Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-29


"Chevalier, it is necessary for me to press
on with all speed. want you, therefore,
to do me favor"
Anything you like, cavaliere; but we do
not part, do we%
ut is this. am going on at once; L want
you to take four of my troopers, and with
your own following make for the convent Of
ST. Jerome. 1t lies little beyond Magione.
Your arrival will be expected. If not, say
you are awaiting ne. Await me for week.
If do not come then, go back to Rome, and
tell the cardinal what you have DONE
"But thought was to go with you and
share your adventure%
II give you my word of honor, st. Ar
mande, that you will share in the adventure
for which agreed you should come-share
up to the elbows-but you will spoil every
thing if you do not do what say"
"There is no danger to you?"
mo more than there is to you; in one
word, St. Armande, do you agree or not?"
Every we'll"
''Then there is no time to lose. Jacopo!"
"Excellency"
"Pick out man, and he, you, the lackey
and myself, will go on ahead. The rest can
follow. I have given all other orders to the
signor, st. Armande."
"There is Bande Mere, your worship"
81 am ready, cavaliere," and tall, thin,
gray-mustached trooper saluted as he spoke.
He looked the man wanted. My lackey
was stout horseman, and at pinch might
hold sword as well as he held my valise.
So, shaking hands with st. Armande,
put spurs to Castor, and we dashed off
Turning the corner of a belt of forest land,
looked back and waved my hand in fur.
Their adieu to the chevalier. caught the
tlutter of the white handkerchief the young
dandy carried, as he loosed it to the air in
reply to my salute, and the next moment the
trees hid them from view.
We rode hard now, Castor going almost
as freely as when we started. Indeed, /
would have far outpaced the others, if did
not let him feel the bit once, and the noble
beast, as if knowing his duty, required no
further warning not to outstrip his compan-
ions.
Going as we were now Perugia was but
few hours away; but the pace was too great
to last long, and from Todi to Perugia there
were nine leagues and trifle over Of an
ascending road. Castor might do it, the
others l was sure would not. In order,
therefore, to rest the horses, as well as to
avoid question, 1 resolved that we should
uiuG ut 1t0odlO, dAu dlLer al uOuT OF 10 OF
rest press forwards, passing by Tod, and
travelling all night, SO as to reach Perugia
in the morning. five went faster, we would
only reach at nighs, and 80 late as to find
entrance into the town impossible.
We clattered past the villages of San
Gemini and castel Todino, and about noon
drew up our now somewhat blown beasts
at the gates of the "Man-at-Arms," the only
inn in the village.
1t was poor place saw at glance, and,
az we pulled up, a crowd Of yokels in holiday
attire gathered around US. The inn seemed
full, too, for the yard swarmed with people,
and half-score heads of contadini were at
each window, staring at US open-eyed.
AS took this in, the landlord came rum
ming out, cap in hand and full of apologies
"Ohime! But my house is full to the gar
rets, signore, and it is nothing can do for
you to-day. Tomorrow is the feast of St.
Mary of the Consolation, and all the coun-
try is going to Tod"
II do not want to stay. We merely halt
here to bait our horses and to dine. Can
you manage that?"
off that is all, e1cellency, yes, oh, yes.
The beasts, they can rest anywhere, and
there is polenta and room for your excel.
lency's followers; but for yourself, signore,"
and he shook his head mournfully.
what is the difficultyT And dis
mounted, my men following suit
"But this, signore. There il but one
room in the house you could use, and that il
occupied by two gentlemen of the army.
Violent men, signore, who will not allow
anyone to share it. Lasso mel But not a
paul have they paid me as yeti"
Give them my compliments, and say that
the Cavaliere Donati begs to be allowed
corner of their table for his dinner"
"Alas, signore! 1t is useless. They have
been here two days"
"Then it is time they made room for other
travellers. Give my message, landlord, and
say am following"
Mine host trotted off with considerable
misgivings expressed in his face, and fol-
lowed by my lackey, bearing my valise, I
went after him at slower pace.
When reached the room, which could
hardly be missed, seeing it was the only one
in the house that had any pretense of ap-
pearance, found the door open, and heard
half-drunken voice shouting:
"Begone, dog! Blood of king! But are
two gentlemen to be disturbed because
signore with long name wants to dine?
Skull of st. jerome! Did you ever hear the
iiht VI IulS. SOSpcLtO. lei ulm W 20
hang, or I'll spit him like lark"
1 heard enough to recognize the voice,
and, turning to the lackey, said:
"Send Jacopo here at once with stout
cudgel-run."
The man went off on the double, and re-
NAMED without the door listening with
amusement to the ancient Brico's buster,
for it was ne, and he was having all the talk,
his, nh l., ,,,J
then giving a grunt of assent.
''Mitre and cowl! Hell and sulphur! Will
you begone, fool, or shall slit your wind
pipe" and heard him beat the table with
his fist. "Out, rascal" he roared, "and
bring in another skin of chianti"
Out came the wretched innkeeper, and,
seeing me at the door, began to urge me to
go; but at this moment Jacopo came run
ming up with stout stick in his hand, and,
pushing the landlord on one side, I stepped
into the room, followed by Jacopo.
Brico's friend, who was quite drunk as it
seemed, had fallen asleep whilst he was talk
ing, and lay with his head between his arms,
half on the table, half on his chair. The an
cient was seated with an empty skin before
him, and rose in wrath as entered.
what the" he began in wine blown
voice, and then his face paled little as he
saw me.
I did not waste words. "Cudgel me this
fellow out, Jacopo," said, and Jacopo at
tended to the task as if he loved it. The an
cient attempted to draw his sword, but it
was useless, and a minute or two later he
was flung out into the courtyard, beaten
to jelly and bowling for mercy. He lay
where he was flung, too bruised to move.
His friend slept through it all; but as my
lackey lifted up his head in an attempt to
eject him, 1 recognized Piero Luigi, and felt
that some more stringent action than had
taken with Brico should be adopted here.
To BE Continued.
Give the Children Drink.
called Grain.O 1t is a dalicinns anne.