Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-01-10


nearest to her, on the shoulder. He
swung around, with hooded face, to an
swer the challenge. and as he did SO
Louis took advantage Of his turned
back TO examine Tristan's hand, wnicn
he had laid upon the table, n TO SUD
stituta a card from his own hand Tor
one of his adversary's.
Has Master Francois Viilon peen
here tonight?" the woman asked. Her
voice was full and sweet, and Tristan
knew II well though he listened un-
movably. She had lowered her CLOAK
enough to allow him a glimpse or q
young, lovely face, but he neeueG no
glimpse to assure him.. .,-
"Yonder he squats by the hearth, ne
answered, masking his own voice with
hoarseness and jerking his thumb TO-
wards the settle. The girls eyes foi-
lowed the signal and saw for the hrst
time the huddled figure on the bench. Il
thank YOU" she said simply, ana
moved into the background, her eyes
fixed ON the %crouching form, her fingers
clasped ~nervously, waiting an impatient
patience upon resolution.
Tristan leaned hurriedly over to the
king. i.
POUNDS, sire! do you know what that
was?"
Louis, smiling at his adopted cards.
answered carelessly, Some bonaropa
who took you for a gull" but Tristan,s
next words pricked him from his lndlr-
erence.
"It was your matesty's kinswoman,
the Lady Katherine de Vaucelles."
The king rose cautiously to his feet.
ooh, no, Oh. ho!" he chuckled. Does
lovely Katherine come to meet n
baut?"
She seeks Francois Villon, SIRE"
The king started.
"Is she the girl he spoke Of? Do we
catch her tripping"
Louis looked at the motionless figure
Of the girl, then his gaze travelled rap
idly around the room. Behind him was
a doorway. Soundlessly he opened 1t,
saw that 1t gave on to a dark passage,
motioned Tristan through 1t, babe him
In a whisper to wait in the darkness.
AS Tristan disappeared the girl seemed
to make up her mind and moved slowly
across the floor toward the doing poet.
The king watched her narrowly as he,
too, began to move, skulking among the
shadows along the wall. His goal was
the distant space behind the settle,
where his cunning mind discerned a
/ good listening place-for to listen was
Louis passion. The kings tread was
cat-quiet-the kings breath was
mouse-still; for a moment he paused
at the street door as If about to pass
out, but seeing that he was unnoticed
he drifted UNDECIDED through obscurity
to his haven and nestled there just as
the girl, bending forward, touched the
sleeper firmly on the shoulder and then
drew back, defiantly abiding by her
tsmerity.
Villon moved ~uneasily, as If r~esentine
/ the interruption to his shoulders that
the firm touch had disturbed, and he
grumbled sullenly, without looking up
What is it?"
The woman bent towards him again
and whispered:
"A word with you"
Villon rose YEARLY to his feet, anc
as he did so the woman drew back
towards the open center Of the room
which now appeared to her to be
empty. Her nerves were too highly
strung to note anything surprising ir
the disappearance of the two visitors
If she thought of them at all 1t was
only to be glad that they had gone
their ways and left the place so lone
ly. Villon followed her almost uncon'
sciously, too sleepy for woader. Sud
denly the woman threw off the fold!
that mufled her face and the visior
that had haunted him flashed on hi!
frightened eyes, the vision so proud, 81
beautiful and young. He crossed him
self as he questioned in q voice tina
sounded strangely alien to him, AR
you real?'
CONTINUED Next Weekly