The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-12

"Eh?"
"Will you get out, Or" and the
mountebank stepped toward the other
with apparently undisguised inten.
ton.
SO that's your game" Quickly the
soldier sprang to his feet. Il must
teach you little politeness, my friend
how We deal with uncivil people :n
the army!" And throwing off his coat
as ready for a bout at fisticuffs as for
an encounter Of words, the soldier
confronted the clown. when I'm
done. you'll sing that song of the stick
out or the other side Of the mouth.
and think your wicked peasant re.
celved coddling from his master In
comparison!"
But the mountebank did not answer
with words-and the soldier was
stlil threatening, and painting dire
prophetic pictures Of what he intend.
ed doing, when a strong arm closed
ABOUT him; fingers like iron gripped
MS throat, and, for some moments
thereafter, although Of unusual size
and vigor, the man was more con.
cerned In keeping his feet than in
searching his vocabulary for pictur.
esQue imagery. Then, in spite of his
struggles and best endeavors to free
himself, he felt his head forced back.
wards; the grasp On his neck tight.
ened. Still he could not shake of that
deadly hold. and, aware that conscious.
ness was gradually leaving him, his
enorts relaxed. After that, for an In.
terval. he remembered nothing: but
with returning realization and q vague
sense OF stiffness In his throat, in q
rough sort OF way was prepared to ac-
cept defeat; acknowledge the others
supremacy, and seal that acknowledg.
ment over the bottle.
only the mountsbank afforded him
no opportunity thus to toast the ''best
man." with q long strap of leather
snatched from one Of the pegs, he had
already bound the hands and fee. of
mis- bulky antagonist, and was just ris.
ing to survey his handiwork, when the
other opened his eyes.
Here! What do you mean?" ex.
claimed the soldier, when even the
power vocally to express further sur.
prise or indignation was denied him.
IN consequence Of something soft be!
Ing thrust between his teeth: and
mute, helpless, he could but express
In looks the disgusted inquiry his lips
refused to frame
mo; it's no joke" answered the
mountebank. rapidly passing an end
OF the strap. binding the soldier, about
post Of the stall and securing II.
sailor-wise. "A poor return for hos.
pitalfty, yet needs must, when the
devil drives!" quickly seizing a hand.
ful OF marsh grass from the ground
and rubbing it over his face. ANY
how, you'll be none the worse on the
morrow" stepping toward the lantern,
while who can say? He laughs
best" About to blow out the fame,
he stopped, attracted by something his
foot had thrust aside; a garment; the
soldiers! A moment he surveyed 1t;
STOPPED; picked It up. "Unless l am
mistaken" casting aside his own coat,
slipping on that of the soldier, and
then donning the latter's cap, which
had fallen in the struggle, 1--WE are
about OF a size. And this sword" un.
fastening the belt from the prostrate
1ailer Should go with the coat" A
moment his words, tense, reckless,
continued to vi5rate in the soldiers
ears, then: I'll loare you the Ian.
tern!" And darkness fell over the
place.
Boldly, a little uncertainty, as the
soldier had walked. the mountebank,
now, to all appearance, a man Of the
ranks in the service Of his Excellency,
the Governor, strobe down the wide,
stone-payed wey separating the out
houses from the officers quarters, hard
against the ramparts. In the skys
dome the stars still shone, although a
small mottled patch Of cloud obscured
the moon; on either side no lights ap-
peared In windows, and friendly shad-
ows favored him, until he approached
at the end Of the way the broad, open
entrance between the soldiers bar
racks and the officers row. There, set
IN stone above the key Of the time
worn arch. flared smoky lamp, dimly
revealing the surrounding details; but
the young man did not stop; had
drawn quite close to the medieval
structure, when Unexpectedly another
tread, on the soldiers side Of the
entrance, mingled with his own; rang
for a moment in unison: then jingled
out OF time. He who approached
came to sudden standstill; cast a
quick glance over his shoulder, only
to be brought to an abrupt realization
that 1t was now too late to retreat A
black silhouette. suddenly precipitated
across the pavement, preceded q dark