Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-06-22

a place IN the Horse GudTuS. 1Ou SlC
your animal like a sack of meal"
"You would look like one yourself"
Pompon replied, rather testify, eff you
had a back stuffed with straw and a
paunch made out of enough hay to
keep a horse in health for a week, all
squeezed into a heavy cowl and tied
together with stout cord. Between
the heat and discomfort of my dis
guise, and the jolting of this beast,
am thankful we have only four
leagues to go. He who is in great
haste should not ride an ass"
where got you your disguise?
queried Tonti.
From my friend the cabaretier,"
was the reply. "Ie was one of M.
Fouquet's secret agents; many is the
message | have taken from him. The
words Remember siXty-four' that
told you to whisper to him is the Sc
cret means of recognition among all
those who were connected with the
unfortunate minister. 1t was in 1864,
you know, that he fell.
"Are there any others?"
Hundreds. They are in every rank
and condition NJ. Fouquet was a
good master. to serve and liberal one,
as | can bear witness. All who served
him loved him"
Talking thus of his old employer, a
theme Pompon never tired of, the
strangely assorted pair rode on into
the shades of the on-coming night.
When about half the distance had been
traversed, they turned off into a road
leading TO the left, and by ten o'clock
saw light or two from the small ham,
let of Ecouen twinkling in the dark
ness ahead of them. On reaching the
outskirts of the village, they dismount-
ed and led their beasts into a wood at
the side of the road and tethered them
Entering the town on foot. they
found it considerably later than they
had hoped for, so they quickened their
pace, lest the inn be closed for the
night. Here and there a light was
visible where some late-a-bed still
kept his house open for a neighborly
game of dice, and from one or two
half-open doors came the sound Of
feasting. AS they drew near the most
prominent of the window-lights, they
found it to belong to an inn of the
older type. All was still in the story
above, and quiet reigned about the
place A shed for the disposal of trav-
elers' horses was situated at one end
of the building, while above the door
a sign of some sort grated harshly
as the light night wind moved it
slowly to and fro. 1t was too dark
for the two men to decipher anything
on the signboard, so they approached
the window from which the glow pro-
ceeded Tonti raised himself on tip
toe and looked in.
The interior was apparently empty,
and consisted of the usual pubic-room
of the average inn of the period. Upon
the huge hearth bright fire was
blazing, which cast alternate light and
shade upon the low ceiling and the
further corners of the room. A num-
ber of heavy wooden tables with
benches around them filled up the
greater portion of the floor space. On
these a profusion of emptied, dirty
glasses and mugs bespoke a good
nights custom for the proprietor. At
the side of the room was arranged a
kind of private office, as it were, fenced
off from the rest by a railing, behind
which was placed a table and bench.
1t was evidently the innkeeper's espe-
cial domain, for. as TOntis eyes be-
came more accustomed to the half
gloom, he spied the figure of a man
seated upon the bench, busily engaged
in counting a small pile of coin spread
out upon the table before him. He
glanced uneasily over his shoulder now
and then at the door and the window
as though fearful of being seen. He
soon finished his task, and quickly
swept the money into small leather
pouch, which he closed with look of
satisfaction, slowing it away in the
receSses of his blouse. At this mo-
ment Tonti left the window, and, ad-
vancing to the door, struck it sharply
with the hilt of his sword. Pompon,
whispering that he would come in
later disappeared in the darkness.
"Hola! Landlord, open here!
Would you keep a gentleman and a
soldier waiting in the night when you
have within a good fire to warm his
hands and good wine to cheer his
heart? Corbleu! Open, | say, or it
will be the worse for you. | am not
the man to be kept waiting"
So speaking, he belabored the door
with hilt end fist so Justify that the
landlord came running to let him in,
crying:
Yes yes, gentlemen, in one mo-
ment, pray you. But 40 not awaken
the whole house. 1t is late" he con-
tinued unfastening the door and open
ing it an inch, peering out meanwhile
to see what manner of guests he was
welcoming, "late indeed for honest folk
to be abo9$."
AS soon as the crack of the door
widcned sufficiently to admit the hiIt