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

,reat WEAKNESS.
pax vobiscum," he said gravely.
addressing the innkeeper. This indi'
7idual crossed himself, replying, And
you, father"
The monk then laid aside his stan,
and approached the table next to the
one at which Tonti was seated.
81 would have lodging and a bit OF
food, for l have tasted since daybreak.
Gold have l not, for it would i'll be-
him whose boast is that poverty
is his bride to carry any money with
him. But l am privileged to grant
Indulgence, in return for food and
lodging" and the tired monk settled
down upon a bench and looked hum
grily about him.
"Have you no relics that will ward
off disease?' asked the %innkeeper.
"a bone from the hand of some good
saint or something from the holy
land?"
NAY, nay" exclaimed the monk in
seeming anger. Il am no hawker OF
bogus relics, nor claim any kindred
with the devil-spawn who go through
the land plying their unholy trade.
With them they have but to see your
money in their hand when the merry
rougues will sell you a cart-load OF
laths from the ark of pere Noah, a
ring from the snout of st. Anthony's
pig, or the crest of the cock that
crowed before PLATE"
The landlord seemed duly impressed
with the superior merits of the beg
ging friar, and started off to get some
scraps for his meal. Tonti, who had
UP to this time remained silent, watch
ing the game his companion was play
ing, called after him:
Bring the reverend fathers meal
to my table, and fetch another glass,
that he may share my wine with me.
l warrant he is a good judge of it."
The monk bowed his thanks, and re-
piled with a wink at Tonti:
"He is an i'll guest that never drinks
to his host. Might I suggest, my SOL
der friend, that the good innkeeper
1etch a glass Tor hlmSelI!
Tonti agreed, and the host FASTENED
to find the glasses, feeling glad to get
a chance to taste some of his own
rare wine at the expense of some one
else.
AS soon as he had disappeared, the
monk reached over to Tonti's glass and
shook a white powder into it, from a
bit of paper in his hand, then filled it
from the bottle. Nov; your part Is
to see that yon rascal gets your glass"
he said in a low voice, and resumed
his seat.
The innkeeper soon returned with
two fresh glasses, which Tonti filled
and then by a deft movement OF thf
hands he exchanged his glass for thai
nearest the landlord.
Here's to our host" cried Tonti, as
the man sat down and seized his glass
MAY he never want a lodger!"
"And to this goodly quiet inn, the
what is our house called, sir host?'
asked the strange monk.
"The Striped ASS" was the reply.
ITO the Striped ASS, then" con
tinued Pompon; may his bray be eve,
loud to attract customers, and his tenn
per mild, so that he will spare then
kicks"
All three drained their glasses, ant
a period of silence ensued, broker
only by the sound Of the fire and tn
munching of the goose-pie, as Tont
made another onslaught. A touch fror
the monks foot under the table a fey
moments later made him look VI
and he beheld the effects of the dru
beginning already to manifest them
selves on the face of the innkeepel
whose copious potations during tn
early part Of the evening made him a
easy prey. His eyes seemed heavy
and an overpowering desire to slee
seized him. A moment he struggle
against the feeling, then surrenderin
to it entirely, his face fell forwar
; on his hands, which lay upon tn
table.
: Pompon jumped up quickly and, sell
ing the man, shook him to make SUI
of the depth of his slumbers. Thel
was no response. "He will sleep thu
for "a hours. Let us hasten, though.
A table and bench were first place
, in front Of the door leading out {
the room into the other part of til
house, SO that they would have tin
to leave in case any one a%pproache
:, from that direction. The other doc
! was fastened, and the curtain draw
:, Pompn, then taking a small dagge
knelt down beside the hearth, an
, counting the row of bricks until
: came to the middle one, carefully du
away all the accumulated dust an
:, dirt, and gently pried the brick fro
;; it's place. Beneath it was seen a sma
! iron ring, wljeG ne seized. 1t gay
readily, and could be pulled out abo,
an inch. This evidently withdre
4 some hidden bolt, for when he cal
= tiously bore the weight Of his foot {
: one extremity of the huge stone,
turned slowly on an unseen axis, OF
end rising into the air while the 9TH
disappeared in a large space belo'
= Bending down, Pompon found a cavi'
i corresponding in width and length
4 the stone and about four feet in dept
q BY lying on the floor and stretchir
: over the hole, he was able to feel Il
. contents. A smothered exclamation
:, joy passed his lips, as he tossed to IL
floor a bag of money, and soon aft
f. feeling around more carefully in Il
opening, he found another.
What say you now, NOR amir
- cried joyfully. did l not say M. Fo
. quet (Heaven rest his soul!) was fait
: full to them who served him faithful.
Here are the 1000 %pistoles."
They nlaced the money on the tah]