Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-01-08

nearest to her, on the shoulder. He
swung around, with hooded face, TO an
swer the challenge, and as ne did SO
Louis took advantage of his turned
back to examine Tristan's hand. which
he had laid upon the table, and to SUB
stitute a card from his own hand FOR
one Of his adversary's.
Has Master Francois Villon been
here tonight7" the woman asked. Her
voice was full and sweet, and Tristan
knew 1t we'll though he listened un-
movably. She had lowered her cloak
enough to allow him glimpse of
young. lovely face. but he needed no
glimpse to assure him.
Yonder he squats by the HEARTH ne
answered, masking his own voice with
hoarseness and jerking his thumb to-
wards the settle. The girls eyes fol-
lowed the signal and saw for the first
time the huddled figure on the bench. II
thank you" she said simply, and
moved into the background, her eyes
fixed on the crouchins form, her fingers
clasped nervously. waiting an impatient
patience upon resolution.
Tristan leaned hurriedly over to the
king.
POUNDS, sirel do you know what that
was?"
Louis, smiling at his adopted cards,
answered carelessly, Some bonaroba
who took you for gull" but Tristan's
next words pricked him from his indif-
erence.
1t was your ma jesty's kinswoman,
the Lady Katherine de Vaucelles''
The king rose cautiously to his feet.
oh. no. Oh, ho!" he chuckled. Does
lovely Katherine come to meet Thu
baut?"
"She seeks Francois Villon. Sire
The king started.
lis she the girl he spoke of? Do we
catch her tripp.rg?"
Louis looked at the motionless figure
of the girl then his gaze travelled rap
Idly around the room. Behind him was
doorway. Soundlessly he opened 1t,
saw that 1t gave on TO dark passage,
motioned Tristan through 1t, babe him
In a whisper to wait In the darkness
AS Tristan disa ppeared the girl seemed
to make up her mind and moved slowly
across the floor toward the doing poet.
The king WATCHED her narrowly as he,
too began to move, skulising among the
shadows along the wall. His goal was
the distant space behind the settle,
where his cunning mind discerned a
good listening place-for to listen was
Louis passion. The kings tread was
cat-quiet-the kings breath was
iilcuSG-SlliI. LUZ d moment ne pduSeu
at the street door as if about to pass
out, but seeing that lie was unnoticeG
he driftea UNDECIDED through obscurity
to his haven and nestled there just as
the girl bending forward, touched the
sleeper firmly on the shoulder and then
drew back, defantly abiding by her
temerity.
Villon moved uneasily, as II resenting
the interruption to Ms shoulders that
the firm touch had disturbed. and he
grumhled su!leaiy. without looking up,
What is it?"
The woman lent towards him again
and whispered:
"A word With you"
Nillon rose YEARLY to his feet, and
as he did so the woman drew back
towards the open center of the room,
which now appeared TO her to be
empty. Her nerves We're too highly
strung to note anything surprising in
the disappearance of the two visitors.
IT she thought of them at all it was
only TO he glad that they had gone
their ways and let the place so lone
ly. Villon followed her almost uncon-
sciously, too sleepy for wonder. Sud
denly the woman threw OFF the folds
that mufiled her face and the vision
that had haunted him flashed on his
frightened eyes, the vision so proud, SO
beautiful and young. He crossed him
self as he questioned in a voice that
sounded strangely alien to him. "Ara
you real?"