The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-12-19

room without X to right or left
while his herald, after closing the door
as notselessly as possible, followed
quickly in his footsteps. IL Master
Robin, dancing attendance upon his
sclamorous customers, could have di-
vined the Identity of the newcomers
whose advent he regarded so indiffer-
entity, his purple face would have paled
and his stomach failed him at the
thought that the Fircone sheltered the
4baleful presence of6the king and of his
malign satellite, Tristan l'Hermite.
The two strangers seated themselves
at a small table in the very pole of the.
room to the place where the Abbess
and her friends We're busy, and the
second of the pair, drawing a little
apart the da%rk-colored fold OF cloth.
that almost concealed his features,
looked around him c~uriously.
SIS this the eyrie?" he whispered,
and his companion answered him in the
same low tone, This is the Fircone
tavern, sire" The others finger was
lifted to his lip at once in warning.
Hush, gossip, hush.,' he muttered.
mo title now, I beg of you. Here I
am not Louis of France, but a simple
sober citizen like yourself. I.suppose.
we must take something for the good
of the house?" His henchman prompt
ly replied that such action was indis-
pGIlodOlC. buIt LOulSH SILL +uOuDC-
full. will the liquor be very detest-
able?" he asked, inserting two thin.
fingers in the black pouch at his belt.
Tristan shook his head. NAY, you can
get good wine here If o know how
to ask fer it-and how to pay for it."
mo one knows better than I how to
ask for anything" chuckled the king.
Q worse, how to pay for It," Tristan
sneered. The king scowled at him.
ssFNhn,o NJ 1,.1,1yE n n 1rn,, 1yno,N4 -, ~ Ave., - Oh
he snapped. Tristan shrugged his shoul-
ders. Some dregs Of devotion, I sup
pose. Here stands Master Innkeeper."
For by this time Robin Turgis was at
their elbow, scanning them narrowly
with his small, pig-like eyes that could
make little, however, of the well-muf-
fled faces. He waited for their order
with a kind of ferocious submission,
draining his rank forehead with a sweep
of his dirty palm.
Friend" said Louis, shifting sardon-
ically at the too odoriferous personality
of the ~taverner, you behold here two
decent cts who have turned a penny
or twain in a bargain, and have a mind
to wet their whistles in consequence.
Have you aught to offer thai is good
alike for purse and palate? 2"
Robin Turgis nodded his round head
and fondled his round stomach. 1--WE
have a white wine of Beaune," he said
unctuously, as if he were tasting the
wares he commenced, "at two soils the
f1agon that is noble drinking"
The kings ems of economy shivered
at the sum as If it had been q wound.
"Pasques-Dieu!" he stammered. s
it should be at the price" Robin Turgis
remained unmoved; Tristan clinched
the business. Bring It," he said de-
cisively, and as the landlord shambled
away towards his cellar, Tristan met
the kings condemnatory frown square
ly.
your SERVICE" he said, IT want to save
my throat and stomach"
Louis made no answer and was
mournfully silent until the obese land
lord returned with the much-vaunted
vintage, which he set down on the table
with a brace OF goblets. Louis fumbled
with reluctant fingers in his pouch, ex-
tracted the exact amount necessary for
payment n dropped it into the fat
paw of Robin Turgis. But Robin lin
gered, and Louis, looking at him in
surprise, met the admonishing glare Of
Tristan. "Give him a penny for him
self" Tristan whispered, and the king,
with an unwillingness he was at no
pains to conceal, added the demanded
drink-money to the other coins, and
eyed the departing back of the land
= "AStA M Nv obo1As - WI
are generous with other peoples PEN
MES, friend" he snapped at his com
panion, but Tristan paid no heed to his
righteousness. filled the two cups with
the clear golden liquid and thrust one
of them under the nose of the sulky
monarch. Its fine, dry fragrance
soothed Louis: he took a deep sip and
was mollif1ed; another and he had for
given If not forgotten his generosity.
He w,nked at Tristan amiably over the
rim Of the goblet. This is seeing life,
friend Tristan" he murmured, con-
tentcdly, stretching his thin legs in de-
licious ease. But Tristan was in no
holiday humor. GE
Lets hope is mayn't be seeing death,
friend Louis" he snorted. There are
a couple of rogues in that covey who
would spit you or split 0 or slit you
for the price Of a drink"
Louis laughed affably. "And no such
cheap bargain" he commented, seeing
what wine costs here. But this is an
interesting business"
Tristan would concede nothing to the
terest?" HI asked. "a few DULLES,
bawds and bonarobas boozing together.
You a keep the same company at
court-only a shade cleaner-and not
be out Of pocket for the privilege,
either"
The kings mouth puckered in appre-
citation of ON memory. He leaned
forward and touched Tristan's sleeve.
Gossip Tristan, there is at my court
a scholar who old me an eastern tale"
Pray God it be a gay one, such as
you majesty loves"
Hush man: no majesty here. Ills
of an eastern king, one Haroull, sur
named, as I shall be surnamed, The
Just
Tristan grunted skepticalIy, but.
Louis, ignoring the ejaculation, went
on.
1T was his pastime to go about Bag
dad Of nights in disguise, and ming
ling with his people learn much to the