The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-02-06

Prise, but his answer CAME prompt,
"Cabbages."
V1llon shook his head. Arrows, Mas
ter Rene, ~Burgundian arrows, most
condemnable vegetables. Have a care.
It's a pestilent crop II may poison the
gardener. Stand aside"
Rene de Montigny stared at his in
terlocutor in a paroxyS1n of amaze
ment. Here was his dearest secret
loose on the lips Of his questioner. 1t
was the first time h a he had ven
tured boldly to gaze into the lace OF
authority II Villon returned his gaze
~detlantly. But there was no recoSn1-
ton in Montigny's eyes. He could see
nothing in common between the Splen-
did gentleman who now addressed him
and the ragged rhylnester who shared
SO many squalid adventures with hiin,
and in an instant he reverted his head
respectfully.
IT your grace will deign,' he. plead
ed, stretching cut his hands In en-
treaty. but Villon was memorable.
stand aside" he repeated, and
Montigny protesting was dragged back
to his place with his fellows while VII
Ion read the name of the next rogue on
the list, which happened to be that OF
Guy Tabarie.
BY his time villon's spirit had en-
tered into a very complete appreciation
of the humors Of the situation. Hav-
ing realized that his identity was safe
even from the keen eyes Of Rene de
Montigny, he felt assured that he
might defy the Indifferent scrutiny or
his less alert companions. And though
he made use of the long pendant fold
of his cap to conceal in some meas
ure his countenance, he was now so
confident OF his safety that he was pre-
pared to greet each prisoner with COM
posture.
Guy Tabarie cut q piteous figure as
he tottered across the grass, rudely pro-
PEELED by the violence Of the loldier who
escorted him tweaking him by
mountain Of flesh, at the feet
OF the man whom he believed to be the
grand constable OF France With pit
eous g~esticulations and trembling
fingers, the red, gross man knelt and
attempted to plead for mercy. Villon
eyed him sternly though he found 1t
hard to restrain his laughter.
You come with clean hands?" he
asked, and Guy answered, babbling, his
words tumbling from him, incoherent
and confused, holding out his huge
paws like a schoolboy reproved for
want of soap and water:
."As decent a lad, my lord, as ever
on the straight and narrow path hat
leads to-
He had suffered thus far when VII
lon interrupted him..
THE gallows, Master Tabarie."
Guys bulk quivered in piteous mega
ton.
mo, no; I / have the fear Of God in me
as strong as any man In Paris"
Villon leaned over q little nearer to
his victim and breathed a question into
his ear:
DO you know the Church of ST.
Maturin, Master Tabarie?"
The little pig-like eyes of Tabarie
widened in surprise and he SIAM
nlered a mo, my lord that was in
knowledge. Villon wagged his head
wisely.
Master Tabarie, Master Tabarie,
your memory is failing you. Why, no
later han the middle Of March last
you broke into the church at dead of
night and pilfered the gold plate from
the altar. Tit fear of God is not very
strong in you"
If Master II ,rie had been listening
to the words o. q wizard, he could not
have been more astonished.
Saints and ange,s!" he cried aloud.
This grand constable is the devil him
self! My lord, ! was led astray; my
lord, I was not ALONE
Villon had had enough entertainment
from his fat companion.
He made q sign, and instantly a sol
der swooped upon the ~sroveling figure,
twitched him to his feet and drew him
apart, suffering furious p~rotestations
OF innocence.
Villon looked at the list in his hand,
and this time he called for two names,
Colin de CaveulX and Casin Cholet,' y
and as he spoke, the two knaves We're
pushed forward towards him. Villor
drew the pair Il little way apart and
stood between them, cycling their
roguish faces on which false affability
struggled With {. very real fear.
Are you good citizens, sirs?" he
asked, and Colin Immediately answered
him: az
II am loath to sing my own praises
but | can speak frankly for my frienG
here. The king has no better subject
and Paris no more peaceable burgess
than Casin Cholet."
As he spoke he waved Casin Cholet
a warm salntation. and Cholet re.
sponded to his praises with a friendly
grin n yet more friendly words:
III | ave any poor merits, | owe
: them ali to this. good gentleman's ex.
ample. l have followed his lead, halt.
| ing and humble. Keep your eye or
Colin de Cayeulx,' I hay ever said t
: myself. and learn how a good mai
lives"
= Continued Next Week.)