Argosy, Vol. 111, No. 1 — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

LUCK. 7 “ Pierre! ’’ and the priest reached out his bony hands. But the boy did not seem to notice or to understand. ‘““It-is a long journey, and I will need a strong horse. It must be eight hundred miles to that town.” “Pierre, what clatm has he upon you? What debt have you to repay?” And Pierre le Rouge answered: loved my mother.”’ He raised his face a little higher and smiled upon them. “It is a beautiful name, Irene?” There was no voice from Jean Paul Vic- tor, so he turned to Father Anthony. “It is a charming name, Pierre.” ‘““T would give my revolver with the pearl handle, and my skates, and the en- graven knife of old Canole just for one glimpse of her.” ‘“ You are gomng?”’ The boy asked in astonishment: you not have me go, father?” And Jean Paul Victor could not meet the sorrowful blue eyes. He bowed his head and answered: ‘‘ My child, I would have you go. But promise with your hand in mine that you will come back to ‘me when your father is buried.” ‘The lean fingers caught the extended hand of Pierre and froze about it. “But first I have a second duty in the southland.”’ ‘“ A second?” “You taught me to sheot and to use a knife. Once you said: ‘ An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ Father Victor, my father was killed by another man.” “Pierre, dear lad, swear to me here on this cross that you will not raise your hands against the murderer. ‘ Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.’ ” ‘““He must have: an instrument for his wrath. He shall work through me in this.”’ “ Pierre, you blaspheme.” ‘““* An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ ” ~ “Tt was the demon in me that quoted that in your hearing, anc not myself.” “ The horse, Father Victor—may I have the roan?” ¢é He is it not— “Would “ Pierre, I command you—”’ The light in the bhte eyes was as cold and steady as that in the starved eyes of Jean Paul Victor. ‘“ Huth!” he said calmly. “ For the sake of the love that I bear for you, do not command me.” ‘“‘ Pierre, I have prayed God for you night and morning, and for the sake of those prayers which are dearer than gold m heaven, stay with me!” ef Dear Father Victor, you also hope for hands that love vou to close your eyes at the end.” And fhe stern priest dropped his head. He said at last: “I have nothmg saving one great and terrible treasure which I see was predestined to you. It is the cross of Father Meilan. ‘You have worn it before. You shall wear it hereafter as your own.” He took from his own neck a:silver cross suspended by a slender sitver chain, and the boy, with startled eyes, dropped to his knees and received the gift. “It has brought good to all who pos- sessed it, but for every good thing that it works for you it will work evil on some other. burden. I, alas, know; but you also have heard its history. Do you accept it, Pierre?” ‘ Dear father, with all my heart.” The colorless hands touched the dark- red hatr, and the prophet eyes of the priest went up. “‘ God pardon the sins you shall commit.” Pierre crushed the hand of Jean Paul Victor against his lips and rushed from ‘the - room, while the tal! priest, staring down at ‘the fingers which had been kissed, pro- nounced: “It is better that he should commit mur- der with his hands than to slay in his evil thoughts.”’ ‘“Can you resign him like this?” ‘““T have forged a thunderbolt. Gabrielle, you are a prophet. for my hand. Listen!”’ And they heard clearly the sharp clang of a ‘horse’s hoofs on the hard-packed snow, loud at first, but fading rapidly away. The wind, increasing suddenly, shook the house furiously ‘about them. Ft was a north wind, and traveled south Father It is too great Ccomicloool Great is its blessing and great is its