The Bemidji pioneer., 1903-04-16
of his rightful share in the mancIont

L
tavern!' ..@ .a. a
\ would that it were you instead!'
exclaimed jacques. Then my cup OF
JOY would indeed be full
Your JOY will be short-lived,' said
Pierre, calmly. My time will yet
comet
Bah! Such silly talk! You are
no true Mancient or ere this you would
have had your turn!' a.s-.
Perhaps-if were you should
have stabbed you in the back! But /
have a better way!' "%
Talk, all talk, said Jacques, and
while you talk Ishall send Jean to
the galleys! How glad am that Jean
tried to rob me! could not have
wished for greater pleasure than
this!'
Have your joy now, brother re-
piled Pierre. i wish you much of it,
Jean took his sentence stoically.
All he said was: Thank you, uncle
Jacques! But shall remember!'
jacques shuddered then. He knew
what that meant. as coming from
Jean. 1t meant that at the end of
twenty years, or sooner should Jean
get freedom, that In truth he must
look out for the knife.
Jacques and Pierre met on the
steps of the hall of Justice. Both
We're surrounded by friends Jacques
could not resist saying:
Well, my fine brother! Twenty
years of Joy. at least!'
Not So! retorted Pierre, with more
animation than he had yet shown.
Cur of Marcient, strike you!'
AT last!' cried jacques, I have
forced you to fight with me! I take
your blow! When shall | kill you,
little brother, and with what?'
Now, and with swords!' said
Pierre promptly, and there was smile
upon his face. 1t did not take long to
arrange the duel. Seconds were
chosen: the party moved on out Of the
city upon the banks of the river. The
spot selected was in sight Of this tav.
ern, and Pierre and Jacques took their
HAs~SSS SPPSDAkV Cf~SA OtACs.
/" Twenty years of joy!' said Pierre,
as he rested on his sword. You think,
my gentle brother jacques, that you
have twenty years Of Joy ahead of
you! Then listen and will tell you
how you lie. For twenty years have
waited for this chance to tell you that
! have had my revenge upon you. To-
day l will kill you! You thought that
| was afraid Of you all these years.
Poor fool, you thought ought to stab
you in the back, as an ignorant Man
cient like you would have done! But
my way Is different. Your tavern you
think so much Of. who will get 1t II
kill you?' he asked.
My boy, Paul. answered jacques.
There Is a model for you! Never
fear, though, it is that will kill you!'
but there was something In his broth.
er's voice which cast a damper Of
fear over him. -. ...y......s
You have said it, jacques Pierre
almost screamed. 1t Is my turn now!
You are going to leave your tavern to
my son! You have sent your own son
Jean to prison for twenty years! For
twenty years I have lived, and
schemed, and hoped for this one day.
For twenty years have laughed in
your face because the time I knew
would come when could tell you to
your teeth that l bribed the nurse to
exchange Paul for Jean. You have
made my son your heir, brought him
up like a gentleman. have made
your son like you--and you have just
sent him to prison for twenty years!
At last you know how a true Mancient
revenges wrong! Should you live
twenty years, Jean, your own son, will
kill you for what you did for him this
day. Should l kill you, as | expect to
do, Paul, my son, will inherit the Man.
cient tavern
Don't you think, my dear brother,
that my revenge Is better than stab
in the dark?"
Jacques sprang upon him. He was
blinded with rage. The effect of |
Pierre's taunts were just what was ex-
pected. Cool and collected Pierre |
easily warded off the blow and as
easily ran his brother through the |
body. And that Is how Paul Mancient
,ame in possession of SEEK tavern"