The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-01-19

I ~ one misiOn carroll The emperor nAi
given over "a OF The rlngleaders TO
death by fire az the hands OF jacques
V Rarra But stlll his VOWS OF ven
\ aeance were unsatated There re
\ NAMED me Tongue Of Roland and the
lcUman from whose hand had swelled
ihe calls % war
Jacques Barra heat acain upon th'
door De l.annoy stood within with
7 lack set hard against the great oak
ranels. Then he shot back the chains,
rolled the door and bowed low across
the threshold before The gorgeous hcr-
aid Upon the hell-riuger's right arm
was sewed a telltale band OF white.
/, was the badge OK the rebellion
Barra looked down upon De Lannoy,
and with a sneer upon his SCARED and
bearded countenance grualy interpo-
lated:
II am the man Of Charles by his
order am commanded TO take posses
sion Of this belfry tear from It's roots
the Tongue OF Rolani"-he stopped
short a moment. and then added ~
tones intended 20 sink into the heart
OF the beiman-"and should | encoun-
ter resistance I am TO use my own
discretion Remember Leylen Pyl,
"Who was Leyien Pyle sullenly
answered De Lannoy, sparring TO-
I time. although he well knew the grew
some story.
"A man after your own black heart
"a dog OF traitor with a white badge
upon his arm he pointed with his
sword toward the bellman' sleeve. He
I died but unhappily. |. the man Of
/ Charles. crushed his fingers one by one
until he swooned from loss of blood" "
lie laughed mockingly and threw his
I steel gauntlet into DE Lannoy's face
De I.annoy took a quick step behind
one Of the attendants and tore from
his hands his short sword. With IL he
\ disposed OF the servant from whom
il had been snatched. and turned upon
the herald. The wounded attendant
fell 10 the mosaic pavement with q
eroan Like hungry tigers two other
fellows leaped upon the bellmans back
before he could make another move,
and bore him to the ground.
A leathern thong was wrapped
around De Lannoy's wrists and twist
ed taut until cruel channels were
gclged into the unprotected skin.
Now for the bell. men," Barra
cried. pointing upward with his sword.
Tear out the clapper-and make short
work Of it,"
1t was quickly done; Roland's
tongue hung upon a coupling which
che man could readily loosen.
Bsrra laughed again with the old
sheer. He took the hempen rope
With which the bellman had been
wont TO ring his bell and. deity run
nng up the ladder in the wall fas-
tened it to the coupling in the heart
Of Roland from which the clapper had
swing.
Then he dropped the coil It fell
directly ia De Lannoy's upturned face
The bellman groaned in anticipation
Of his fate
Barra kindled fire in the corner OF
the tower. lie broke lie chairs and
table. feeding their kindling into the
flames. Into the heart OF the blaze lie
thrust the heavy end of the bell clap
ner In silence he watched il for sew
eral moments. De Lannoy in a frenz,
cursed him once Barra only laughed
and drew the iron tongue from tho
flames. The end was white with heat
Quickly he carried the tongue 20
the hempen rope and fastening !.
through the coupling. hung it over
De Lannoys face. 1t swung ten inches
above him. yet the heat turned tn.
belman's cheek livid green, and cas-;
into his eyes the fire Of a demon.
Barra drew a fagot from the fire and
touched It 10 the hempen rope The
strands caught the flame, and tiny
r.nglet Of smoke hoated out into tbs
air. Barra thrust his hands deel
into his pockets and with staring eye:
watched first the burning rope. tner
the white hot tongue Of iron, then th'
face az his victim. De Lannoy's teeth
we're set as in a wise. His jaws stooc
out as from a skull. His eyebrows al
ready we're burned away.
The room was dark as the blackes
} night. The two attendants huddled
shivering. against the remotest cornei
Of the tower Their eyes we're fxet
: upon the rope in CHASTITY stare. Th'
wave Of smoke grew heavier. Nov
r and then the burning strands spDt
tered their threatening warning. Th'
] iron tongue was trembling. |
! lurched-once-twic an awfu
j scream OF agony burst through tn
r tower walls. bounding from the belfr!
F. i'm terrorizing echo, cleaving the sky o
5 Client as had the Tongue Of Roland
5 I jumped TO my feet with a cry 0
Z fright My face and brow were we
) with cold sweat. | was tremb in
{ from head 20 foot. lntuitively
e glanced 70 the mantelpiece for tn
G Tongue OF Roland. 1t had fallen Z
\ the hearth. and the end which la
q III the smouldering fire was white viii
Il I hr.f