Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-09-17

rein, and, before the other knew what
he would be at, he was off his horse.
Mount, father" he said, "and ride, and
God be with you!"
For a moment the priest stared
dumbfounded.
Sir" he said, you wear a sword,
And no son OF the church goes armed
in these parts"
IF / am not one of your church /
am q Christian Colonel John an
swered. Mount, father, and ride in
Gods name. and when you are there
send the lad back with the beast"
THE Mother of God reward YOU"
the priest cried fervently, land turn
your heart in the right way!" He
scrambled to the saddle, THE bless
ing OF all"
The rest was lost in the thud OF hoofs
as the horse started briskly, leaving
Colonel John standing alone upon the
road beside Bales stirrup.
Its something if a man serves
where he's listed" Colonel John re-
marked.
Bale smiled. And don't betray his
own side he said. He slipped from
his saddle
"ynn think It's the DEVILS work we've
done?' Colonel John asked.
But Bale declined to say more, and
the two walked on. II on either side
of the horse.
They had trudged the better part of
two miles when they came upon the
| horse tethered ny the reins to n of
the two gate pillars. Colonel John got
to his saddle, and they trotted on. Not
withstanding. IL was late in the after
noon when they approached the town
of Traiee.
AS the colonel eyed the mean houses
| which banked the entrance to the
| town, he recognized that IL all the
saints had not vouchsafed their COM
pany, the delay caused by the meeting
with the priest had done somewhat.
For at that precise moment a man was
riding into the town before them. and
the horse under the man was Flava
| McMurrough's lost mare.
Colonel Johns eye lightened rs he
| recognized its points. With a sign TO
Bale he fell in behind the mar and fol-
lowed him through two or three Ill
paved and squaild streets. Presently
the rider passed through a loopholed
gateway. cfossed by an open space sur
rounded by dreary buildings which no
military Eye could take for aught but
a barrack yard. The two still followed
the Far Sac q fhs SaFa the mare and
her rider vanished through a second
archway which appeared to Lead to an
inner court. The colonel went after
tnem, ruEtuuS, Hr luouSAes nav
him.
But as he emerged from The tunnel
like passage he raised his head In as
constituent. A din of voices. an out
break OF laughter and revelry, burst In
a flood OF sound upon his ears. He
turned his face in the direction whence
the sounds came, and saw three open
windows, and at each window three or
four flushed c-ountenances. His sud
den emergence from the tunnel. per-
haps his look OF surprise, wrought an
instant's silence. which was followed
by a ruder outburst.
Cock, cocki cock!" shriekec a tipsy
voice, and an orange. hurled at ran
dom. missed the colonel's astonished
face by a yard. The mare which had
led him 50 far had disappeared. and
instinctiveiy he drew bride. He stared
at the Window
MARX onetr cried a aanond roistar-
er. and a cork. better aimed than the
orange, struck the colonel sharply on
the chin. A shout OF laughter greeted
the hit.
He raised h:r hat. Gentlemen" ne
demonstrated, gentlemen--
He could proceed no further. A
flight Of corks. a renewed cry OF Cock,
cock! cock!" q chorus OF Fetch him,
Ponto! Dead. good dog." drowned his
"Reminiscences. Perhaps In the scowl-
Ing face at his 0lbow the wits OF the
--th found more amusement than In
thu masters mild a~stonishment.
Who the deuce is hey" cried one Of