Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-01-22
stood the summons. He was tired
the battling struP1le

stood the summons He was tired Of
the battling struggle.
open the door!" he shouted noisily.
and the cry stirred Villon to a more
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 enemy's sword point and in an
other second had driven his own blade
into Thibaut's side.
Not so fast, rat-catcher!" he shout
ed eXultantly, and as Thibaut fell with
q heavy crash of rafting armor on the
floor, the door was dashed open and
the armed watch poured in with blaz-
ing torches, filling the room with light
and armored men. Francois, after q
moments glance of triumph at the
fallen giant, sprang round and glanced
up at the gallery
Katherine, standing, leaned over the
balustrade and flung knot Of ribbon
to her champion, who caught 1t as it
skinned through the air. pressed it
to his lips and thrust 1t into the bosom
of his jcrkin. In another moment
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
the newcomers.
What 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
In 1tov1 4, Il 4. NJ
upon one elbow and was glaring vim
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'Aussigny," he
gasped. II am the grand constable"
A little SILVER of surprise and alarm
ran round the room at the sound Of
that dreaded name. The captain Of
the watch kneeled in salutation.
"Monseigneur," he said, "how did
this happen?"
Thibauts senses were running away
from him with his running blood, but
malignity overcrowed weakness for a
moment. He pointed at Villon. "Take
that fellow and hang him on the near
est lantern" and as he spoke he
swooned. Promptly the captain turned
towards his prisoner. Take that fell
~.Ns''NAS
manded CURLY. Villon glanced wildly
about for way to escape and saw
none. His friends. gave groan of
sympathy, but they could do no more.
for the soldiers overawed them. HUI
guette flung her arms about him, sob
bling. The grasp of his captors tight
ened and Villon shivered at the clasp
Suddenly the little insignificant bur-
CESS at the table rose and advanced
towards the Soldjar
Stop, sir" he said imperatively,
THAT young gentleman is my affair"
The soldier turned angrily upon the
interfering citizen.
Who are YOU" he growled, who
dare to interfere with the kings JUS
tice?"
The citizen pulled his heavy can
from his head and revealed the
wrinkled, eager visage that was SO we'll
known and so we'll feared
II am the kings Justice" he said
simply, while Tristan behind him
cried God save the king!" and the
astonished soldier bent the knee in
homage. villon, staring, dumfounded
caught the humor Of the situation and
could not hold his tongue.
"The king. Good Lord!" he said
and punctuated his comment with n
prolonged whistle