Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-02-18
T i THE HOUSE d
Up OF THE WOLF.
EGN ltNGg = z 81 x
GslEC BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.
CHAPTER III.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER III.-CoNTINUED.
s'Come, men, have care that you 90
not get into trouble" urged, restrain
ing Croisette by a touch, for by no
means wished to have a repetition of
the catastrophe which had happened at
Caylus. 'These horses belong to the
vicomte de Caylus. If your master be
a friend of his, as may very probably
be the case, you will run the risk of get
ting into trouble
thought heard, as stopped speak
ing, subdued 1nuttering, and fancied
I caught the words: "Papegot! Down
with the Guisesi'' But the spokesman's
only answer aloud was ''Cock-a-doodle-
doo!" "Cook-a-doodle-do he re-
peated, tapping his arms in defiance.
'suere is a cock of fine hackle!" And
so on, and so forth, while he turned
grinning to- his companions, looking
for their applause.
was itching to chastise him, and yet
hesitated, lest the thing should have it's
serious side, when new actor APP
peared. Shame, you brutes!" cried a
shrill voice above us-in the clouds it
seemed. I looked up, and saw two girls,
coarse and handsome, standing at a
them. "For shame! Don't you see that
they are mere children? Let them be-"
cried one.
The men laughed louder than ever;
and for me, could not stand by and be
called a child. Come here" l said,
reckoning to the man in the doorway.
Come here, you rascal, and I will give
you the thrashing you deserve for
speaking to a gentleman"
He lunged forward, a heavy fellow,
taller than myself and six inches wider
at the shoulders. My heart failed me
a little as L measured him. But the
thing had to be done. If was slight, L
was why as hound, and in the excite
ment had forgotten my fatigue. I
snatched from Marie loaded riding
whip he carried, and stepped forward.
slave a care, little mani cried the
girl, gayly-yet half in pity, think.
''Or that fat pig will kill you'll
My antagonist did not join in the
laugh this time. Indeed, it struck me
that his eye wandered, and that he was
not so ready to enter the ring as his
mates were to form it. But before I
could try his mettle, a hand was laid On
my shoulder. a man appearing from
/ do not know where-from the dark
fringe of the group, 1 suppose-pushed
me aside, roughly, but not discourteous-
ly.
Leave this to mel" he said, coolly
stepping before me. DO not dirty your
hands with the knave, master. am
pining for work, and the job will just
suit me. I will fit him for the worms
before the nuns above can say an Ave!"
looked at the newcomer. He was a
stout fellow; not over tall, not over
big; swarthy, with prominent features.
The plume of his bonnet was broken,
but he wore it in rakish fashion; and,
altogether. he staggered with so dare
devil an air. clinking his spurs and
swinging out his long sword reckless
IL, that it was no wonder three or four
of the nearest fellows gave back a foot.
Come on:' he cried. boisterously
forming 4 ring by the simple process of
sweeping his blade from side to side.
while he made the dagger in his left
hand flash around his head. "Who is
for the game? Who will strike n blow
for the little admiral? Will you come
one. two, three at once; or all together?
Anyway. come on. you
And he closed his challenge with a