The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-15

corner where an honest and an I'M
pretentious burgher was enjoying his
mug of beer. Try him. your honor,
said this burgher to the Mayor Put
him to the test; offer a reward for the
rogue. and then perhaps this honora-
bile Captain will think it worth his
while TO discover and arrest the viii
lain.'
Not So said the Captain, knit
ting his heavy brows together Since
the wars are over my men and my
self have found profitable employ
ment in conveying treasure from one
city to another. We have now in
charge a number of bags of bullion
TO be delivered in Brachen-on-the
Wee. We have no time to turn aside
to hail a petty thief who contents him.
self with treasures of small value
1t is plain remarked the Mayor
with considerab BILE animation, that you
are not acquainted with our thief. He
has as keen an eye for what is val
liable as any man in the kingdom
There was a pause here. and the
Mayor sat with his hand on his fat
chin as if rejecting. Presently he
turned to the Captain, saying: What
security do you give when you under
city,"
" First examine the treasure. and
then, according to its value, leave one
OF my jewels-a pearl or a diamond
in the hands of my patrons
There was a further silence on the
part of the Mayor. and the four dig
nitaries of the city, who sat at table
with him, and the Captain. were also
silent; but the plain citizen in the cor
ner was very noisy. He kept on de-
elaring that it was the duty of the au-
thorities to offer a reward for the ar
rest of the thief. and that the whole
business should be placed in the hands
of the gallant Captain.
Pooh!' cried the Mayor finally,
what do YOU know of affairs of this
kind? The thief will be caught in
due time, and all his booty returned
to the rightful owners. We shall
catch him, and il we have no proof
he will be put on the rack. A twist or
two of that old rack has made better
men speak out
You are right" said the Captain
I think the thief and his companions
will be taken sooner than they mag
ine.
Then you think this rogue has as
Sistants?' inquired the Mayor
'Assuredly,' replied the pretended
Captain. He has assistants, but he is
displeased with them. lie has beer
compelled to take them into his conf
dence, one after another, in order to
carry out his plans. He has four COM
panions, and he would willingly get rid
of them
If what you say is true said the
Mayor, with a very serious counter
ance. the matter should be looked into
at once. But first, and at your con-
venience, 1 should like to have a pri-
yate conference. There are a number
of us here who are determined to place
our valuables in a place of safety un-
til this rogue and his companions are
caught, and l desire to get your advice
on the subject
1T was arranged that the Mayor
should return to the inn in the course
of an hour, when the Captain would
be ready to confer with him. BY this
time all of the company had retired ex-
cept the four city dignitaries who had
been sitting at the table with the Cap
tain and the Mayor. They were whis-
pering together when John the Simple
ton strobe from the room twisting his
fierce-looking mustachio.
From the inn, John the Simpletor
returned to his own dwelling where he
uncle. This sturdy soldier calmly
smoked his pipe while his nephew TOLD
him of all that had occurred. They cal
you a simpleton, do they? Well, by the
good King Campion! you are lad afte
my own heart, and what you propose Il
do is as much to my taste as any ad'
venture 1 ever had. Set the pace, my
lad, and I'll follow you; and if you hear
a neck crack before the night is over bt
&.~sr IL lzn.N 1DE
while with the Free Companions.
and so, when the old soldiers pipe
was out, he put on his coat and belt
girded on his short sword, and, keeping
step with his nephew, followed him to
the inn. They clustered into the public
room as became men who were careless
of giving offence to those unused to the
ways of camp.
They sit late here. my Captain,
said the old soldier, fixing his bold
black eyes on the group of dignitaries
No wonder thieves take the town.
warrant / could carry off the families
of those who sit late at the inn guz-
zling beer. We shall hear strange tales
presently
AYE replied the Captain, the
worthy Mayor has something to whis-
per in my ear, and 1 warrant you there
will be a scene before the night is
over
with that the two began to strut
about the room, and they had the ap-
pearance of being two rough custom
ers Finding that they could not pro-
woke the four dignitaries into a con-
versation of any kind or on any sub
ject, the pretended captain and his
lieutenant of the Red Guards called to
the landlord, engaged another room,
and in this extra. room they awaited
the return of the Mayor.
They had not long to wait. This
worthy official was in state of mind
and he was so jealous for the good
name of his city that he was before>
hand in knocking at the captains door.
He was directed by the landlord to the
room that had been reserved for the
lieutenant. and his surprise was great
when he discovered that the captain
had a companion. though he made no
objection when he was told that this
companion was the lieutenant of the
troop who had charge of the treasure
which from time to time was entrust-
ed to the captains care.
"A very worthy man, / have no
doubt said the Mayor with a patron
izing air., and his presence is timely.
There is so much uncertainty here.
and the people have been so sadly de-
moralized by the operations of this
fatx ~ h We nd