Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1904-02-12

boys magnetic glance. I'VE never
saw him before"
Come here, my bold fellow. Where
do You come FROM"
Prom the forest Of M~ontagnole."
But before that"
From the caves of Angles"
"Whero did you get hat hang-dog
look? Have You beer poaching on our
lands?'
Il have no other trade, captain"
At this unexpected reply, so quietly
made, a stupor fell upon all in the
room Amalric himself was disarmed
by the boys audacity.
"Ventre-Mahon!" he growlcd, half
laughing and half angry; you shall
enter my service. My war page let
himself get hung at La Salvetat. DO
you want his place? But, braggart,
are you truly willing to go to the Red
Gibbet tonight"
Il am"
"Alone?"
alone"
"iiow shall I know it,"
81 will wait for you there. since you
are to pass that way in an hour"
THE wolves will leave nothing of
You except your carcass"
"You might lend me your gun"
$50 you know how to handle that
plaything, do you? Let me see you
load il, you rascal"
The boy smiled confidently: he
grasped the heavy weapon with the
dexterity of an old soldier; to the
officers surprise he unloaded It, then
reloaded it, all the maneuvcrs being
so manifcstly familiar to him that
Amalric could not help showing ad-
miralion.
"lf you can shoot the gun AS we'll
rs you load it," he cried, 1T would not
be pleasant to be your target, At 40
PAGES you must be able 10 blow the
kernel ont of a nut, or the brains out
Of a trcspasser."
easily, monscigncur."
and at the first shot You could bring
down the most nimblc game. III wa
ger"
"opens Of your harcs could bear
witness 10 that, mOnscigncur.' replied
the young poaChrr, strangely benz on
~prOVOcatiOn AS bold as ii was uncalled
for. This was the ma9;cr-strokc, The
drinkers exchanged G~lanccs Of con
S%lcrnatiOn and terror AT the furious
expression on The face of the ScirncuI
de Nabrc.
"Vipcr," he shouted, you shall joir
the old woman IN the Red GiDbct
with IA cravat Of hemp, just like hers
lie rusc as he spoke, and stood threat.
oninrly owe the boy, who made no eff
fort to avoid tho soldiers raised fist
Amalric paused in establishment at thi;
defiance. why do You confess al
this to me, you robber?' he asked a
length, inwardly pleased at such {
display Of courage. Il like brave
hearts, You suit me perfectly. Here.
the gun; wait for me cut there, i
The wolves press you TOO hard climl
mp on the arm Of the gallows; the ole
witch will keep you company. II
warrant she'll not be laxative, bu
if her presence annoys you, send hcJ
into the Aeout with n kick"
The boy became livid; his lips trem
blcd and his eyes fairly blaZed. III
praspcd the gun offered him, and with
out a word ven out into the clear
frosty night.
by HcrCules,' cried Amalric
there's "A man for you, you towards
That's what ! call having a heart II
ones breast and blood in ones veins.
One of the peasants now vcntured Il
offer a reply, which somewhat dis
turbcd the adventurous cavalier. "T'
be sure, mO%nseigneur! But there's
Spanish musket. too. which you will
probably never see on your rack again.
What do you mean? DO yOn thinl
that that young rascal"
1T was a clever way for him to ge
firearms. At any rate, the gun is II
!. skillful hands, az your wild boars vii
know to their cost"
Amalric. half %credulous, now swor
, ike a pagan. But where could he y
20 search for the robber? He dram
his hot wine. and no one dared risI
exasperating him further. When h
was well warmed. he wrapped his cloal
scout him, leaped into his saddle, an
rode away In the moonlight. Reas