The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-09-30
.THE WILD GEESEl
* BY Stanley j. Weyman.4 ~
Copyright. 1903. by Stanley ]. weyman.!
CHAPTER vI-Continued.

Inc man ana the morse. Lie Col
onel began to understand that some
thing more than wantonness had in
spired Payton's conduct the previou
night. He had had an interest in nip
ping the inquiry in the bud, and
learning who the colonel was, ha'
acted on the instant and with consid
erabl presence of mind.
The colonel remained within door!
until five minutes before 8 O'clock
Then, attending to the directions III
had received. he made his way to {
particular door a little within tn,
barrack gate.
Had he glanced up at the window.
ne would have seen faces at them;
moreover, a suspicious ear might havt
caught a scurrying of feet, mingled
with stif1ed laughter. But he did MOI
look up. He did not seem to expect
to see. more. thar he found when he
entered-a great bare room, with its
floor strewn with sawdust and Its walls
adorned here and there by a gaunt
trophy of arms. In the middle of the
floor. engaged apparently in weighing
one foil against another, was a stout,
dark man., whose light and nimble step
gave the lie to his weight.
Certainly there came from a half
opened door at the end of the room a
Btealthy sounda as Of rats taking cover.
But Colonel John did no look that
way. His whole attention was bent
upon the maitre d'armes. who bowed
low to him. Clicking his heels to-
gether and [ ending his palms in the
French fashion. Good morning, sare,"
he said, his southern accent unmis-
taxable. Il make you welcome"
The colonel returned his salute less
deliberately.
1.-The maitre d~'armes, Lemoine?" he
said.
Yes, sare; that is me. At your
service"
ST ~ q W. erA In NV - - - ~ r
have been recommended to apply to
you. You are, l am told, accustomed
to giving lessons"
With the small sword?" the
Frenchman answered, with the same
gesture of the open hands. ut is my
profession"
X am DESTROYS Of brushing UP my
acknowledgements as it u.s."
"A ware good notion" the fencing
master replied, his black, beady eyes
twinkling. Ware good for me. Ware
good also for you. Always ready, is
the gentleman's motto, and to make
himself ready his high recreation. But,
doubtless, sare," with a faint smile,
you are proficient and I teach you
nothing. You come but to sweat a
~tittie."s
AT one time.' Colonel John replied
with simplicity. II was fairly prof.
Gent. Then-this happened. He held
u his right hand. You see?"
.Ah!" the Frenchman said in a low
tone, and he raised his hands. That
IS ware ogly. That is ware ogly. Can you
hold with that?" he added, inspecting
the hand with interest. He was a Diff
ferent man.
Sc, So the colonel replied cheer
fully.
Not strong. Ell? It is not possible"
vented. His hand, like Bales, lacked
two fingers.
Lemoine muttered something under
his breath and looked at the colonel
with q wrinkled brow. Tut, TUT" he
said, AN how long are you like that,
sare?"
Seven years"
Again he looked at his visitor with
perplexed eyes. After which, "Peste!"
he said suddenly.
The colonel stared.
IT Is not right" the F%renchman
continued frowning. Tho! Pardon,
pies.
r. the Colonel had been listening he
might have caught the sound of a
warning cough. proceeding from the
direction Of the inner room; but he
had his back to the half opened door.
But II" he objected, Il am willing to
pay for an hours practice
Another day, sare. Another day. If
But I shall not be here another day.
"a have but today. By and by" he
continued with q smile. as kindly as it
was humorous. 7 shall begin to think
hat you are afraid to pit yourself
against a manchot!"
ooh, lal la!"
do me the favor. them Colonel
Joh retorted. IF you please"
Against n OF the walls were three
chairs arranged In a row. Before each
stood q bootblack. and beside 1t a pair
Of boot hooks. over 1t, fixed in the wall.
were two or three pegs for the occu-
pants wig. cravat and zane. The Col
onel, without waiting for d further
answer, took his seat on one OF the
chairs. removed his boots, and then
his coat, vest and wig, which he hung
on h pegs above HIM.
And now" he said gaily, as he stood
up.,stle mask.
He did not see the change, but as
he rose.Sthe door OF the room behind
him became fringed with grinning
leaned from the window OF the inn, a
couple OF older officers. half q dozen
sHubalterns, all were there. The more
grave could hardly keep the more hill
arioss IN order. The stranger who
fought no dnels. vet thought that q
lesson or two would make him 9
match for a dead-hand like Payton-
VAS ever such promising joke con-
4 E~renchrnan made no further de-
ifhr He o his mask, and proffered
4 choice OF fotls to his antagonist.
whose figure, freed from the heavy
4 and vestsof the day, seemed more
supple than the Frenchman had Z
psctsd. Is.A pity. a pityi'' the latter
snatd to- himself. TO have lost, il he
WIS professor. the Joy OF life.a
ssAIse . ready Colonel John
-
tSsyour service. sare, the ,maitre
sd'aspheA replied. Che two advanced
eacflsp 3 they touched swords, then
aHlutea with that graceful and cour-
stepaA engagement which to an irnor-
INT Obseryar ~ one OF ~the%charnns az
sthss Toll Az they did 40. and steel
grated CnEstsel h eavesdroppers III
5slheS Il lerssToOm ventured softly from
Alhh1sflz--llke rats issuing forth.
TheysssHerc on Ale broad grin when
the acayneSout But IL took them less
SthNIfNsaa minute 70 discOver that the en-
S4&Yta lin ent not kelly "a he 30 -.