Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-28
CHAPTER XIII.
THE REDE OF FIVE RIDING
ROGUES.


ROGUES.
Through the silent streets Of Paris
n slender line OF steel moved slowly
the thread Of which Master Francois
Villon was the needle pricked to sew
the realm of France together. The
grand constable rod at the head with
the lords of Lau, Of Riviere M of
Nantoillet, and somewhere at the tail
rode the five released rascals and
babbled beneath their breaths as they
rode. For the order to keep silence
did not count until the gates of Paris
were reached n began to turn on their
hinges to let Villon's Adventures forth.
Every man of the ruffians had a stout
sword swinging at his girdle; every
man of them Sported a steel cap upon
his head; every man of them felt his
heart pulslng with rare emotions and
hts brain busy with strange thoughts.
Rene de Montigny spoke first the thing
that filled his mind.
1T must be a devil of a business"
he reflected, Ito be bullied like that by
a beauty. Blood, but she is beautiful,
and blood, but she can below"
Guy Tabarie chuckled fatty. Il have
been bullied so many times by grey
faced drabs that 1 would take my
trouncing patiently from such a pair Of
lips. 1t was meat and drink to look at
her and think thoughts"
Jehan lie Loup frowned sourly. Had
l been Master Francois and black Louis
not been by / should nave tried to mend
my luck with a cudgel. At best and
worst she would have had something to
curse for after a lusty humping"
Casin Cholet licked his lips. II shall
think Of her." he said, when next /
meet with a sweetheart. With a little
wit your honest rascal can be as happy
as a king. In the dark all fur Is of the
same color"
Colin de Cayeulx yawned. What are
we going a-riding for?" he questioned.
Il would sooner have stayed in the
kings rose garden and filled my belly
as we did last week when the great
lord In gold tissue pitied us. And to
think that it was no more than Fran
co.'s after all! l could jam my dagger
between his shoulder-blades for making
such n ninny Of me-"
II knew him all the time Guy Ia
barrie was beginning when Rene de
MontigEy silenced him with a ringing
clip on the nearest ear which nearly I'M
saddled the fat rogue. You lie, Noun
tain, you lie" he whispered. DO you
think hat II he cheated me our pigs
eyes could read the riddle? No, no., he
fooled US fairly and he fooled US well,
but he treated us kindly and we can
afford to cry quits"
"a strange thing unused Colin, that
q trife of hair less on O mans chin
and q trife of dirt less on a mans
cheek, with some matter of clean linen
and a smooth jerkin, can make such a
difference"
Not at ALL" said Rene de Montigny,
Eve are all the same at the core, every
man-jack and woman-jill Of us, hum
gering, thlrsting, lusting, just after the
same fashion. IT'S only the coat hat
counts
TITS you who lie now" grunted
Tabarie. There's no gold tissue in the
world that would make you as cunning
as Francois. You would never have
lone as he did If the king had made
you the pick of the litter
Rene whistled through his teeth.
May be so, rIay be not" he said. mo
man can tell what he may do till he is
giYen his chance to test his mettle.
oh, opportunity, golden opportunity!
If | were Francois Villon l would shape
an image of gold in your name and
praise you for q saint"
Il wonder what that girl will say"
unused Tabarie, IF our Francois comes
back with the duke of Burgundy in
his pocket"
Il wonder what she will say" sneered
Jehan lie Loup, IF he trundIes back feet
foremost with q hole in his body and
half a head"
. Whatever happens is sure to vex
her." said Casin Cholet. Women are
made that way"
Our poor minions Will be lonely to-
night" said Colin.
Il doubt it," said Rene de Montigny
drily, and then he sighed q little.
Poor Abbess!"
Sudden tears smeared Tabarie's fat
cheeks.
She was a brave wench If ever"
he snivelled. Through welfare or ILL
fare she was always the same, and
would share board and blanket with 4
friend though his pouch was as barren
as Sarah's body"
1T was ten thousand pities," said
Rene, that she fell so lovesick for
Francois. Did he give her some philtre.
some elixir, do you think? Francois
is a fine fellow. though, I'll not deny
it, but he's had the devils own luck,
and by our patron st. Nicholas there be
others as fine as he"
AS he spoke the great gate of the city
yawned noiselessly, and stealthy and
silent, the hope of Paris glided into the
darkness and was swallowed up by the
night.