The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-07-11

servant had fallen into trouble, we
walked across to the stables near which
he and the horses We're still lingering.
We'll, what is it?" / said sharply
They say that there is no room for
The horses, Jean answered, querulous-
ly, scratching his head; half sullen
nalf cowed, a country servant all over.
And there is not!'' cried the fore
most of the gang about the door, hast
ening to confront us in turn. His tone
was insolent. and it needed but half an
eye to see that the fellows We're in
clined to back him up. He stuck his
arms akimbo and faced us with an i'm
pudent smile. A lanthorn on the
ground beside him throwing an uncer-
tain light on the group, l saw that they
all wore the same badge
Come" l said, sternly. "the stables
are large, and your horses cannot fill
them. Some room must be found for
mine"
ITO be sure. Make wsy for the
king! he retorted. While one jeered
"Vive lie roi!' and the rest laughed.
Not spontaneously, but with a touch
of spitefullness.
Quarrels between gentlemens SER
wants were as common then as they are
today. But the masters seldom conde-
scend to Interfere. Let the fellows
fight it out" was the general senti-
ment. Here. however, poor Jean was
overmatched, and we had no choice
but to see to it ourselves.
Come. men, have a care that you do
not get into trouble" 1 urged, restrain
ing Croisette by a touch, for l 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
friend of his, as may very probably
be the case, you will run the risk Of get
ting into trouble
l thought l heard, as I stopped speak
ing, subdued muttering, and fancied
l caught the words: "Papegot! Down
with the Guises!" But the spokesman's
only answer aloud was "Cock-a doodle
doo!' Cock-a-doodle-d oo." he re-
peated Tapping his arms in defiance.
Here is cock of fine hacker" And
so on, and so forth, While he turned
grinning to his companions, looking for
their applause.
I was itching to chastise him, and yet
hesitated. lest the thing should have
it's serious side, when new actor APP
pealed. Shame, you brutes!" cried a
shrill voice above us--in the clouds it
seemed. | looked up, and saw two girls
window over the stable, light between
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, l 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 1 will give
you the thrashing You deser'e for
limo To NJ
He lunged forward, 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. II was slight,
was wiry hound, and in the excite
ment had forgotten my fatigue.
snatched from Marie loaded riding
whip he carried, and stepped forward.
Have a care, little mani" cried the
COR 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 sc ready to enter the ring as his
mates were to form it. But before I
could try his mettle; hand was laid on
my shoulder. A man appear frc.l
do not know where-from the dark
| fringe Of the group, l suppose-pushed
| teouSly.
Leave this to mel" he said, coolly
STEPPING before me. DO not dirty your
hands with the llnave, 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 1t in a rakish fashion; and.
altogether, he staggered with SO dare
devil an air. clnking his spurs and
swinging out his long sword reckless
~, that it was no wonder three or four
of the nearest fellows gave back a foot
Come on!'' he cried, boisterously.
| forming 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 a 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
voley Of trightful oaths, directed at
| the group opposite.
| 1T is no quarrel Of yours said the
big man, sulkily; making no snow of
drawing his sword, but rather drawing
| back himself.
"All quarrels are my quarrels! and
no quarrels are your quarrels. This is
about the truth, 1 fancy!" was the
smart retort; which our champion
rendered more emphatic by a playful
! lunge that caused the big bully to skip
+, again
Continued Next Weekly
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