The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-11-03
CHAPTER XIV.
THE DRAGONS DEN.

The rush OF the intruders. sudden
and overwhelming. drove me back
from the door, but managed to hold
my place. pistol in hand. before my
love. too daz,d for the moment to
do aught but stare at them and curse
the fortune which had brought us to
This desperate pass. But had a part
to playa part / had reheare3d more
than once for just such IAN emer-
gcncy as this-and / got my wits
back by supreme effort, while the
newcomers still stood gaping in q
semi about us.
wen. citizens" said. trying to
achieve smile with but Indifferent
success. "one would have thought you
were taking fortress by assault"
we are set to patrol this road"
explained one Of them. I'VE saw this
light and determined to find out what
was going forward here"
I saw by their awkwardness and
want OF discipline that they were not
trained soldiery but raw levies. with
no very clear idea OF their duties, and
my spirits rose. The affair was not
not desperate as I had thought.
Quite right" commented. smil-
Ing this time In earnest. II suspect
ed as much. That is why opened so
promptly, since we have nothing to
conceal. There Is no enemy of the
republic here-only this honest old
fellow. this woman and myself. So
farewell. my friends. oblige me by
using this to drink the health of the
nation" and I tossed their spokes-
man n silver crown.
A murmur Of satisfaction ran
around the group. and such Is tho
power or self assurance that three or
four of them made q motion to with
draw. But their spokesman fingered.
Il fear we must require some ac-
count OF you. citizep," he said. look
ing at me alphabetically, and above
all OF your companion, who appears to
me to be an aristocrat."
IAN aristocrat," I laughed, really
Ing in a fash that In these circum-
stances I must take some other line
than that had originally resolved
on. 80 it seems you cannot tell
maid from mistress! ne is SO lit
tie OF an aristocrat that che hopes to
be vivandlere to the regiment which
I join"
Then, pardieu. you must Join
ours" cried one OF the rogues, and
pressed toward her. "Hey. my dear,
look at us-we're likely set Of fell
lows. Wen be kind to you well
do our best to make you happy" at
ingly. and gazed at my compan-
Ion with meaning glances.
We are already pledged to regi-
nent at Thouars. citizen" ] protest
ed, pushing him back good naturally.
though there was red murder in my
heart.
Her clothing is not that of a
well. may not a maid don her
mistress gown" I demanded. "Espe-
cially when she is leaving her for the
..st time?"
They laughed again at that, but I
saw that suspicion had been aroused
faint, indeed, but enough to i'm
peril us. Any but these country louis
would have seen through the lie at
once-that peerless creature q servant,
indeed!
what Is your business here citi-
zen?" Queried the first speaker, after
moments silence during which I
noted with uneasiness that none Of
them made any movement to retire.
We stopped here, to rest" I ex-
planned. my comrade has injured her
ankle. We will spend the night here,
since 1t is impossible for her to go
farther. Your regiment passes here 2"
Undoubtedly, since 1t also goes to
Thouars.'
We'll. we will Join it as It passes.
Perhaps you will give us breakfast,
and permit my comrade to ride In one
OF the wagons"
Undoubtedly, citizen" chimed in
another, with laugh; "but we'll not
permit any such scarecrow as YOU to
ride with her. You'd prefer a hand
some soldier. wouldn't you. my dear?'
las you WILL" agreed, laughing.
too, though with no small effort. "But
you see how pale she is-she suffers
greatly. A good nights rest win
change all that. So good night. citi-
bens. Till tomorrow"
This time they appeared really sat
isfled and started for the door In q
body. But sudden uproar from with
out stopped them.
Name Of dog" yelled hoarse
voice. Where are those blockheads ?
All, they shall hang for this! Desert
ers! Traitors!"
There was an uneasy movement
among the men. saw that they had
reason to know and fear that voice.
In another instant a ferocious face
appeared in the doorway, It's eyes
| cleaning with rage.
"What" IT cried. and I cav sword
CLEAN In the air and descend with no
! uncertain force on the heads and
shoulders. "Dallying here with a light
O'-love! Is II thus you do your duty
Is II thus you serve the Nation,
| Hounds! Ours! Ill show you!" and ne
drove them forth pe,l-meli into the
road. And who ere you, citizen?" ne
F, demanded, wheeling upon me, when the
J last OF them had disappeared
| II am on my way to join the army
! at Thouars." I said.
"And she?" and he jerked his thumb
| toward my conrpanion.
spoil of war" explained with q
wide smile, seeing he was too wise
to swallow the other story.
He turned and stared at her for a
moment.
my word, you have pretty taste
Citizen he said. and his eyes cleaned
lasciviously. II think I will release
you, my dear. from this dirty BRUTE
he added to her. with leer he nc
doubt thought engaging. You rather
have brave fellow like myself
wouldn't you? Say. wouldn't your
and he approached and tweaked hel
ear. "Of course you would. So 1t Ii
settled"
Citizen" interposed, II shall
have a word to say to that. She be-
longs to me-"
He turned upon me disdainful coun.
tenance.
Get out. you beast" he said
Don't you see we wish to be relieved
of you? You say you are going Il
Thouars. Well, the door Is oper
Suppose you start now"
When start my prisoner goes will
me-" l said.