Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-05-27

nuTuly ever 10 enCcr his SuuulO at all,
for at almost any hour of the day he
was to be seen about the streets Of
the town, playing dice, drinking
wine, chattcring with his friends, or
lounging about the market place.
Such extraordinary conduct nat
urally perplexed the honest citizens
not a little and they accounted for it
in two very different ways. The
friends OF" Hans Holbein stoutly
maintained that he felt himself so
certain of winning the match as not
to require to trouble himself in any
way about Il matter which was prac-
tically decided already. Those who
favored the blacksmith, on the other
hand, took an exactly opposite view
of the case, and vowed that the
painter knew that he had no chance
of winning, and intended, when the
time came, to give up the contest
without making any effort at all.
AS the appointed day drew near,
the whole city was i'm a fcrment. Its
entire population seemed to be di-
vidcd into two %contcnding factions
of lIolbeinitcs and Smithites; and
countless quarrels mot unfrequently
calling in blows) were going on in
every street over the still undecided
matter. Women scolded one another,
and boys punched each others heads,
on the same knotty question which
was setting their husbands and
fathers by the cars i'm the tavern or
the market place; and more than III
young lady, who sympathized very
strongly with n party, sent her
had the impudcnce to side with the
other.
AT last the long-expccted day ar
rived. A full hour at least before
the time fixed for the trial, the mar
ket place was crowded from size to
side: and the very air seemed to
tremElc with the shout that went up
uttered by Smithitcs and Holbcin-
ties alike-as the stalwart figure of
the blacksmith vas seen forcing it's
way through the throng, carrying in
his hands something closely wrapped
in IL cloak, which must of course be
the masterpiece of art which he was
about to exhibit to them.
Having at length reached the tiny
space in front of the tavern which
had been kept clear for himself and
his rival the smith, with Il smile of
disdainful confidence, which showed
that he already regarded the victory
as his own, turned round SO as to face
the cxpectant multitude. and at the
same moment withdrew the cloak
from the object that he carried.
which at the first glance appeared to
be nothing more remarkable than a
small black dog.
Bnt in another instant n cry of
amazcment and delight broke from
the lips of every man in the crowd;
for the dog, though it looked and
even moved like a living animal, was
seen to he made of iron!
Nor was this all. When the smith
set it down and called out. .:Run,
Dirck." the iron dog ran round and
round the clear space, barking loudly
all the time.
laundering shouts of applause
burst from the blacksmlth's party,
while the Holbcinites stood silent,
and looked very blank indeed.
"What is there that can beat this?"
roarcd an eNultant Smithite. ssIron
has beaten canvas, as III own eyes
have seen. Where is Hans Holbein
now?"
Where was Hans Holbein, indeed?
No voice answered to the call, and
there was no sign of him in any part
of the crowd. 1t soon became evil
dent that, wherever the painter might
be, he was nowhere in or near the
market place.
Crimson with shame and rage at
the dcrisive laugh which the Smithites
set up, three or four of Holbein's
special friends tore off in various di-
rections to look for him; and one of
them, by a lucky inspiration, went
straight to a small tavern where the
painter was wont to have his lunch.
Here he found Master Hans sitting
down to his bread and cheese and
beer as coolly as if the smith and his
challenge had never existed.
"Hans-thc blacksmith! the chal-
lengc.!" gasped the messenger, burst
ing headlong into the room.
All. NSIy Ciuc, Sdlu I%lOlDclll,
composedly. "Faith. 1 had quite
forgotten that; and, i'm truth, I doubt
much if 1 have ever thought of it
since the day it happened"
"Never thought of it:?" yelled the
other, who had lain a heavy wager on
Holbein's success. .Do you mean to
say you have got nothing ready at
all?:"
The painter rose slowly to his feet,
and eyed his companion with a look
which seemed to make the rcproach-
full words go backward down the lat
ter's throat.
"Carc thou not for that" said he,
coldly; ''this Dragging smith may be
a clever fellow in his way, but he has
reckoncd without his host if he thinks
to beat Hans Holbein. Come and see!"
When the great artists well-known
figure vas SCI coming round the
corner of the crowded square, a dead
hush of expectation fell over the ex-
| cited thrOnp. in the midst, nf which