Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-04

answered the piping voice Of the lapk
scholar.
A series Of loud outlaws greeted the
scamp students declaration. while the
subsequent rough humor Of the knaves
made the listeners cheek burn with
Indignation.
Enough, rogues. We must settle
with the jester first. Afterward II will
be time enough to deal with the maid.
Hast done feeding and tipping yet
morioT'
Eyes, master" said the suspiciously
muffled voice Of the imbecile.
"Iere's the knife then. YoM shalt
have another tankard when you coms
back"
At these significant words. knowing
that the crucial moment had come. the
Jester retreated rapidly and. making
his way down the passage. stood In
dark corner near his room. AS OF one
accord the voices ceased below, q
heavy creaking announced the ap'
proach Of the morio; nearer and near.
err first on the stairs. then in the uppef
corridor. From where he remained con.
Cc"leu tue iOUI uiIillv uiS'tTiIcu tuc N.Y.
ure Of the would be assassin.
At the door Of the jestress' room Il
paused. The fool lifted his bladei
the form passed on. Eefore the cham,
Der Of the PLEASANT its movement be
came more stealthy; It bent and listen
ed. Should the Jester spring upon |,
now? A strange loathing made him
hesitate, ana, before he had time II
carry his purpose into execution, thu
creature, throwing aside further pre-
tense Of caution, swung back the dooI
and launched himself across the apart.
meat. A heavy blow, swiftly followed
by another; afterward, the stiffness Of
death.
Every moment the jester expected an
cutlery. the announcement Of the fruit
leesness Of the attack, but the mOris
made no sound. The silence became
oppressive. The PLEASANT felt almos,
irresistibly impclled toward that ter
rible chamber, when with heavy. lum
bering steps the creature reappeared,
traversed the hall like q huge automa.
ton and mechanically descended tho
stairs.
well. is it done?" asked the harsh
voice Of the master Of the boar.
Eyes. done" was the submissive an,
swer.
Good! Now to get the sword"
mot so fast" broke in the landlord.
"Do you kill, morio, without drawing
blood: Look at his dagger"
The leader took the blade, examined
it and then began to call down curses
"Clean. save for a thread Of cotton"
he cried angrily. "You never went neat
him."
"Yes. yes. master" replied the crea.
ture eagerly.
bah! You stabbed the bed. fool not
the man." roughly returned the other.
1.-THE rogue has guessed our purpose
and left the ROOM" he continued. ad.
dressing the others. But he's skulk.
ing somewhere. Well. knaves, here's a
little cours!ng for US ALL Up with you
morio. ana find him. Perhaps. though
he may prefer to come down" And
the leader called out. "Give yourself
up. rascal. or It will be the worse fol-
you"
To this paradoxical threat NO answer
was returned.
you won't answer" cried the lead.
or. after a short interval. Smell hin,
out then rogues
Knife in hand. the others at his heels
the morio slowly made his way up the
stairs. GOaded by the taunts of the
outlaws. his face was distorted with
ferocity: through his lips came 8
fierce. sibilant breathing; in the din
' light his colossal figure and enormous
head seemed in nowse human, hui
rather a murderous phantasm.
"Oh, OH" murrnured voice behind
the jester. and. turning. he saw JacQue
line Disturbed by the tumult and
the loud voices. the jestress had LEFT
her room to learn the cause Of the un
usual din, and now. with her dark hail
a cloud around her, stood gazing fear
fully over the fools shoulder.
! At the sound Of the young girls
J. voice 50 near, the plaisant's hand
which for the moment had been un
Q steady. became suddenly steel. Al
h most impatiently he awaited the com
ing OF the MORO At last he drew near
q but. as II instinctively realizing the
e presence of danger, paused, his arm
I ceasing to strike. but remaining sta
+ tionary in the air.
g go on" impatiently shouted those
D behind him.
At the command the creature sprans
e forward furiously. when the sword Of
:. the Jester shot out-once twice! From
the morio's grip fell the dagger: ovel
G his face the lust for killing was re
y placed by look Of surprise: with Q
y single moan he throw both arms or
high and. tOttering like an oak. thu
e monster fell backward with a crash
!. carrying with him the rogues behind
Imprecations. threats and cries of pair
I ensued; several knaves went limpins
: away from the struggling group; ont
3 lay PROSTATE as the morio himself thu