The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-03-08

I
the three merchants, delighted with the
turn things had taken. shipped round
us laughing; and now bounded him Oh,
now bantered me with "How Is that for
the Duke of Orleans?" and "IIow row,
traitOr?"
When | thought this had lasted
long enough--or, to speak more plain
ly, when I could stand the innkeep-
er's drubbing no longer threw him
of by a great effort, and struggled 70
my feet But still. though the blood
was trickling down my face, refrained
from drawing my sword. caught up
instead a leg of the stool which lay
handy, and. watching my opportunity,
dealt the landlord a shrewd blow under
the ear which laid him out in a mo-
ment on the wreck of his own table.
'Nowl" I cried. brandishing my new
weapon, which ftted the hand to a
nicely, come on Come on. il you dare
to strike a blow. you peddhng, truck
ling, huckstering knavesl a rs for you
and your shaveling CARDINAL"
The red-faced wine-merchant drew
his sword in a one-two. why. you
drunken fool" he said wrathfully,
put that stick down. or | viii spit you
like a lark"
Lark in your teeth" I cried. stag
gering as # the wine were in my head.
Another word, and L"
He made couple Of savage passes
at me, but in twinkling his sword
few across the room.
VOLTA. Shouted. mrchlns forward
as II had lick and not skill to thank
for r.. Now the next Come on.
como on-yOu white-livered kn9vos'"
And, pretending a drunken frenzy. I
flung my weapon bodily amongt them,
and selling the nearest. began TO wres-
tie with him.
II a moment they all threw them
selves upon nic. and. swearing copious-
ly, bore me back TO the door. The
wjne-merchaat cIied breathlessly 20
the woman to ocen It. and in a twink
hing they had me through il and half
way across the road. The one thing
feared was a knife-thrust in the me-
las; but I had 20 run that risk. ard
the men were honest enough and.
thinking ME drunk, indulgert In
trice I found myself on my back in
tie dirt, with ny head humming; and
heard the bars Of the door fall nUisily
INTO their PLACES.
got up and went to the door, and,
to play out my part, hammered on it
frantically, crying out to them to let
me in. But the three travellers only
jeered AZ me. ard the landlord, With
his head bleeding. shook his fist at
ne and cursed me for e mischief
maker.
Baflled IN this I retired 10 a log
which lay in the road a few PAGES from
the house, and sat down on It to await
events. With torn clothes and bleeding
face. hatless and covered with dirt,
was in scarcely better case than my op-
ponent. u was raining. too, and the
dripping branches swayed over my
head. The wind was in the south
the coolest quarter. I began to feel
chill and dispirited II my scheme
failed. | had forfeited roof and bed
to no purpose. and placed future
progress out Of the question. 1t was
a critical moment.
But at last that happened for which
/ had been looking. The door swung
open a few inches and a man came
noiselessly out; the door was quickly
barred behind him. He stood a mo-
ment, waiting on the threshold and
peering into the gloom; and seemed to
expect to be attacked Finding him
self unmolested, however, and all quiet,
he went OF steadily down the street.
towards the chateau.
let a couple of minutes go by and
then followed | had no difficulty in
hitting on the track at the end OF the
street, bat when ] had once plunged
into the woods, found myself in dark
ness so intense that / soon strayed
from the path, and fell over roots, and
tore my clothes with thorns, and lost
my temper 20 times before found the
bridge at last and caught sight Of q
twinkling light before me. To make for
II across the meadow and terrace was
an easy task; Jet wnen had reached
TIE door and had hammered upon II,
/ was in 50 sorry a plight that sank
down, and had no need to play a part
or pretend 10 be worse than was
For a long time no one answered.
The dark house towering above me re-
manned silent ! could hear, mingled
with the throbhings Of my heart. the
steady croaking of the frogs in a
pond near the stables; but no other
sound. In a frenzy of impotence and
disgust / stood up again and hammered,
kicking with my heels on the nail
studded door, and crying out desperate
ly. "A MOL A MOL"
who is there?" a voice asked
"A gentleman in Distress" ! an
swered piteously, moving my hands
across the door For Gods sake open
and let me in. l am hurt and dying
OF cold"
What brings you here?" the voice
asked sharply. Despite It's fairness,
| fancied it was a woman's.
Heaven knows!" | answered desper-
ately. Il cannot tell. They maltreated
me at the inn and threw me into the