fear she may die of frigbt ,
Cecil , is there any danger now from the
shells ? "
"I don't know , " he said , "I will lie down
In Ibo kitchen. If then bombard the 'tuar- '
icr again we must go to the cellar. Tomorrow -
morrow I am going to take you and Ihlide
and Red fliding flood to the Amerlciui mlii.
' here. a silk handkerchief there-nothing
much , but still a modest little heap of plun-
dot , which he had concealed in the cellar
of the house on the ramparts , Therefore
his first Instinct led him back to the Rue
d'Ypres , where , if the cachetto in the ccl-
hr remained undisturbed. ho could further
avail himself of It by depositing the forks
with the rest of the loot.
"Thrift , " muttered the Mouse , "cannot
be too early acquired. Sapristi ! One must
live In this world of bandits ! "
As ho crossed the boulevard Montpar-
nasso ho saw that the railroad station was
on fire. For a moment he hesitated-there
might be flue pickings yonder-but prudence
prevailed and he shambled on , scanning the
passersby with crafty face half overted ,
bludgeon swinging , cap over one eye , the
incarnation of communism milItant. At-
frighted citizens gave him room , turned and
hooked after him as though in him they ,
saw the symbol of all that was secret
and dreadful in the city-the embodied
shape of anarchy-tho omnious prophet of
revolution.
lie passed on , swaggerIng when prudent ,
cringing when the sentries of the guard ,
pacing the devastated streets. halted to
look after him , lanterns raised. At' such
moments ho cursed them as loud as lie
dared ; sometimes when far enough away
ho would insult them with gestures and
epithets , gratifying to his vanity because
of the slight risk such amusement entaijed.
lie rattled the forks in his lOcket as lie
walked ; once or twice he broke into a song
a doggerel verse or two of sonic senU-
mental bariore ditty that attracted him 'be-
cause , like criminals of his type , he adored
sentiment-in song. lie thought of hare-
wood , lying in the casemates of the Nan-
terre tort , Would lie lIve or die ? Ills
wounds hind turned so bad that the sur-
gcous began to look at him in that mue
ing way that even the dying understand ,
The Mouse scratched his ear ; dead or
alive ho must find hits way back to Hare-
vood ; for thin necessity that lie felt for
hinrewood's company left him restless as
a lost cur ,
lie thought often of fled RidIng hood.
She was so small and thin and so afraid ef
him that ho wondered why lie thought of
tier at all. In his burrow lie bad burled
an Infant's silver cup. This lie decided to
present to Red Riding hood when he could
do so without fear of aspersions on his
honesty , lie chuckled as ho thought how
it would phease that child-she would look
at him with those big oyos-hie would
Ierhaps sniile-Nom do Dieu-what ! a droll
young one ! And so lie caine to the house
on the ramparts in the rue d'Ypres.
The cellar of the house waB reached from
the garden through a ihight of stone steps ,
The heavy slab that closed the manhole hind
no padlock ,
The Mouse , on his hands and knees ,
groped about In the dark , stumbling among
dead weeds and broken cucumber frames ,
pullIng and cursing , until , witbout any
warning , be almost fell into the manhole
itself , Startled , alert , lie crouched breath-
lees by the slab oa the grass. Somebody
had removed It ; somebody thea was In thin
cellar !
Stealthily lie crawled Into the manhole
and descended the first three steps , Ills
worn shoes made no noise ; he crept three
steps further.
At the end of the cellar , in the full light
of a lantern oa the floor , eat three men.
Two of them wore uniforms of officers of
the carbineers ; the third was in civilian
dress , Their voices were indistinct , but
their features were not , and the Mouse fairly
bristled as lie recognized them , They were
Stauffer , Mortier and Buckburst ,
'Flue fIrst thought of the Mouse was In-
stinetivoly personal. They bath cone to rob
him of his plunder ! It was that1 rather
than curiosity that led him to creep toward
them , nearer , nearer , wriggle behind a bar-
ret , anti crawl so that , with outstretched
arm , he could have stabbed Mortier-if Mor
tier had been alone ,
htickburst , pale-faced calm , bent his
colorless eyes on uiortler , and spoke in the
paesionless voice that always struck a chili
to the Mouse's marrow :
" 2't. Mortier , you misunderstand me , I am
not in this city for my health , nor mi I
hero to preach the commune. There is but
one thing I am looking for-mone-antl I
don't. care how I get it or whe.ro I get it.
Prussian thalers en French francs , It's nil
one to me. "
Ittortier raised his hiidcous head and fixed
his little green eyes on the bloodless ( nec ,
before iiliii.
"One minute , " said Itucktiurst , "then I've
fInished. Not to waste words , the situation
it ; this : Captain Stauffer has arranged to
open the Nanterro fort to the Prussians' , I
have agreeui to run a tunaeltroni hue' cellar
under the Street to th bhstion where itc0' '
l'hophict ' la-I think Its bastion' No. ' 7.
l'owder exploded iii the tunuieh opens a
breach iii the ramparts direct ! ) ' bciiintl the
Nanterro fort. lo you comprehend ? "
lie paused a moment. then added : "For
this we divide rooooo , thnlers , "
Stouffer began to speak eagerly , hue welc
taco lighting up as lie proceeded ,
"It was Spoyer's iilnn ; he hiatt it lii view
before war was declared last. July. llt anti
I lottgeth In this house and lilanned it all
out-even to excavating the ttinnel to has-
lion No , 73-ti-n thio ninu who knocked
hiinu on the head ! litit we cmi do it aloha
-all we s'aiit of you Is to help with thin
tunnel , It will ho worth your while-re-
ally it will ! ' '
Mottler's eyes seemed to grow ineandes-
cent ; the great veins swelled out on his
bald donue-shnped beach , his throat , untler
tim red ihaniiei rags , inoveti . con'ulsiyely.
As ho spoke lie rose. lhuckhurst , wIth
the easy grace of a panther , rose too ,
Stauffer lumbered to tile feet and began to
Elienk again , but Mortk'r silenced hilni and
turned on I3uckhiuret like a wild beast ,
"I refuse ! ' ' ho shouted. "I cm an an-
archulat , not a traitor ! I kill , I destroy ,
I burn , I niurder if necessary ; but I will
not betray-no , iiot for all the thialers in
the kingdom of l'russia ! "
this eyes glittered with the hlgbt of in-
sanity. Ills misshapen hands menaced
liuckhurst.
"Judas ! " lie shrieked , "The commune
shah rise amuil hive to jtmdge you ! Cursed son
of a free ceople ! Renegade ! Thilefi"
There was a. flash , a report , anh Mortier
claiipetl tile hands to lila face , which the
blood suddenly covered. The miext moment
lie was at Duckhurst's throat , bore hint
( lown , twined hum closer iii his bug , miss-
hiapen anus and fastened hue teeth in his
throat , and l3uckhiurst shot him again and
again through the body , They swayed anti
fell together , the deadly light died in Buck-
hurst's glazimig .oyes. After a mInute neither
moved again.
Stauffer had gone , fleeing 111cc aim die-
tracted , when the Idoimse crawled out Into
the lantern light amid gazed down at the
dead.
Presently lie picked imp the lantern ,
grubbed a hole in the ground , deposited his
forks with the rest of his booty , rose ,
glance'l at the dead again and picked up
time lantern. lie spat on the ground-for
Buekhiurst' hind tricked hunt once-so ho iii-
suIted the corpse with a contemuuptuous gee-
ture , ninl went out , swinging his lanterui
and sneering.
"Give up the Nanterre fort , elm ? " hue re-
peatcd , mimicking Stauffer's effeminate
voice ; "Oh , ma souer ! 0 , In , ha ! A nous
dclix monsieur plpelet-a domain ! "
The Prophet was firing up as lie left thin
city by the Porte Rouge ; he looked up at
the great cannon and miiockefi it : "Tiens !
bouni ! bourn ! 0 , ha , Ia ! Ohm , Signeur Dma !
-quo ha guerre cst ridicule tout d'meme ! "
. ChAPTER XX\TIII.
'I'lue IgIut of ttomuemiiemit ,
That night , the zone of bombardment
having been shifted . far to th& southwest ,
l3ourke went to tile Ainerican embassy. It
vns 11 . o'chock when ,1hq returned , thoroughly -
oughly discouraged. ' 1ie hai seen time mm-
ister , but 'that official could do nothing to
protect Yohotte and Ihilde dganst ( the shell
fire. There was no room at thie embassy.
It was not even certain that thin embassy
Itself would be safe , although the mInister ,
In sonic heat , denounced those responsible
for the bombardment amid promised to protest -
test against the destructiomi of foreign con-
suhates and embassies. So Bourke caine
back to the flue Serpemute , worried amid anx-
ions , for It was not IOssibhe ) for him to
gp to the Nanterro fort and leave Yolette
and. ihilde alone , without thin protection of
responsible people. He and Yolette sat tip
hate into the night discussing thi1e situmatlon.
Hildo lay on the bed , listening , perhaps ,
but she offered no suggestions. About midnight -
night Red RIding hood awoke , sobbing
from hunger , and Yolette comforted the
child , saying good night to IJourke amid
Icissing tier. sister tenderly.
"I4Istcn. Ililde , " elm said. "Cecil Is going
to the Nanterro fort , soyou must not. be
satl , my darhlng. Look , ti1 cit. me , little sister -
ter , I am not , sehflsh and heartless , after
all. Cecil must go. "
"I vilh go as soon a you and Illlde are
In gao quarters , " began IIourkp , but ihilde
sat tip on the hell and forbade him to go.
"It is enough th t one life Is in ( hanger , "
shin said. "Your place is item with Yohette ,
You caq 1o iu tling for hmipi , lie is In time
pasemates iid under iuiqdlcah attendamice ,
' , Vhatcouihd : you 'do ' ? " "I &mnhl go 'hmemu I
'See 19U and Yolette secure , " repeated
liourlce. "Secure ? 110w ? " asked Hilde , bit-
terhy. "Your embassy has mme room for us ;
amid do you thuinT Id. hiismnarck will orler
] uie cannOneri4 to reshoot ammy part of the
city ? The pc'ople iii time street cay that eon-
vents iind hmespitals have been struck to-
peatedly. . hiavo the Prusslans not cent thitlr
shells into the crowthd streets of the vor ? "
It wiui ; the first time that Yolettti hind ot'er
heard 1111db speak withi bititermmoss. Boumrko ,
too , looked at her sharply , wondering at. the
chamigo in the ienthe , reserved girl lie had
known.
"No , " continued Bible rapidly , "no ! no !
aol-the Prusslans spare neither young nor
old , nan nor s'omau ! You cannot go , Cecil ;
Yobetto 'needs you now It ever. "
Shin rose , putting lien arms around Ye-
lette , saying , "Dearest , lie must not go to
the Nanterro fort. it is wrong for hmln to
leave you ; It Is wrong for him to expose
his life. "
"Confound It ! " said flourko helplessly ,
"I'd go to hIm if it were at the southm huole ,
but I can't leave Yohetto In danger ; my
skin is no longer my own to risk. "
"Nor was tile , " said hlihtlo gravely ; and
she went into her own room and closed the
door.
_ _
'riIo night was bitter cold ; thin frost ccv-
ered the window panes 'with me3shiku trac-
cry , slivered hty a pale radiaimco from without -
out , Anti hilide , opening thin window ,
looked off over the dark city and saw the
midnight heavens blazing vItli stars. tier
cheeks were burning now ; the icy air seemed
grateful. After a hititlo she closed the window -
dow , fearing the cohth might. harm tIme oth-
era , hut there was a short ladder in the
hallway , leading to thin seuttlo , anti she
found it and chtmnbed up and out onto thereof
roof , 11cr hot cheeks untl aehuing eyes grew
no nooler in the freezing wind , She even
throw back her shawl iind bared her white
throat.
The heavens were resplendent ; time ire-
far-reaching , fathomless -
inencloUs sky-vault , -
less , was dustttl 'with immyruatls of stars ,
omoog which , deep set , the splendid planets
sparkled and the gigantic oonsttthlattt'flS
traced their signs in ares anti angles anti
gem-set. circles that spanned tim diamomid-
showered heavens from horizon to horizon.
Spire on spire the city towered , thomned ,
battiemenled , magnificent In the starlight
-the beautiful , sinful city , whose lacelike
spires and aledcr pinnacles rose from
'
squares anti streets where men hay ( tying
by the eore trout hack of bread , Thera was
starlight. en the bridge , , on the quay , on
the carved facaics of pataces , on the
strange towers of St. Sulpice.
The jeweled shire of the St. C'hnpchle , tim
silvery ( home of time hnvnhides , the gre-
tesque gothic tower ot St. Jacques loomed
distinctly fromn thin endless nuase of huotiso
anti italace , Inommunuent ( tuti church. In
tIm e.st an enormous bulk ( letachell itself
against ( ho ky-thmo l'cnthcoui , In the
muorthi tIme stupentloums twin tocr of Notre
Dammio uhommuinateti the ehmatlow shiapes of roof
nmitl chmirnney , , timtl tlmrough time wom lii of
shade amid shmattowy llhiotiott wound the
star-tinted , ghmosth' river-n phmamitoni tide
* tPnmumietl l a score of ( airy bridges , impal-
liable. vague , ghostly as thielt owmt retire-
( bus In thq frozen , ice bound streamu.
, \mid. now , far , leyonti tIme nhlm' , hlildo
coud. , see time forms. Time tituy ialiei ! ; i'ami
from cast to west , then south , thieuu back
ngaitm , a rtmnning chain of sparks. Time call-
iion's sohiti thmuimder roiled amid Rurgeth ins-
jeatlnhiy , wave after vave , hmnrnuonioums , iii-
termuinatile , On the hiights of Metmtlon ,
Clamnrt. and Chiatillon time flicker of time
Prussian guns rami Parallel to tIm flashes
from the forte of the south and west ; their
shells were falling on the Point titu Jour.
hlilulo could SI'O the bright rellectiomme of
fires along time frozemu river , the red enmoke ,
thin nearer blasts front the great. gumis on
the ramparts , Overhead raced thin shells ,
stroammuimig by with kindling wakes of sparks
droilping and fading one by one. Then froni
Mont. Valorien tIme rockets touvered to thmo
zenith amid drifted anti faded while tIme
l'oimit du Jour answered , racket cmi rocket ,
nod time bastiomis reechmoetl with the double
tlnmnder of thie siiotted guns ,
Could that be real var ? This Vemmotian
fete of eolietl tires , rockets , ihinmiuiumations ,
unit report ? ilnrk ! The jam' of a great
iron bell ennui qumarering over time city , TIme
faint rattle of drums broke out across tini
river-thin tonelmu cliii tIme nlarmmu ! lhiltio
did miot hear themim , Slmo 'as talkimig to hem'-
self , uluder lien breath , cotmntiiig the forts
oil her slemider fingers , 188) ' Vamives , Mont
Valerlen , St. , Deals , 0 , thmemi tiii'ro must
lie the Nnmuterro fort-there where thin
( iarlcmicss In simot with streale after streak of
Ilnuic ! At Inst elme ! uie' .
Thio tort was ilCiit now , bitt within her
breast a voice spoke. Anti shin listened ,
leaning train tIme iron railing. She kmiuuv
that God's justice was JasSiliglassing ) lii
thin fire through the hicavemis above time city
-tile fair city , brought low in simamime. Fom'
the night of atomicinent was at hand ,
( To lIe Concluded , )
i3iniI" Arnion 'nts'c
The beutt , salve In the world for cuts
bruises , sort's , ulcer. , salt rhioumimi , fever
sores , tetter , chapped haumitte , chmliliiniiis ,
corns , and all skin eruptions , and Positivciy
cures lilies , or no pay required. It is guar-
amiteed to give perfrct satisfaction or mnoiwy
refunded , Price 25 cents ier box. For sale
by Kuhn A Co.
tU'I' 1)1" i'IIH OflIINtItY ,
A hemlock tree recemutly cut ( lowmm in Ap-
Pletomi , Me. , showed 1G0 gralius , anti this
was tahcemt ns an indicatiomi hiatt the tree
was miearly four ccmutum'ies old ,
ihomuiamio amid Lost Springs are towns in
Kztmias. The Imptihation of each is about
200 people. Neither towmi has an bile man
01' boy or unoccupied house. Neithii'r latH a
sahoomi and dogs are umiknowmi.
Aim alligator. thin first of it speces ! found
iii the Colorado river , mneasuii'ed eleven feet
iii length and thirty-eight inches around. it
was inssooed recently by a cowboy , who ,
having lauded it , tied it to a tree.
Iii 1St2 J , F. Stearns ef Saco , Me. , but
$100 to a young man who hind an offer Iii
tile fat west. The understanding vns that
the money was to be repaid quarterly. A
few days ago Mr. Stearns received a check
for $10 , as thin first instahiniemit.
Percy hloedccker , 10 years old , while
walking in his sheep at bile home in Idoumut
Vernon a few muights ago fell frommi the roof ,
a distance of thirty-five feet. lie struck a
temit in thin yard before reaching the ground ,
and vlien hiIcbced up vas riot only umulmurt ,
but still sound asbeep ,
Accordiimg to the latest New York City
directory , just published , thin honored
name of Smith still holds first place in
point of nunibers in the hioroumghi of Mami-
hattaum , hilt the umaune of I3rowmu , though still
holding a second place , is hiari Iiusiietl by
thin name of Cohen , while the Cohiena , the
Colins and the Kobne , taken collectively ,
exceed in number the hirowums , thin lirowuies
anti the ] 3rauns.
A stranger train central Illinois , who was
arrested in Cimicago emi susluicion of his
hieiuug the "long finn" notorious some titii
ago for his bold robbing of shmoplcecpers iii
couiipany with ' 'the short man , ' ' was kept
iii confinement until his hiarents came cii
antI itlentifled him , amid now lie has sued tIle
city for hOOOO damages for ( also arrest.
Attain hiutison , the coboretl jnmiitor of the
Stevens building iii New York , lies heft a
( ortumnn of over $30,000 , the hind been an
eniployo of the Stevens family for fifty
years and was the autocrat of the building
of which he was janitor , iniving moic to
say tlinii tummy tenant , or even , ot tunes , the
on'uiers themselves , who stooti by hiimii
through thick and thin , Ills salary was
$1,100 ,
A food strike is going on at tue London
general postofflce , 8,000 of thu clerics to-
fusing to patrommize the ofilcial caterer , arid
taking their iumichcs In with thorn iii pnr-
eels. They object to time quality cmiii price ,
amid to the bug waits. Formerly thin
clerics clubbed together and managed their
owii catering , but the government took the
matter out of their halide. They are not
nilowed to leave time building during ohlico
hours ,
Mrs. Jchmanna flegan of Chicago seized a
thief whom hio found lurking in time ball-
\u'ay of her own house , lint lost lien grip and
ho escaped to time street. She followed ,
seizing a hricbc as she ran , arid when elms
caught up with the hoeing man she ainicti
time missile nail called out for lmini to halt
in such a tone that lie looked around ,
Thereupon on time mttroiugthi of what ho saw
lie turned Pale with fear and , ihietrutiting
all thin jokes lie hind imeard commceriming a
woman's alma , surreimihereil , Thin miaimr that
tells time story refrains from m'eseimting
Mrs. Itegnum's portrait.
Cuarles Brouuiu'ay House , thin blimiul mil-
ilonnirn ( if New York , who is saul to have
offered a million dollars for thin restoration
of his sight , is perhiaps in a way to have
tIme cpportunity to pat' tht mommy. Ills
offer h.ns liceI rega' mmml as a standing out' ,
and has tiought such a large miunibur of
specialiSts auth doctors of cmli Ichuitis with
cures that for time Itast two years \tr.
House has employed Jolimi F. ? tinrthi ,
ahiIicted with the same sort of bllntbness to
teat time many treatmnemmhs offered , Now Mr ,
! tinrtiui is under thin care 'of Dr. Cassid' ,
amid with some new methods is reported as
iiegiumulug to regain his vision.
Time new blast furnace of the Union Iron
works , mit hhtufaio , N. Y , , will soon lie .oiui-
jileteti and put In operation.
Lazy Liver
l1 have beemi rommhied a great deal
, uItIi u torpid liver , which produces constipa'
lIon , I found CASCAIIETS loboall you claim
tortbemnand secured such toilet the liret. trial ,
that. I purchased another NuhIpiy and wa. corn.
piotoly curud. I shall only be too Elad to roe.
ommend Ctiecumrets whenever the opportunity
is presented , " .1 , it. Sui'riu ,
21uo ? Susquehanna Aye , , Iliiiadclphia , Pa.
CANDY
rRAD MMS UlCisYlsiD
Pheamismit , I'alatsL.iu I'oini , Tate Good. flo
Good , tiover Sickun , ' , % eakim , er OIi'4 , hOc , 2c , Uic.
. . ' CURE COrl8TIPpTopj
i.U.I tORpi Ibliqe , ) Ie.iril , 5 , . TorI , 520
un ' Tn ni Ibid aa4Ku5njiby all uirug.
II' , I IJ &SflV giltu to OUME Tobacco Uabit.
MU N VON FACTS.
Htrong 'I'ehirnony n o time Emco
) t lIi hti'iumdIejri , -
Mrti. hut , TI. Cameron , thmriiy , Mont , , snyi , :
' ' ? , l U ti'OIi , roinptiy cured iume o t femuitil n
trouble. through vorrcspoumttence 1II *
linumie 0111cc , "
Itirs , lichii , VnotIrtmff , Box 1003 , 'reennisehu.
Ni'i , . , says : "Mimnyom.t cmmri'd mum , ' of rhmetmnms'
tl'iuui flhiil also ( 'mitCh uuiy son.iui.lnw , C. ii. .
( 'Ott , of Argemuthime , Kumim. , of the caine
( lls'tuse. "
Mr. ii , A , Chmeiien'nhley ( 'lty , N' . I ) . , .
says "l'wo bnttie of Mminyoim'ii liinthli'r
t'ure ectttpletely cured mtii' of it tilsnr.'eahuIii
elms , ' of iilndtht'r t ruuli , , e , ( roam viiielm 1 hiatl
suffered for , 'ighmtu''um years. "
Mr. Chins. W. A5kiim , llrimumewirk lintel.
I fi4 ( ith stri''t. S1i ) 1"rtmneiqt't , ( 'oh. , tittys :
"At a CIt III' 7' cents iuumi3'oiu eumr'ti lift' at
rieuumna ! t linm mmliii lii'e , frmuiu vhit'hm I mitt
suilTereil ( or mu mug tinn' . "
Mr. A.'right , flit N. ? tinrhot : street ,
1i'lehiitui , lcnmu . . i.ays : "l.ituiiyiin cure , ! umy'
vi ( n of rteumnutut ! itirtu a nih mutysi'I t ii I' 1.1.1 imey'
lroiulie. S'o belivc in Mumuyoim'a ltmmie-
dies. "
( imuiibti' to lionithm cmiii nic'ttical ntivlre abso-
biitciy trce. I'ruf , Muuyoim , 1IiO Arch itt , ,
h'liiladeiihula ,
1 , Tito Ii. S ,
T4' GOYEltNiIENP
t 1 wants st.rong inca In Its
hervIca'ithi one tie-
cord the Aruuuy Ituuth Navy
eiithorso liAlt-ltiN : mis
the grcate'it. Ic mu o v ii '
strengulteuter , iiivigorat-
or timid restorative , it
Creates soilti 'lnh , mus- ,
cIa and sLrcim'tim , ( 'k'ttrg
I' the brutiti , htrcltgthicmi'u
tlio mierres antI cttumct's
thio gcnt'ratt'o orgaui'i to
( IlliCItly regain tlittlr nor-
itiitt powers. For mierv-
Otis itrostruutioum , ovel'-
u'orlc , I tmi ptirtttt : vltall ty
in either sex , 'r oxt'sutvo win of opium , liquor
or tobacco , It 1)nstLiely enmumiot be cxct'ib'd ,
Oumo box will work ii oiitlt'rs. Six wilt cure.
lIAR-miEN iq for sale by itli druggists , ( Ii ) ttmi- ,
Jc'ts , ni ) ceimt4 , Otto to Lirt ) mnoimthis' trt'atineumt. ,
I'hll out anti iuiail tl'4 tito thitigimositu euieit in ouch
box , utmiti we wIll gIve your ca'io apt'cIai utica-
tion without extra charge. ' flAil111N 1' lire-
pared by lljaiincr 0. lIcasoim l'ii. 1) . , II. S. , di-
reeL from tin , formula. of F. i. Iluirtoim , Id. I ) .
CleveIintl's : most. etmuirmuit sPecialist. Z.Iaihc
in clocti paoknRo Oti receipt 'if prlco.
Dits. IJA1I'I'ON ANI ) lilS0N ,
t' Ui lIar-lien lIlocI. ( 'loveland. 0.
For ealo by Kuhn & CO , , litu anti IouIf4
has ; .1. A. 1"uiller & Co. , i40i louglas St. .
slid Cr'uiiamn lrug Co. , 15th antI Farmunmu ;
Kiumg i'iiui'mnacy , g7tIu ituiti Leav'uic.'ort ii ;
I'C3'toO't4 l'iatuuiaey ! , 2 Ith mutt Leavemuvorthm
E , J. Seykorut , So'ithm Omaha , 011th till ollie
druggists iii Onmahia. Souta Ooiahua. Counci
A. safe anti hiO'crfu1 rcaicdy for functional
troubles , delay , jauum , anti irregularities , is
Sumcc'csfuhiv prcer'ttcth hty the htlgicst ! MeUcal
Spedahists , i'ricCI.oofor4 cspstues ! , Snltlhyuhl
lrmiggisu , or i'ost tree. 1' . 0. iio'c o8u , N. V.
Patrollize
lloiie Industries
hIy l'ui'ciuimsluig ( .iotls 5liil , ' ii C the Fol. . ,
IOu'IIIg ' .ebruisl&a Lriu'ti.Ies ;
AwNINaS ANt ) TJNT3.
OMA IL' . 'i'lN'L' .tNI3 It IJiIllJjli.CO ,
( SuccesFora Omaha Tent nod Avnini Co. )
Manuracturer , teutte. awutings. jobber ladies'
anti gent' .1ackIimtosttes , Tents br rent , 1311
Faruiani St. , Outtalta.
flREWE1tuE.
OM.tIIA lmmmr1VmN ( ; ASSOCIATION ,
Carload slmipnicnts mails In our own refrigerator -
orator cars. iIiiie lttlbcn , ElIte iport , Vienna
Export anti Farutity Export tiebtverei to all Vance
of the city.
IiOIIjt1s.
OMAILt. BOlrfllt. ' , VOIIKS.
.JOIIN It , 1.V1IEY , I'rop.
T1nIler , Tanks fluid SIet Iron Work. Hpectai
faelltttr'ti for doing renlrs , etc. Tel. i39
CORNICItvoni : .
C. . ii' , iIi'ENE'I'lIlt ,
E.iULui CORNICEI WOhtlCS ,
Manufacturer of Gtflvnnizci Iron Cornire' , , ( in' .
vunizel iron Skyilgiutit , Tin , Iron antI Slate
Iloofing , Agent for Icinni'ars Steel Ceiling.
10S.uQ.l ? North IItventIu , ircet.
CRA"KER ICTO1tZE3 ,
. .tiifiItlGAN limsctii'l' .txIIIr'r. .
Wito1esn , , Cracker Manufacturers ,
OMAILA , NF1J.
DY } WOLuES ,
SOIIOIIHSACK'S ' ' '
CI'I'Y D'v
'tltKS , :1 : 52 I li'uriimu , , S ,
Th'tng and cleamulag of garmen nnl gael , ot
every description , L'Ieaniutg of tIne iaruuuents ii
( peclaity.
.
FIAJUIt MILLS ,
-
S. r , nrr.its.
Flour , Mont , Feel , lirtun , IOl3-u517 North 17th
Street , Onialua , Neb. C. E , Pluck , Manager ,
Telephone 191.
_ _
II1ON WOflitil ,
DA'IS & CO'GII.L , 111CM W)8K14.
I run ii Ii mIt iinuiss , lrouiil.r ,
Manufactiurers antI Joliters of Macittnry. Cen.
'rai repairing a specialty. 1101 , 1103 anti 1103
Jackson street , Omaha , Nab ,
'
LINREEI ) OIl. .
VOOIMtN .I,1SliHl ) 4)11 , VOitIC.S ,
Manufacturers old process raw linseed oil , ket.
tin toiled ilneed ( jut , old iroeess 5mouutd hlnueri
cokes , ground anti terenacti iias.'ed for thug.
glate , ( . ) MA1LA , Li3
MATT8RSSES.
O5ltilt. iI11)JiXG Cl ) ,
7.anutaclurt'ru , or ttlgli grade Mattresses , 1111
ITnrnev * treet ( hnaha.
OVEflAbI AND hhIIltT PAOTO1tIE.9.
JA'S"/-Nli'EN5 COMi'tN' .
h.ttr , , Clothing , J'anta , Shirts , Overalls ,
OMAII/t sjm'ui :
-
nliriiT ite'roiiics.
.5. II , JIV.tSS ,
NIlllt.tSIc.t Shut's' COII'itNY ,
Exchusivo custom shirt tailors. 111T Frirnam
ViNI'.CMI AND 1'iCfE5 ,
-
IJ.t. % JtM.tNN VINECitCO ,
afanufacturera of Viri.utar , i'lcklos , Calsimps
Mustards , Celtry anti Vorcesterbluiro Sauce ,
WACIONS A ! tAltflLOEil.
w'iiLLtM : l'hi'I'1IlrjI.IiI ,
For a good , h'ibstanthal ' vehuici of any doscrin.
then , for repainting ci' fubber tires emi new ( , r oh !
witeehl-thto i.eui piac , Is 27th and i.eayeny'otij (
CIiMt MANIJFACTIJIIIIRS ,
hhi'iNI &
Largest factory in the svost Leatling jobtirri
or Omaha , Ifansas City , 1.incola and SI , Joseph
handle our gt'odv. :006 t"arnsm Street
A. I ) . ' 1' , Co. ; rnctuongers furniahied ; hag.
Eago deiivered , 130Dougkue ; St. Tel , ill ,