Evening star., 1898-12-31

James Douglas aloud to the spokesman
I'VE are poor men and travel with nothing
but the merest necessities of which, surely,
you would not rob u.s.
Nay, holy st. Luke Knocked the
Swarthy one, mot rob-that is an evil word
only we would relieve of temptation for
your own souls good. You are come for
your sins to Paris. So in giving TO us, who
IRE clerks of Paris, you will not lose your
money, but only contribute of your abun-
dance to holy mother church. I am clerk,
see-1 do not deceive you, l win shrive and
absolve you in return for the ducatsn'
And commanding one of his rabble to hold
a torch close to his head, he uncovered and
showed tonsured crown.
And if We refuse?' said Lord James,
quietly.
Then, good DR.. Luke" answered the
youth, we are ten to four-and it would be
our sad duty to send you all TO heaven and
then ease your pockets. lest. being dead,
some unsanctifed passerby might be tempt
ed to steal your money
Surely l may clout him now?' came
again like the nearer growl of lion from
Maise the smith.
Seeing the four men apparently intimi-
dated and without means of defense the
ten youths advanced boldly, some with
swords in their right hands and torches in
their left the rest with swords and dag
gers. The Scots stood silent and firm. Not
a hand showed from beneath cloak
Down on your knees!" cried the leader
Of the young roysterers, and with his left
mana ne thrust a blazing torch into the gray
beard of Malise.
with burst of relief and pleasure came the
words BY God, I'll clout him nowv' The
sound of mighty buffet succeeded, some
thing cracked like broken egg and the
cleVer-tongued young clerk went down on
the paving stones with clatter as his
torch eXtinguished itself in the gutter and
his sword flew ringing across the street.
Come ON, iads-they have struck the
lnuy M vn CO fr frI Lon n
them every One!' cried his companions, adj
vancing to the attack with a confidence
borne of numbers and the consciousness of
fighting on their own ground.
But ere they reached the four men who
had stood quietly, the Scots had gather
ed their cloaks about their left arms in the
fashion of shields. and blade, long and
stout, cleaned in every hand. Still no
armor was to be seen, and though some
what Disconnected, the aSsailants were by
no means dismayed.
Come on-let US revenge De Sillev' they
cried
waste O guid steel" grumbled Malse;
would that I had in my fist a steve oaken
staff out o Halnyre, wood. l could crack
their puir bit wi indlestaes O. swords with
out doing them muckle hurt, Laddies lad
dies, be warned and gang decently hame to
your mithers before aIworse befall. James,
tell them to gang ava hame to their naked
bedsr 10
VI HaNiliS fcHlcu anger IN tAe nfSt
buffet Malise was remorseful There was
no honor in such fighting. But all un-
warned the youthful roysterers of Paris
advanced. This was a nightly business
with them, and indeed on such street rob-
berries of strangers and shopkeepers the
means of continuing their carousings de-
pended
1t chanced that at the first brunt of the
of the line from his father, had to meet
three opponents at once. He kept them
at bay for minute, by the quickness of
his defense, but being compelled to give
back he was parrying a couple of their
blades in front when the third got in
thrust beneath his arm. 1t was as if the
hostile sword had stricken a stone wall
The cheap and treacherous blade went to
flinders and the Would-be robber was left
staring at the guard suddenly grown light
in his hand
With quick backward step Sholto slash
ed his last assaflant across the upper arm
effectually disabling him. Then catching
his heel against a step he fell backward,
and 1t would have gone ill with him but
for the action of his father. The brawny
one was profoundly disgusted with hay-
Ing to waste his strength and science upon
such rabble, and now at the moment OF
his sons fall he suddenly dropped his
sword and seized couple Of torches which
had fallen upon the pavement. With these
primitive weapons he fell Hike q whirlwind
upon the foe, taking them in flank A
sweep of his mighty arms right and left
sent two OF the assailants down. one with
the whole side of his face sacrificed from
brow to Jaw ana tho other with his mouth