The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-03-12

precious took my courge in my hand
and my tankard. Here" l cried,
speaking suddenly and loudly. here is
bad luck to ~purveyors, Master Host"
There were a couple of stablemen
within hearing, lounging in the door
way, besides the landlord and his wife
and the farmers.
A villager or two also had dropped
in, n there were two ~peddlers lying
half asleep in the corner. All these
pricked up their ears more or less at
my words. But, like most country folk,
they were slow to take in anything
new or unexpected, and l a to drink
afresh and say again, Here is bad luck
to p~urVeyors!" before any one O It
up.
Then the landlord showed he under
stood.
Aye. so say T." he cried, with an
oath. "Purveyors, indeed! 1t is such
as they give the queen a bad name"
God bless her!" quoth the monk
Loyalty.
And drown the purveyors!" a farm
er exclaimed.
They were here a e ago and left
us as bare as a shorn sheep" struck in
a strapping villager, speaking at a
white heat, but telling me no news, for
this was what I had heard at Towces-
ter the night before. 1.-THE queen should
lie warm IL she uses all the wool they
took. And the pack horses they pur-
veyed to carry off the pl~under-why,
the packmen avoid Stratford ever since
as though we had the black death. Oh,
dow with the purveyors, say I! The
first that comes this way / will show
the bottom Of the Ouse. Aye, that l
will, though l hang for it,"
Easy, easy, Tom Miller" the host
i~nterposed, affecting an air of assur-
anCe, even while he cast al eye OF trou-
BILE at his fitches. 1T will be another
There is Potter's Pury! They never
took a testers worth from Potter's
Pury! No, nor from Preston Gobion!
But they will go to them next, depend
upon it,"
IT hope they WILL" I said, with a
world OF gloomy i~nsinuation In my
words. But 1 doubt IT,"
And this time my hint was not vast
ed. The landlord changed color. What
are you driving at, master?" he asked
mildly, while the others looked al me
in silence and waited for more.
What If there be one across the road
noW?" l said, giving way to the temp
tation and speaking falsely-for which.
l paid dearly afterward. "A purveyor,
1 mean, unless I am mistaken in him,
or he tells lies. He has come straight
III ilO SllolLSCliOIy "IlllS "dIlu, wal
ran and all. He is taking his dinner
now, but he has sent for the hundred
man, so l guess he means business"
For the hundredman?" repeated the
landlord, his brows meeting.
Yes, unless l am mistaken"
There was silence for q moIrent. Then
the a they called Tom Miller dashed
his cap on h floor, and folding his
arms defiantly looked round on his
NEa hos Nnroo hoe hntp ha
roared, his face swollen, his eyes blood
shot. Then I will be as good as my
word! Who will help? Shall we sit
down and be shorn like sheep, as we
were before, so that u children lay on
the bare stones, and we pulled the pillow
ourselves? Or shall we show that we
are free Englishman and not slaves OF
Frenchmen? Shall W. teach Master
Purveyor not to trouble us again? Now,
what say you neighbors?
So fierce a growl of impatience and an
ger rose round me as at once answered
the question. A dozen red faces glared
at me and at one another, and from the
very motion and passion Of the men as
they snarled and threatened the DON
seemed twice as full as it was. Their
oaths n cries Of encouragement, not
loud, but the more dangerous for that,
the fresh burst of fury which rose as
the village smith and another came
in and learned the news. the menacing
gestures of q score Of brandished fists
these sights, though they told of the
very effect at which l had aimed,
scarce as well as pleased me. I turned
red and white and hesitated, fearing
that 1 had gone too far.
The thing was done, however, and.
what was more, l a oon to take care
of myself. At the very moment when
the hubbub was at its loudest I felt a
Chill run down my back as I met the
monks eye, and, reading in 1t whim-
steal admiration, read in it something
besides, and that was an unmistakable
menace Clever lad" the eye said.
Il will expose you,' 1t threatened.
l had forgotten him-or, at any rate,
that my acting would be transparent
enough to him holding the clew in his
.hand-and his look was like the shock
of cold water to me. But it Is wonder
full how keen the wits grow on the
%grindstone of necessity. With scarcely
a seconds hesitation I drew out my
long piece Of gold, and unnoticed by
the other men, who were busy swear
ing at and encouraging n another, I
disclosed a morsel of 1t. The monks
crafty eyes ~glistened. 1 laid my finger
on my lips.
He held up two fingers.
l shook my head and showed an
empty palm. l 1ad no more. He nodded.
and the relief that nod gave me was
great. Before l had time, however,
to consider the ~narrowness OF my es-
cape a movement of the crowd-for the
news had spread with great swiftness,
and there was now a crowd assembled
which more than filled the room-pro-
claimed the purveyor a come out and
was in the street.
The room was nearly emptied at a
rush. Though I prudently remained
behind, 1 could, through the open win
do, hear as we'll as see what passed.
The leading spirits had naturally strug-
gled out first INC were gathered. sullen
and full of dangerous possibilities,
about the porch.
I suppose the bishops messenger saw
In them nothing but a crowd of coun-
try clowns, for he came hectoring
toward the door, shifting his boot with
his whip and putting out his red cheeks
nightly. He felt brave enough. now
that he had dined n had at his back
three stout Constables sworn to keep
the queens peace.
Make way! Make way there! Do
you hear?" he cried in a husky, pomp-
Gus voice. Make way" ne repeated.
lightly touching the nearest man with