The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-07-08

there" he cried, you inSo1ent rascal! VINO
told you to sit before your betters?
The violence of the action, and Mafg-
mans heat, were such that the nearest
drew back affrighted; and even Gringuets
servants recoiled, while the market peo-
pie gasped with establishment. But / knew
that the respite would last moment only,
and l stood forward. ARREST that man,
1 said, pointing to the collector. who was
groveling the ground, nursing his 1oo1
and shrieking foul threats at u.s.
In "a second my two men STOOD over h;In-
'In the kings name" La Trape cried.
'let no man Interfere"
Raise. him up" / continued, land set
him before me; and Curtin also, and Fon-
Velle, ami Phil.ppon; ana Lescaut, the corn
dealer. ii he IS here"
l spoke boldly. out l felt some misgNing.
So mighty, However, is the habit OF COM
nand, that the crowd, far from resisting,
thrust forward the men l named. StiIl, /
could not count on this obedience, and 1t
was with pleasure that l saw at this mo-
ment as, ! looked over the heads OF me
crowd, a body of horsemen entering the
square. They halted an instant. looking
at the unusual concourSe; While jne towns
folk, interrupted II the middle OF the dra-
ma. knew no. which way 70 stare. Then
Bo!srcuil seeing me. and that L was mold
ing some sort of court spurred rs horse
through the press, and saIuted me.
Let half dozen of your vdrlets dis
mount and guard these men l said; and
do you, you rogue i continued addressing
GrlnEuet. answer me, and tell me the
lTulh HOW mucn does edCn OF these
knaVeS give you to cheat The king. and
your master? Curtin first. How much does
he give you?'
My ord" he answered. pale and shak-
Ing. yet with mutnous CLEAN in his eyes,
II nave a right 10 know nrst before whom
Enough 1 Numbered. that it is be-
fore one who has the right 10 question
you! Answer me, villain, and be quick.
What is the sum of Curtin's bribe?"
he stood white and mute.
,Fonvelle's?"
SIN he stood silent. glarlng with the
devil IN his eyes; while the other men
whimpered and protested their Innocence.
ana the crowd stared as if they could
never see enough.
''PhilipDon's?"
Il take no bribes." he muttered.
"Lescaut's?'
Not a denier"
.'Liar!' l exclaimed. Liar who devour
widows houses and poor mems cornl Who
grind the weak and say it is the king: and
answer the truth. How much do these men
give you?"
....2Nothing.,, he said dehantly.
have the list. 1t is in your shoe
I have no list" he said beginning to
ing to his equity foot. 'Maignan, or Win
his SHOE. and look in it
IHsreSarding his shriexs of pain. they
tore IL on and looked in it. There was no
a"or with his stocking" I said roundly.
lie flung himself down at that. cursing
and protesting by turns But I remen-
bered the trampled corn, and the girls
bleed ng face. and was inexOrable. The
stocking was drawn off, not too tenderIv
and turned inside out. Still no list was
found
'TIe has it, I persisted 1--WE have tried
the shoe and we have tried the stocking
now now " mus 'Fs the loot. Fetch a stirrup-
OF the grooms give him dozen on that
self on his knees. screaming for mercy.
The list" I said.
81 have no list! I have noner' he
"Then give it to me out of your head.
Curtin. how much?"
He glanced at the man I named and
shivered, and for a moment was silent.
but one OF the groOms approaching with
the stirrup-leather. ne found his voice.
Forty crowns" he mutteTed.
'"The same"
made him confess, also. the sums which
he had received from Lescaut and Pbil:r
pom. and then the names of seven Others
who had been in the habit Of brib5ne hin
Satisfied that he had so far told the trI+n
"And now / said to BOisreuil when This
was done. take him TO the whipping post
man of the eleven gives him a stripe for
every crown with which he has bribaJ
h,I2-and good ones, or I viii have them
rascals?" I continued to the trembling cul-
have your backs bare
But the wretch. as cowardIv as he had
been cruel, flung himself down and era VI
ed, sobbing and crying. to my feet I had
no mercy, however. Take him away" I
SAID. 1T is such men rs these give kings
a bad name Take him away. and see
you fay him Well"
lie sprang up then. forgetting his govt,
and made a frantic attempt 70 escape.
But in a moment he was overcome hauled
away, and tied I'D; and. though 7 lid not
wait to see the sentence carried ont bfgt
entered the inn. the shrill screams he nj
tered under the punishment reached me.
and his fellows were not holding their
hands.