The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-17
BY ROBERT BARR

which the half-dozen rough men there
seated gave to each other. He was alone
and unarmed in a disreputable house on
the edge of forest, well known as the
refuge of desperate 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
Tor an army.
This viii not do for me, said the beg
gar, coming down again. III take 10 the
storm first What is this chamber lead
ing ont from the taproon?
That is my own, replied the land
lord with some return of his old incivili
ty, land I'll give it up to no beggar.'
The king without answering opened the
door of the chamber and found himself in
a room that could be barricaded Taking
light with him he examined j more
infinitely.
'Is this matchbox loaded?" he asked
pointing to Il clumsy gun which had doubt
less caused the death of more than one
deer in the forest.
that it was, but the king tested the point
for himself.
! Now" he said, "I rest here. and you
will see that 1 am not disturbed. Any
man who attempts to enter this room
gets the contents OF this gun in him. and
III trust to my two daggers to take care
Of tho rest
He had no dagger with him. but he
/ lrp hp Of N
the tap-room. Something in his resolute
manner seemed to impress the landlord,
who grumbled, muttering half to himself
and half to his companions, but he never
! theless retired leaving the king alone,
whereupon James fortified the door, and
afterward slept unmolested the sleep of q
| tired man, until broad day woke him.
(which way your honor be journey
! ing?" asked the inkeeper, ''for / see that
you are no beggar."
Il am no begear at such an inho pitable
house as this, replied the wayfarer, but
elsewhere I am a beggar-that is to say,
the gold | come by is asked for and not
eaI..ad.'
"Ah, that's it. is it?" said the other
with nod, but for such a trade you
need your weapons by your side.|
King, mysteriously, ARE not always those
most plainly on 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 airiiy that
it did not matter.
with whatever's coming 20 ne" he
ba nor
to you on a rainy night with less at his
belt to commend him than I have"
"Wall, good Cay ITO you, and thank
you said the inkeeper. "If you're going
Stirling way, your reads straight through
the forest, and when you come TO st.
Ninians you'll be in time to ser a fine
hanging, for they're throttling 13aldy
Hutchinson today, the biggest man be-
!, tween here and the horder-yes, and be-
yond II. ] warrant"
THAT will be interesting" repliel the
King. Good day to you"
Entering the forest at last, he relaxed
10 precaution, but kept to the middle of
the road with his stout stick ready in
his hand At the second turning five
stsiwart ruffians fell upon him, two arm
Ell with knives and three with cudgels.
: be put to a practical test. His first ac-
ton was to break the wrist of one of the
scoundrels who held a knife. but before
he could pay any attention to any OF
the others he had received two or three
resounding 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 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 disheart-
: enei by the discontinue of their com
, rades. but came on with greater fury.
: The King retreated and retreated, battling
their evident desire to get in his rear,
and the fighting four came to the
corner of the road that James had passed
a short time previously One of the trio
got in nasty crack on the top of the
, beggar's bonnet. which brought him to hi
. knees, and before he could recover his
footing blow On the shoulder felled him
At this critical juncture there rose q
! wild shout down the road, for the fighting
| party, in coming round the turn, had
brought themselves within view of a stur
dy pedestrian forging along at great
pace, which he nevertheless marvelously
, accelerated on seeing the melee. For :
{ moment the dazed man on the ground
thought that the landlord had come tt
, his rescue, bus it was not so. It seemed
, rs if remnant OF the storm had SWEEP
like wirlwind among the aggressors, f1l
. the newcomer in the fray. with savage eX
carnations which showed his delight in
tumult, scattered the enemy as tornado
driye s before it the leaves of forest
The King raised himself on his elbow snt
watched the gigantic stranger lay abou
Him with a stick, while the five. will
; cries of terror. disappeared into the forest
for the two thai were PROSTATE had nov
, recovered wind enough to run.
, ''Losh,' painted the giant, returning t.
a the man on the road, 81 wish I'd beer