The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-02-10
Luck of the
Troupe.
By HAROLD CHILD.
4 oNsIEUR BAPTIsTE smiled as Ii,


Au stood at the door of his booth,
tor the booth was packed. Still, there
vas room FOR one or two more, in par
iicular for the handsomely-dreSse
gentleman who was at that moment
Standing gloumily outside.
M. Is Due is not yet too late" said
RaptiS.r. The farce will begin in
i've minutes" NJ. le Marquis (for
8aptiSte was not far out in his guess)
locked al the manager with sullen
scowl. M. lie Due looks sad. He is
ii trouble. A :,oGd laugh now" q.
naptiste had gone too far. NJ. lie
marquis slowly drew on his right
band glove, ard cuifed Baptiste upon
his Jolly red face. Baptiste bowed.
One could not--in the year 160O-be
manager OF troupe OF farce players
for nothing. and the striker was OBJ
viouSiy little intoxicated. He re-
turned 10 the charge. ''See!" he said,
holding up mis- wooden bowl that was
briloming over with coins, "a gold
piece-only one-laid just there"
II. lie Marquis raised his elbow
sharply. and Baptiste. a Danae for a
moment, fe:i upon his back amid a
shower OF coins that rolled from his
Eortly person to all quarters of the
COMPASS. Al. lie Marquis stepped over
his body and pushed his way up the
crowded booth, across the stage, and
i:.jo the iyring-roOm behind. In those
rays (they were not over nice in those
iayS) actors and actresses dressed to-
esther: ara NJ. lie Marquis, still
lowing, fuuad himself in the midst
% ten or & Cozen men and women in
Yagi0us Stages OF undress, with a
apcinbiins 0E Sai;ants in attendance.
There Was a sudden hush. The gal
iants drew themselves up awllwardly,
ne WCmcn locked round to sec who
had ccGle in. And then, observing
how extremely handsome person this
was, they broke into voluble chatter
ard i9vish display OF their charms.
Md n |? Marquis stood Sowing at
tllarl ali. - '
There was some excuse for MIN. A
waek ago he had :'ccr rich and power
There were no servants in his great
house. no horses In his stables. 1t is
not always good to be handsome, so
handsome as to c;tptivate the kings
mistress. especially "hen that king is
Eifnri ~. Of Trance.
AT that moment ~ Re Marquis had
good reason 10 hate all alluring wo-
Fncn. lie scowied at them. And then
-phct!ltr it WIRE the wine, Or the de-
sire to spite these Tca,iy beauties-he
swiftly crossed The room to where a
-iri stool leaning :g&inst the wall.
No actress, no Cgier, She. Dressed in
simple black. She stOoa with her eyes
on the ground. and her head bowed
little forward under q mass of golden
hair. NJ. lie Marquis, with some osten-
tation, caught her by the shoulders.
she locked up afiame. and her beauty
al! but gave him pause. Then. with a
vicious laugh, he caught her close and
kissed her She struggled and his kiss
tell on her ear. He gripped her like
vice and kissed her three times on
the mouth.
There was roar CT rage behind him.
III. lie Marquis loosed the girl and
turned swiftly. He knew the sound
pf that roar. and as he turned he drew
Lis sword. In front of him, in surg
ing crowd, with threatening arms and
cursing tongues, were N. Baptiste's
troupe Of farce players.
NJ. lie Marquis point touched one of
the men very delicately upon the
knee. Dance, mountebank!" said he.
Another fash, and there was a spot of
blood upon a womans throat. Sing
cat" said NJ. lie Marquis.
For Gods sake, Charlesn' cried one
Of the gaHants. save yourself! They
have played before the king, and
you
Il dear friend" said NJ lie Marquis,
Ticking his sword daintily to and fro
within an inch of the raging players,
am. as you say, in disgrace, while
tilese-things- in favor. Still,
an not set a butcher, so-make way
scum, for your better." And with that
5 he passed carelessly through the midst
of them. At the door be turned an