The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-10

sumed his position commanding the scene
below, and breathlessly awaited the sequel
| TO the singular pantomime he had witnessed.
We'll. is il done?" asked the harsh voice
or the master of the boar.
Yes; done.' was the submissive answer.
| Good Now TO get the sword"
Not so fast" broke in the landlord. DO
you Kill; morio. without drawing blood?
| Look at his dagger
| The leader took the blade. examined il,
and then began to call down curses the
head of the imbecile monster. Clean, save
| for a thread of cotton" he cried angriy.
Yes. yes master." replied the creature
eagerly
! Then, perhaps. you strangled him?" sug-
gested the man.
mo; stab. stab. reiterated the morio. in
an almost imploring tone. shrinking from
the chances cast upon him.
Bah! You stabbed the bed, fool not the
| man." roughly returned the other. ''The
| rogue has guessed our purpose and left the
| ROOM" he continued. addressing the others.
| But he's skulking somewhere. Well.
! knaves. here's little eoursing for US all.
| Up with you, morio, and find him. Perhaps,
| though, he may prefer 10 come down" And
| the leader called out: Give yourself up.
| rascal, it will be the worse for you
To this paradoxical threat answer was
returned. Standing In the shadow at the
| head of the stairs, the Jester only gripped
| tighter the hit of the coveted sword, while
across his vision flashed the picture Of the
! young girl. left helpless. alone! What mercy
would they show? The coarse words OF the
master of the boar and the gibing. loose re-
| sponses of the company required to him.
| and, setting his jaw firmer. the PLEASANT
| peered with cleaning eyes, down into the
| semi gloom.
| You won't answer" cried the leader,
after short interval. Smell him out then,
| rogues."
| Knife in hand, the others at his heels. the
| mori0 slowly made his way up the stairs.
Goaded by the taunts of the outlaws, his
| face was distorted with ferocity; through
| his lips came a fierce sibilant breathing; in
the dim light his colossal figure and enor-
| nous head seemed in no wise human, but
| rather a murderous phantasm. With head
| rolling from side TO side, stabbing i'm the air
| with his knife. he continued to approach
| an object calculated to strike terror into
| any breast
| "Oh! ohr' murmured voice behind the
| jester, and. turning, he saw Jacqueline.
| Disturbed by the tumult and the loud voices
| the jestress had left her room to learn the
| cause Of the unusual din. and now. with her
| dark hair a cloud around her. stood gazing
| fearfully over the fools shoulder.
| At the sound of the young girls voice, so
| near, the plaisant's hand, which, for the
moment, had been unsteady. became sud
| denly steel. Almost impatiently he awaited
4 the coming of the morio; at last he drew
near but, as if instinctively realizing the
presence of danger, paused, his arm ceasing
| to strike, but remaining stationary in the
| air.
Go on." impatiently shouted those be-
| hind him.
| At the command the creature sprang for
| ward furiously. when the sword of the jester
| shot out; once, twicei From the morio's
| grip fell the dagger; over his face the lust
| for killing was replaced by look of sur
| prise; with single moan, he threw both
arms on high, and, tottering like an oak, the
| monster fell backward with crash. carry
| ing with him the rogues behind Impreca-
| tons, threats and cries Of pain ensued; sew
eral knaves went limping away from the
\ struggling group; one lay PROSTATE as the
| MORO himself; the master of the boar rubbed
his shoulder, matchmaking roundly the
cause Of the disaster.
| IT think my arms put outv' he said. as
| the creature dead?" he added. viciously.
Dead as a herring" answered the land
| lord, bending over the motionless figure
"Beshrew me, thought the jester was
craven" growled he of the boar. What
| does 1t mean?'
THAT he saw the snare and spread an
other" replied the host.
go back to your room, mistress" whis-
pered the PLEASANT TO the young girl, land
| lock yourself In"
do you think they will return?' she added
| In voice she strove to make firm.
| al am certain of it. Go, beg you-to your
window and eau out. 1t is a slender hope.
but the best we have. Fear not; / can hold
| the stairs yet while"
A moment she -hesitated. then glided
| away. At the same time he of the boar
| grasped sword in his left hand and, with
his right hanging useless, rushed up the
| stairs.
"Oh, there you are, my nimble wit-crack-
| eri' he cried as the jester stepped boldly
out. TWAS a pretty piece of foolery you
played on the monster and us, but quip for
Quirk, my merry wag!' And, so speaking
he directed violent thrust which. had it
taken effect. would, indeed, have made
| good the leaders threat.
But the PLEASANT stepped aside. the blow
grazed his shoulder. while his own blade, by
| a rapid counter, passed through the throat
Of his antagonist. With a shrek, the blood
! gushing from the wound. the master OF the
boar fell lifeless on the stairs. his sword
gathering downward. At that gruesome
sight, his fellows paused irresolute, and.
T. sx.I4 4suf. haA
headiong upon them, striking fiercely. when
| their hesitation turned into panic and the
knaves fairly fed. Below, the irate landlord
| stamped and fumed cutting and striking as
| he moved among them with threats and
abuse.
"White-lvered varlets! Pigeon-hearted
willing the lords beat with their slippers.
Because of a chance blow against an imbe-
Gle, or disabled man. you hesitate. A fg
for them! What If they be dead? The spoil
will be the greater for the rest
Thus exhorted. the knaves once more took
heart and gathered TO- the attack. Glaves
| were provided for thos In front and the
PLEASANT waited, grimly determined. yet ik-
ing little the aspect of those terrible weap-
ons and feeling the end OF the unequal con-
test was not far distant. when light hand
| was laid on his arm.
Follow me quickly" said Jacqueline
1--WE may yet escape. Don't question me,
| but comet she went on hurriedly.
Impressed by her earnestness, the jester
| after moments hesitation, obeyed. She led
him to her room. closed and locked the door
but not before a scampering OF feet and
sound of voices told them the rogues had
| gained the upper passage-and drew him
| hastily to the window.
| See" she said, eagerly. "a LADDER
"And at the foot of the ladder, our
horsesi" he exclaimed. in surprise. ''Who
has done this?
Her response was interrupted by hand
| at their door and clamor without, followed
| by heavy blows.
Quick. Jacqueline." he cried. and helped
her to the long ladder, set. as il seemed
| providentially against the wall.
Can you do it?' he asked, yet holding
her hand Her eyes gave him answer, and he
released her, watching her descend.
| The door quivered beneath the general on
| slaught of the now exultant outlaws, and
| as a glave shattered the panel the Jester
J threw himself over the easement. A deafen-
ing hubbub ensued; the door suddenly gave
| way, and the band rushed into the room
| At the same time the PLEASANT ran down
| the ladder and sprang TO the ground at the
| young girls side. From above came excla-
| nations of wonder and amazement, mingled
| with invective.
They're gone" cried one.
| Here they arei" exclaimed another, look
ing down from the window
| The Jester at once seized the means of
| descent, but not before the man who had
! discovered them was on the upper rounds
| a quick effort on the FOOLS part, and ladder
| and rogue toppled over together. The enter
| prising knave lay motionless where he fell
| ''Vrai Dieui He wanted TO come down %
| said an approving voice.