The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-01-23

one Of the anxious spectators. Now the
room would be stepped in the deepest
silence, and now, as the revealed Ian
tern glowed and the naked weapons
met, some woman's scream or some
mans suppressed oath would fill the
place with a sense of watching, age
humanity.
Suddenly, when the tension of
watcher and watched was keenest,
there came q mighty crashing at the
door and a voice shouted loudly q sum-
mons to open in the kings name.
Tristan knew we'll enough what the
summons meant. TT is the watch,
sire" he whispered to the king.
Thibaut too, cropping for his nimble
antagonist n beginning to despair OF
crushing the man, heard and under-
stood the summons. He was tired OF
the battling struggle.
open the door," he shouted noisily,
and the cry stirred Villon to a more
vehement assault. He sprang like a
cat at the giant, flashed the lantern
daZzlingly in his eyes, and as Thibaut,
furious, made a wild lunge at him., Viii
Ion dexterously swung his lantern on
to his enelny's sword point and in an
other second had driven his own blade
into Thibaut's side.
mot so fast, rat-catcher!" he shout
ed exultantly, and as Thibaut fell with
a heavy crash Of rafting armor on the
floor, the door was dashed open and
the armed watch poured in with blaZ-
ing torches, filing the room with light
and armored men. Francois, after a
moments glance of triumph at the
fallen giant, sprang round and glanced
up at the gallery.
Katherine, standing, leaned over the
balustrade and flung a knot of ribbon
to her champion, who caught it as it
Ii M ,~I +lN ~ ,D~r ~
to his lips and thrust it into the bosom
of his jerkin. In another
Katherine had disappeared and Villon
found himself roughly held in the
strong grasp Of two soldiers, while the
captain of the watch surveyed the
scene with some establishment, and the
rogues were overawed by the bills Of
the newcomers.
"Wha is this tumult??" the captain
demanded. Villon answered him airily.
smiling over the crossed pixies that
penned him.
"A fair fight, good captain, conduct
ed according to the honorable laws of
: sword and lantern"
The captain of the watch turned his
attention to Thibaut, who, assisted by
one Of the soldiers, had raised himself
upon one elbow and was glazing vim
l dictively at Villon.
: who is this MANI" he asked.
:. A desire for revenge got the better
: of the wounded mans discretion.
II am Thibaut d'A~ussigny," he
> gasped. II am the grand constable"
, A little shiver of surprise n alarm
{ ran round the room at the sound OF
{ that dreaded name. The captain OF
, the watch kneeled in ~salutation.
! "Monseigneur," he said, "how die
t this h~appen?"
/ Thibaut's senses were running away
from him with his running blood, bu1
malignity overcrowed weakness for {
:, moment. He pointed at Villon. "Take
( that fellow and hang him on the near.
est lantern" and as he spoke hi
) swooned. Promptly the captain turned
towards his prisoner. Take that fel.
manded CURLY. Villon glanced Wild,
s about for a way to escape and saw
none. His friends gave a groan O.
y sympathy, but they could do no more
!. for the soldiers overawed them. HUI
guette flung her arms about him, sob,
e bling. The grasp Of his captors light,
ened and V1llon shivered at the clasp
Suddenly the little insignificant bur
: CESS at the table. rose and advanced
towards the soldier.
stop, sir" he said imperatively
. THAT young gentleman is my affair."
The soldier turned angrily upon tn,
y interfering citizen.
- Who are yOu," he groWled. "Uh,
dare to interfere with the kings jus
. tice?"
The citizen pulled his heavy ca
y from his head and revealed tn
= Wrinkled, eager visage hat was so wei
known and so well feared.
:, Il am the kings Justice he sal,
y simply, while Tristan behind hir
- cried God say the king!" and tn
astonished soldier bent the knee il
homage. Villon, staring, dumfoundec
- caught the humor of the situation an
:, could not hold his tongue.
THE king! Coco Lord!" he sale
and punctuated his with
~ prolonged whistle.