The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-01-16

scrutiny on the part of the unassum-
Ing burges3es who sat apart and to
whom no n now gave heed.
"A fine evening, friend" Montigny
said affably.
Pretty fine for the time Of year." the
soldier answered. How is your gar
den, friend?"
Montigny smiled whimsically.
Very salubrious, if it were not for
the shooting stars
Then as the soldier stared at him he
FASTENED to explain.
My quip. The shooting star was a
~Burgundian arrow a cloth-yard long
which came wirging it's way over the
walls at noon and made itself at home
in my garden. Here is VIA the arrow
carried"
He pulled from his pouch a small
piece of parchment folded and sealed,
and handed it to the seeming soldier,
The disguised constable took the mis-
SlVe and canine it narrowly.
The seal has not been tempered
WITH he SAID to himself. Rene caught
him up with a noble gesture of indig-
nation.
Il never read other peoples letters"
he protested.
"a uSSSu LIS oiloulOtlS .-.
1T would have profited you little if
you had," he said, as he broke the seal
and turning aside stopped a little to
read by the faint fire light what the
letter said. 1t was couched in words
that seemed commonplace enough, but
Ih1baut knew their secret meaning,
Knew that the duke of Burgundy would
DO all that he asked, give him a duchy.
give him the girl he coveted, all that
he might a Sk for or 111ct fp,, r. he would
only play the traitor and deliver Louis
into the duke of Burgundy's hands.
AS this was precisely what Thi-
baut was resolved to do, a pleased
smile played over his lips as he tossed
the parchment into the glowing ashes
and watched it wither into nothingness.
he turned to Montigny, who was
watching him attentively.
Can O some safe refugees
of. your kidney who think better of Bur-
gundian gold than of the fool on the
throne?"
Montigny answered him behind his
hand. AYE. I know Of half a dozen
stout lads who would pilfer the king
from his palace of the Louvre if they
were paid we'll enough for the job" and
he jerked his thumb over his shoulder
in the direction of his ]carousing COM
rades. Thibaut nodded approval. He
thrust some gold into Montigny's ready
palm, whispered to him to meet him
again tomorrow, and as Montigny re-
joined his friends he turned to leave
the tavern.
To his surprise he found himself CON
fronted by Villon, who feigning intoxi-
cation barred his passage with an air
Of great hilarity. You walk abroad
That's my business" Thibaut ans
wered, trying to pass, but Villon still
delayed him.
Don't be testy. Come and crack a
bottle"
Eve had enough, and you've had
more than enough Thibaut growled.
GO to bed!"
Villon's false good humor changed in
a clap.
You're a damned uncivil fellow, SOL
der, and don't know how to treat a
gentleman when you see one"
Ihlbaut began to lose patience.
Get out of the way!' he said, and
gave Villon a little push with his open
hand that made him stagger. Villon's
voice rose to a yell.
Il will not get u Of the way! How
do I know you are an honest soldier?
How do I know thai you are a true
man?"
AS Villon's voice rose the alteration
attracted the attention Of the revellers
Montigny glided to Villon's side and
whispered him.
Let him alone, Francois; he's not
what he seems
Seems! Who cares what he seems? ?"
ViIlon shouted. Its what he is I want
to know. Perhaps he's not an honest
soldier at all. Perhaps he's a damned
B~urgundian spy!"
Thibaut lifted his hand to crush Viii
Ion, but the poets naked dagger
menaced him and he paused.
Filing this drunken dog into this
street he commanded angrily. Vii.
Ions friends snapped at him %furiously
Vilon flung back the phrase.
Drunken dog, indeed! You are q
lying, ill-favored knave! Keep the door
friends, this rogue has insulted me
Pluck out our iron, soldier!!"
In a moment the whole pack were
between Thibaut and the door, every
woman q fury, every man a fighter
every man with the exception Of Rene
tangling himself from the mass of his
companions, made for the side door anC
slipped out of it unheeded in the con
fusion. It was his intention to alarm
the watch and intervene for the protec-
ton of his powerful patron, and with
this purpose in his mind he disappeared
into the darkness of the street and rar
as fast as his legs could carry him.
In the meantime the quarrel at thu
Fircone ragged hotter. Thibaut, glar
ing at his enemies as a bull nigh
glare at barking dogs, asked savage.
ly of the poet who was brandishing hi.
sword:
Continued Next week.)