The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-10
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CHAPTER Xxx.
IN UNEQUAL CONFLICT.

AN UNEQUAL CONFLICT.
Surveying his room carefully in the dim
light of a candle, the fool discovered he
stood in a small apartment, with single
window, whose barren furnishings consisted
of a narrow couch, chair and massive
wardrobe. Unlike the chamber assigned to
Jacqueline, the door was without key or
| bolt; significant fact to the jester. in view
of the warning he had received. Nor was 1t
possible to move wardrobe or bed. the first
| being too heavy and the last being screwed
10 the foor, had the occupant desired TO
barricade himself from the anticipated
danger without. A number Of suspicious
stains enhanced the gruesome character OF
the room, and as these appeared to lead to
the wardrobe, the jester carried his investi-
| cation to a more careful survey of that i'm
posing piece Of furniture Opening the door,
although he could not find the secret of the
! mechanism, the fool concluded that the floor
of this ponderous wooden receptacle was a
trap through which the body of the victim
| could be secretly lowered.
| This brief exploration of his surround
| ings occupied but few moments, and then,
after blowing out the candle and heaping
the clothes together on the bed into some
Il
the jester drew his sword and softly crept
down the passage toward the stairs, at the
head of which he paused and listened. He
could hear the voices and see the shadows
of the men below, and with beating heart,
| descended a few steps that he might catch
what they were saying. Crouching against
the wall. with bated breath. he heard first
| the landlords tones.
''Well, rogues, what say you to another
sack of wine?I asked the host, cheerily.
ut will serve-while we watt" ominously
answered the master of the boar.
Haven't we waited long enough?" said
an impatient voice.
Tut! TUT young blood" growled another.
reprovingly. would you disturb him at his
prayers?"
1.-The landlord is right" spoke up the
| leader. 1--WE have the night before US. Bring
the wine.''
| In stentorian tones the host called the
| serving man, and soon from the clinking of
cups, the clearing of Threats, and the ex-
| CARNATIONS of satisfaction, foully expressed.
the listening jester knew that the skin had
| been circulated and the tankards filled. One
man even began to sing again an equivocal
song, but was stopped by warning impre-
| cation to which he ill-naturedly responded
with half-defiant curse.
| "Knaves! knaves!" cried the reproachful
voice of the landlord. "Can you not drink
| together likeehonest men?"
This mild expostulation of the host seemed
| not without it's effect, for the impending
| quarrel passed harmlessly away.
Where, think you. got he the sword?"
asked one of the gathering, reverting to the
enterprise in hand.
''Stole it, most likely" replied the leader.
'It is booty from the palace"
"And, therefore, is doubly fair spells. %
laughed another.
Remember, rogues," interrupted the host.
"one-third is my allotted portion. Else we
fall OUT
cart so solicitous, thou corpulent scrimp"
| grumbled he of the boar. "Have you not al
ways had the hulking share? Pass the
| wine!"
Foul names break no bones," laughed
the host. You were always a churlish I'M
gentle knave. There's the wine. an it's not
better than your temper, beshrew me for
the enemy of true hospitality. But to show
| / am none such, here's something to sup
withal; prime head Of calf. Bolt and swig
| as we will"
The rattle of dishes and the play of forks
| succeeded this good-natured suggestion. 1t
was truly evident mine host commanded the
good will and the services of the band by
appealing to their appetites. An esculent
roast or pungent stew was his cure for up
rising or rebellion; high-seasoned ragout
or fricasse became sovereign remedy
against treachery or detection. He could do
without them, for knaves were plentiful,
but they could not so easily dispense with
this fat master of the board who had q
knack in turning his hand to marvellous and
savory messes, for which he charged such
full reckoning that his third of the spoils.
augmented by subsequent additions, was
Ike to become all.
A wave of anger against this unwieldy
, hypocrite and well-fed malefactOr swept
ness, his manner of joviality and goodfel-
lowshp were only the mask Of moral turpi-
tude and blacklist purpose. But for the law
retreS TO his bed With in
probity and honesty OF the greatest delin-
0uent of them all.
one Of the outlaws, interrupting this trend
of thought in the listeners mind.
Serve her the same as the fool, an
swered the landlord, carelessly.
! the leader, thoughtfully. straight as a
poplar; eyes like sloe. With the boar and
the jade. i should do well. when / become
IF she's as easily tanned as the boar?'
suggested the host. significantly.
Devil take me, if her nails are as long as
his tuSkS, retorted the fellow, with
| coarse laugh.
IAN 1 had a hosiery in town. she could
| bait the mobiles thither, commented the
host, thoughtfully.
"Giye her to the scamp student" re-
| marked the fellow who had first spoken.
| NAY, since Nanette ran off with street
singer and left me spouseless, have made
! VOW of celibacy, hastily answered the
| piping voice of the lank scholar.
| A series of loud outlaws greeted the scamp
| students declaration, while the subsequent
| rough humor of the knaves made the listen
| er's cheek burn with indignation. Yet forced
| to listen he was, knowing that the slightest
| movement his part would quickly seal
the fate of himself and the young girl. But
| every fiber of his being revolted against that
ribald talk; he bit his lip hard. hearing her
| name banded about by miscreants and
wretches of the lowest type. and even well
coined startling change in the discourse,
| occasioned by the leader.
Enough, rogues. We must settle with the
Jester first Afterward il will be time enough
to deal with the maid. Hast done feeding and
tipping yet, morio?
.'Yes, MASTER said the suspiciously
muffied voice of the imbecile.
Here's the knife then. You shall have an
! other tankard when you come back"
| Another tankardi" muttered the crea-
ture.
| At these significant words, knowing that
| the crucial moment had come, the jester re-
treated rapidly, and, making his way dow 4
the passage, stood in dark corner near his
| room. AS of one accord the voices ceased be-
| low; heavy creaking announced the ap-
| proach of the morio; nearer and nearer.
first on the stairs. then in the upper CORR
-