The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-12

DY AAEAANON .OONA4 orucrs Of the authorities, who sent me reinforcement of six men, such measures as thought necessary to get possession of the persons of the pre- tended coiners."
 "But, once again, that gentleman, where is he? What is become of him :! Is he dead? Is he living?'
 s sThat gentleman, your friend, de tended himself desperately Having placed two men hors de combat with his pistols, he retreated, fighting with his sword, with which he disabled one of my men and stunned me with a blow of the flat side of it.s'
 'But," cried D'Artagnan, "Athos- what is become of Athos p
 "While fighting and retreating, as I have told monseigneur, he found the door of the cellar stairs behind him, and as the door was open, he took out the key and barricaded himself inside. As we were sure of fipding him there, we left him alone"
 "Yes," said D'Artagnan, '.yous did not particularly wish to kill him and go were satisfied with detaining him g prisoner" 9 s1i -e
 "A prisoner. monseigneurl Why, he imprisoned himself. The two men that were wounded were carried off by their companions, and | have heard nothing of them since Iawent to M !, the Governor, to whom: related. all f31nkr y,o scf, -1 what should do with my. prisoner. But M. the Governor was all astonish- ment. He told me he Eknew nothing about, the matter" '
 'But Athosw cried D,Artagnan.
 "As was anxious to repair the wrongs I had done the prisoner" re- sumed the innkeeper, ''I took my Fay straight to the cellar in order to set him at liberty. An, monsieur he was no longer man, he was a devil! To my offer of liberty, he replied that it was nothing but a snare and that be. fore he came out he intended to i'm. pose his own conditions. told him very humbly, for I could not conceal from myself the scrape had got into by laying hands on one of his maj. esty's musketeers, told him T was quite ready to submit to his contli, tions.
 "'In the first place. said he, T in sist upon having my lackey placed with me, fully armed We hastened to obey this order, for you will please to understand, monsieur, we were dis posed to do everything your friend , could desire. M. Grimaud Che told us his name, he did, although he does Z not talk much), M. Grimaud, then, went down to the cellar. wounded as he was; then his master having re ceived him, barricaded the door afresh and ordered us to remain quietly in our own bar'
 Well, where is Athos nowY' cried D'Artagnan. $
 ''In the cellar, monsieur. Ah, if you could but persuade him to come out, monsieurw a
 'Then he is there? I shall find him there?" q
 Without doubt you will, monsieur. He persists in remaining there. ' We every day pass through the .loophole some bread at the end oe fork and some meat when he asks for it: but. alas, it is not of bread and meat that he makes the greatest consumption
 "So that from that time"-- replied D'Artagnan, totally unable to refrain from laughing at the pitiabls face of the host.
 "So that from that time, monsieur" continued the latter, i've have led the most miserable life imaginable, for you must know, monsieur, that all our pro- visions are in the cellar. We are fore ed to refuse food and drink to the travellers who come to the house, so that our hostelry is daily going to ruin"
 And not more than justice, neither. you stupid man. Could you not per ceive by our appearance that we were people of quality and not coiners- sayw
 Yes, monsieur, yoR are right" said the host But, hark, hark; there he is in passion againy'
 Somebody has disturbed him, no doubt" said D'Artagnan.
 But he must be, disturbed" cried the host. "Here are two English gen tlemen just arrived!"
 .WellT'
 "Well, the English like good wine. as you may know, monsieur. These have asked for the best. My wife then re- quested permission of M. Athos to go into the cellar to satisfy these gentle men, and he, as usual, has refused. An, there he is, louder than ever!'
 D'Artagnan, in fact, heard a great noise on, the side next the cellar. He rose and, preceded by the host, wiring ing his hands and followed by Plan- chet with his musketoon. ready for ac- ton, he approached the scene of ac- ton. 1@s @aass A.
 "But this is . tyranny" cried one of the Nnglishmen in very good French,