Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-08-24
On the steps behind me. between me

on the steps behind me, between me
and the river. / had fallen into a
trap. Indeed, there was nothing for n
now but to do as madame had hidden
me, and play the man boldly. / had
the words still ringing in my veins to
give nerve and daring. l folded my
arms and drew myself up.
"Knaves!" / said, with as much quiet
contempt as 1 could muster, "you mis-
take me. You do not know whom you
have to deal with. Get me a boat, and
let two Of you row me across. Hinder
me, and your necks shall answer for IL
or your backs!"
A laugh and an oath OF derisiou
formed the only response, and before
/ could add more the larger group ar
rived, and Joined the three.
"Who is 1t. PierreT' asked one OF
these in a matter-of-fact way, which
showed l had not fallen amongst mere
thieves.
The speaker seemed to be the leader
or the band. He had a feather In his
bonnet, and / saw a steel c~orselet CLEAN
under his cloak. when some one held up
q lanthorn to examine me the better.
His trunk-hose were striped with black,
white n green-the livery as ]
learned afterwards of monsieur the
kings brother, the duke Of Anjou, aft
erwards Henry the Third; then a close
friend of h duke Of Guise, and later
his murderer.
The captain spoke with a foreign ac-
cent, and his complexion was dark to
swarthiness. His eyes sparkled and
flashed like black beads. 1t was easy
to see that he was an Italian.
"A gallant young cock enough" the
soldier who whistled answered. mot
quite OF the breed we expected" He
held his lanthorn toward me and point
ed to the white badge on my sleeve.
1T strikes mt we have caught q crow
instead OF a %pigeoni"
How comes this?" the Italian asked,
harshly. addressing me, "Who are your
And why do you wish TO cross the river
at this time OF night, young sir"
l acted on the inspiration OF the mo-
ment. Play the man boldly" madame
had said. l would; and l did with a
vengeance. l sprang forward and,
selling the captain by the clasp OF his
cloak, shook him violently, and flung
him off with all my force, so that he
reeled. "Dog!" ! exclaimed, advanc-
ing, as If l would seize him again.
Learn how to speak to your betters!
Am l to be stopped by such ~sweepings
as you? Hark ye, l am On the kings
service!"
He fairly spluttered with rage. More
like the devil's!" he exclaimed, pro-
iouilNilB ~ WOTuS dDOI1lllaDly, ana
fumbling vainly for his weapon.
Kings service or no service. you do
not Insult Andrea Pallavincini!'
I could only vindicate my daring by
greater daring, n / saw this even as.
death staring me in the face, my heart
seemed to stop. The man had his mouth
open and his hand raised to give an
order which would certainly have sent
Anne de Caylus from the world, when I
cried, passionately-it was my last
chance, and l never wished to live
more strongly than at that moment
l cried ~passionately: Andrea Pallavi-
cini, IL such be your name, look at that!
Look at that" l repeated, shaking my
open hand with the ring on II before
his face. land then hinder me, If you
dare! Tomorrow, If you have quarter
lngs enough, / Will see TO your quarrel!
Now send me on my way or your fate
be on your own head! Disobey-ay, do
but hesitate-and / will call on these
very men Of yours to cut you down.
1t was a bold throw, for / staked all
on a talisman Of which / did not know
the value! To me 1t was the TURF Of a
die, for / had had no leisure to look at
the ring, and knew 10 more than n babe
whose IT was. But the venture was as
happy as desperate.
Continued Next Weekly