Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-11-09

lH6 6luc Va II lOa4
Entering the town on foot, they
found it considerably lates than thcy
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, aud from n or two
half-open doors came the sound OF
feasting. AS they drew near the most
prominent of the window-lights, they
found 1t 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 mi end
of the building, while above the door
a sign of some sort grated harshly
as the light night wind moves 1t
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
F, toe and looked in.
The interior was apparently empty,
and consisted of the usual public-room
of the average inn of the period. Upon
the huge hearth a bright fire was
blazing. which cast alternate light and
shade upon the low ceiling and the
further corners of the room. A num-
Der 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 a bench.
1t was evidently the innkeeper's espe-
cial domain, for, as Tonti's 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 a small leather
pouch, which he closed with a look OF
satisfaction, slowing it away in the
recesses of his blouse. At this mo-
ment Tonti left the window, and, adj
vancing to the door, struck it sharply
with the hilt of his sword. Pompon
whispering that he would come ii
later, disappeared in the darkness.
"Hola! Landlord. open here
Would you keep a gentleman and {
soldier waiting in the night when yor
have within a good fire to warm his
hands and good wine to cheer hi
heart? Corbleu! Open, | say, or i
will be the worse for you. l am no
the nan to be kept waiting"
So speaking, he belabored the doc
with hilt and fist so Justify that tn
landlord came running to let him in
crying:
Eyes, yes, gentlemen, in one mo
ment, l pray you. But do not awakel
the whole house. 1t is late" he con
tinued, christening the door and open
ing it an inch, peering out meanwhile
to see what manner of guests he wa
welcoming, "late indeed for honest fol
to be about"
AS soon as the crack of the doc
widened sufficiently to admit the hill
of the sword, Tonti inserted it, an
with a quick pressure with this leve
J he swung the door open in spite c
the landlords efforts to hold it.
"How now, Sir Innkeeper! Dame
8 but l believe you would have kept m
out there a full hour longer if you ha
a had your way"
q So speaking, he stepped into tn
d light of the room. Upon seeing
1t man evidently a soldier and frol
IT Paris, the landlords fears quiete
l. themselves. One suspicion, howeve
y remained.
a Pardon, Sir Capitaine," he crie'
q bowling ob~sequiously, "but where
le your companion? Did you not sa
If that there were two of you, a soldie
and a gentleman"
~ lOull was puAAlCu LUZ a llOulCh
g and then laughed.
l. "And may I not be both? Here, BIZ
that, and tell me if 1t be gold or no.
[e so, fetch me a bottle of wine, the veI
" best, and some food" So saying, /
ID flung down a pistole upon the tab
near him.
le The innkeeper quickly seized it, b
re it, and after testing its ring, pockete
lie it with alacrity, his suspicious val
t. ished..
ID Draw near the fire." he exclaime
as he busily stirred the logs, "and
a shall return presently with the be
e. bottle to be found this side of Pari
vi 1t has been in the cellar for Ia year
ever since / came to this town, al
was there I know not how long befo
me-"
at With these words, he hasti
I'd brushed off a bench, motioned Tor
We to be seated, and was gone. Ton
looked about him carefully.
til ut must be the place." he mu
INJURED to himself. "He said he hi
)u been here IA years, and it is just tn
ut length Of time since Bouquets dow
fall"
His eyes wandered toward the fir
ou place and his thoughts were confrme
a A huge stone slab some seven feet
to length and three in width constitut
Ill the hearth. This stone was border
ed by a single 10Y of bricks that we
en- covered with dust and ashes. Tont
IS eyes danced with excitement as
st, beheld them, and he wondered WI
ur Pompon was delayed SO long and VIII
Of his MAN would he m get a chance