The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-17

from MS rags ana look a step nearer the
fire.
That is a very unnecessary question,
landlord said the young man with a
smile, nevertheless l will answer 1T. ]
want shelter, in the first place, and food
and drink as soon as you can bring them. =
"Ill take your order for a meal when
have seen the color of your money"
quite right" said the king, land only
fair Scottish caution" Then with a lack
of that quality he had just commended,
he drew his belt out from under his coat,
and taking gold piece from 1t, threw
the coin on the table
The entrance of the king and the man
n6T of his reception exposed him to the
danger almost sure to attend the display
of 50 much wealth in such forbidding
company. moment later he realized the
Jeopardy in which his rashness had placed
him, by the significant glances which the
half dozen rough men there seated gave
TO each other. He was alone and unarmed
in disreputable bothy on the edge of a
forest Wen known as the refuge of des-
perate characters.
When the time came to retire, his host
brought the king by a ladder to a loft
which occupied the whole length of the
building, and muttered something about
the others sleeping here as well, but
thanked heaven there was room enough
for an army.
This will not do for me-" said the
beggar, coming down again. I'm take
TO the storm first. What is this chamber
leading out from the taproom?"
That IS my own replied the landlord,
with some return of his old incivility,
and I'll give it up to no beggaT."
The king, without answering, opened
the door of the chamber and found him
self in a room that could be barricaded.
Taking a light with him, he examined 1t
more infinitely.
rs this matchbox loaded?' he asked.
pointing to a clumsy gun which had doubt
less caused the death of more than one
deer in the forest.
The landlord answered in surly fashion
that it was but the king tested the point
for himself.
Now he said, 81 rest here, and you
viii see that 1 am not disturbed. Any
man who attempts to enter this room gets
the contents of this gun in him. and I'll
trust to my two daggers to take care of
the rest
He had no dagger with him, but he
spoke for the benefit of the company in
the tap-room Something in his reso-
lutte manner seemed to impress the land
lord, who grumbled, muttering half to
himself and half to his companions but
he nevertheless retired, leaving the king
alone, whereupOn James fortified the
door, and afterward slept unmolested the
sleep of tired man, until broad day woke
him,
(Which way may your honor be jour-
neying?' asked the innkeeper, for see
that you are no beggar.''
Il am no beSgar at such an inhOspita-
BILE house as this, replied the wayfarer,
but elsewhere l am beggar-that is to
say, the gold l come by is asked for and
not earned
''Ah, that's it, is it?' said the other
with a nod, but for such a trade you
need your weapons by your side
The deadliest weapons, rejoined the
king, mysteriOusly, ARE not always those
most plainly in view. The sting of the
wasp is generally felt before it is seem
The landlord was plainly disturbed by
the intelligence he had received, and now
made some ado to get the change for the
gold piece, but his guest replied airily
that it did not matter.
with whatever's coming to me- he
said, feed the next beggar that applies
to you on a rainy night with less at his
belt to commend him than | have
well, good day to you. and thank you, -
said the innkeeper. eff you're going StirI-
ing way, your roads straight through the
forest, and when you come to ST. Ninians
you'll be in time to see fine hanging for
they're throttling Badly Hutchinson today
border-yes, and beyond it, warrant
THAT will be interesting" replied the
king. Good day to you
Entering the forest at last he relaxed
no precaution, but kept to the middle of
the road, with his stout stick ready in his
hand. At the second turning five stall
wart ruffians fell upon hinA two armed
with knives and three with cudgels. The
kings early athletic training was to be
put to practical test. His first action
was to break the wrist of one of the
scoundrels who held a knife, and before he
could pay any attention to any of the
others he had received two or three re-
sounding blows from the cudgels, and now
was fully occupied warding off their
strokes, backing down the road to keep
his aSsailants in front of him. His great
agility gave him an advantage over the
comparative clumsiness Of the four yokels
who pressed him, but he was well aware
that any unguarded blow might lay him
at their mercy. He was more afraid
of the single knife than of the three clubs,
and springing through a fortunate open
ing, was delighted to crack the crown of
the man who held the blade, stretching
him helpless in a cart rut. The three who
remained seemed In no way disheartened
by the discontinue of their comrades, but
came with greater fury. The king
retreated and retreated, battling their evil
dent desire to get in his rear, and thus the
fighting four came to the corner of the
road that James had passed a short time
previously. One of the four got in a
nasty crack on the top of the beggar' S