The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-03-31

Szs..J stood in q small apartment
| with single window, whose barren
| furnishings consisted of narrow
| couch, chair and n massive ward
| robe. Unlike the chamber assigned to
! Jacqueline, the door was without key
| or bolt, significant fact to the jester,
! in view of the warming he had receiv-
| ed. Nor was it possible to move ward
! robe or bed, the first being too heavy
and the last being screwed to the
floor, had the occupant desired to bar
| ricade himself from the Anticipated
danger without. a number Of suspi-
cious stains enhanced the grewsome
| character of the ROOM and as these ap-
! peared to lead to the wardrobe. the
; Jester carried his investigation to a
more careful survey Of that imposing
! piece of furniture. Opening the door,
although lie could not find the secret
of the mechanism, the fool concluded
| that the floor of this ponderous wood
| en- receptacle was trap through
i which the body of the victim could be
| secretly lowered.
This brief exploration Of his sur
; roundings occupied but few moments,
and then, aster blowing out the candle
and heaping the clothes together OH
the bed into some resemblance Of q
human figure lying there, the jester
: drew his sword and softly crcpt down
the passage toward the stairs, at the
head of which he paused and listened
He could hear the voices and see
the shadows Of the men below and,
! with beating heart, descended q few
ctnnS h,f hn ,;,rbt
were saying. Crouching against the
wall, with bated breath, he heard first
the landlords tones.
| "Well, rogues, what say you to
! another sack of wine?" asked the host
| cheerily.
Haven't we waited long enough?"
said an impatient voice.
"Tut, tut, young blood!' growled
! another reprovingly. "Would you dis
| turb him at his prayers?'
"The landlord is right" spoke up the
! leader. 1--WE have the night before US.
| Bring the wine"
| In stentorian tones the host called
| the serving man, and soon from the
clinklng of cups, the clearing Of
throats and the eXclamations of salts
faction foully expressed the listening
: Jester knew that the skin had been
circulated and the tankards filled.
| where, think you. he got the
sword" asked one Of the gathering.
j revertng to the enterprise in hand.
! 'Stole it, most likely" replied the
I leader. "It is booty from the palace"
| "And therefore is doubly fair spoils,"
laughed another.
Remember, rogues," interrupted the
host, "one-third is my allotted portion.
Else we fall out"
"Art so solicltous, thou corpulent
scrimpw grumbled he of the boar.
Have you not always had the hulking
| share? Pass the wine!"
'Foul names break no bones," laugh
ed the host. "You were always q
churlish, ungentle knave. There's the
wine. An it's not better than your
temper, beshrew me for the enemy of
true hospitality. But to show 1 am
none such, here's something to sup
withal-prime head Of calf Bolt and
swig as ye WILL"
The rattle of dishes and the play Of
! forks succeeded this good natured sug-
gestion. 1t was truly evident mine
host commanded the good will and the
services Of the band by appealing to
! their appetites.
! A wave of anger against this un-
wieldy hypocrite and well fed male
| factor swept over the jester. The
mans assumed heartiness, his manner
Of joviality and good fellowship were
only the mask Of moral turpitude and
blacklist purpose. But for the lawless
scholar the fool would probably have
retired to his bed with full confidence
Of the probity and honesty Of the
greatest delinquent Of them all.
''What shall we do with the girl?"
asked one Of the outlaws.
Serve her the same as the fool" an
swered the landlord carelessly. s4
"But she's q handsome wench," re-
torted the leader thoughtfully. straight
as poplar; eyes like n sloe. With
the boar and the jade should do we'll
when / become tired resting here"
"Give her to the scamp student" re-
marked the fellow who had first spo-
ken.
may, since Nanette ran off with a
street singer and left me spouseless l
have made vow Of celibacy," hastily
answered the piping voice Of the lank
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.
"a rno,,aa W. s~,..k