Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-03-13

~ W. 90 y lfN AhtAiA . . 'r'N
and / played my point about his Les
half minded to give him q little pros
by way of earnest. Make up you
mind
"Yes!" he shrieked out, suspectinl
my purpose and bouncing about In hi
saddle like a parched pea. Yes, say!
he roared DO you hear me? You &
your way. and | will go mine
That Is a bargain | said quietly
and mind you keep TO It,"
| put up my sword with my fac'
turned from him, lest he should see tn,
curt OF my lip n the light in my eyes
In truth, j was uncommonly wei
pleased with myself and was thinking
that III 1 came through all my advent
ures as well / should do merrily. Out
wardly. however, / tried to ignore my
victory and to make things as easy as
j could for my friend-if II may call
a man who will not fight him a friend
a thing | doubt. (which way are you
going?' I asked am~icably-"to STRAIT
fordf'
He nodded. for he was too sulky to
speak.
'AIl right" l said cheerfully, feel
ing that my dignity could take care
of Itself now. Then 80 far we may
go together, Only do o remember
the terms. After dinner each goes his
own way"
Il uOduCu dkdIIlI dIjd VIC AuitlNu dtli
went on I'm silence, cycling one another
askance. like two i'll matched dogs
coupled together. But luckily our
forced companionship did not last long.
"A quarter Of a mile and a bend In the
road bringing us to the first low. gray
houses OF Stratford. A long, struggling
village 1t seemed, made up OF Inns
strewa along the road, like beads
threaded OF a rosary. And, to be sure,
10 complete the likeness. we came pres
entity Upon an ancient stone cross
standing on the green. / pulled up I'm
front OF this with a sigh OF pleasure,
FOR on either side OF IL, one facing the
other, was an inn OF the better class.
We'll" / said. which shall 1t be-
the Rose and Crown, or the Crown
without the rose?'
Choose for yourself" he answered
churlishly. Il go to the other"
II shrugged my shoulders. After all.
you mi make a silk purse out of a
sow's ear. and II n man has not courage
he Is not likely TO have good fellow
ship. But the words angered me new
ertheIess, for a shabby, hulking fellow
lounging at my elbow overheard them
and grinned. A hiccoughing, blear
eyed man he was as ] had ever met,
with a red nose and the rags OF a tat
tered caSsock about him. / turned
away In annoyance and chose the
Crown at hazard, and pushing mn way
through the knot OF horses that stood
tethered at the door went in, leaving
the W. to their devices.
I found a roaring fire in the great
Don and three or four yeoman stand
ing about IL, drinking ale. But | was
from walking, SO after saluttng
and ordering my meal / went and
for choice On q bench by the win
away from the fire. The window
one OF a kind common in War
houses. long and low and
browed, the story above propect-
ing over 1t. / sat there a minute look
ing idly out at the inn opposite. a
heavy stone building with a walled
courtyard attached to IL, such an inn as
was common enough about the time of
the wars OF the roses, when wayfarers
looked rather for safety than comfort.
Presently / saw a boy come out OF IL
and start up the o at a run. Then.
a minute later, the ragged fellow l had
on the green came out and lurched
across the road. He seemed 10 be maxi
though uncertainty. for my inn,
and, sure enough. just as my bread and
bacon-the latter hot and kissing
were put before me, he staggered into
the room. bringing a strong smell of
and onions with i'm. Pax vobis-
ne said, leering at me with tipsy
L guessed what he was-a monk, one
of those unfortunates still to be found
here and there up and down the
whom King Henry. when he put
down the monasteries. had made home-
less. I did not look on the class with
much favor. thinking that for most of
the cloister, even IL the queen
succeed In getting the abbeys on their
legs again. would have few attractions.
but / saw that the simple farmers re-
his scrap of Latin with respect, !
and l nodded civilly as l went IN with
meal.
i was not 10 get off so easily how
ever. He came and planted himself
opposite 10 me.
Pay yobiscum my SON. he repeat
sNd. The ale is cheap here n good"
$50 Is h ham, good father" l re-
piled cheerfully, not pausing in my at
OF the ~victuals. Il will answer
for so much"
well. well" the knaye replied. with
ready wit. II breakfasted early. / am
Landlord. another plate and a
fuii tankard. The young gentleman
would have me dine with him"
could not tell whether to be angry
10 laugh at his impudence.
The gentleman says he Will answer
for 1T" repeated the rascal. with a
fwinkie in his eye, as the landlord hes
He was by no means so drunk
he looked.
mo no. father I cried. joining In
the general laugh into which the farm
ers by the fire broke. "A cup OF ale is
I'm reason. and for that / will pay, but
for no more. Drink IL and wish me god
speed.
II will do more than that, lad he
Swaying TO and fro my cup,
which he had seized in his grasp, he
laid his hand on the window ledge be-
4 a me. as though TO steady himself.
and stopped until his coarse. puffy face
wa but a few inches from mine. More
that" ne whispered hoarsely, and
his eyes. peering into mine, were now
sober and full of meaning. IF you do
not want to be put in the stocks or
worse. make tracks! Make tracks.
Iad.r ne continued. Your friend over
therc--he Is a niggardly oaf--has sent
for the hundredman and the constable,
you are the quarry. So the word
Is. Got That ne added aloud, standing
erect again. with a drunken smile. lis
for your cup CT ale. and good coin tool
Tor half a minute ] sat quite still,
taken aback and wondering. while the
bacon cooled on the plate before me.
what l was to do. ! did not doubt the
monk was telling the truth. Why
SHOULD he lie to me? And I cursed my
folly in trusting TO a towards honor
or a serving mans good faith But
lamentations were useless. was
4 10 dor ! la no horse and no means
<AL UAfItnU nrA 1AtI $40 ~ "A q - ga