The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-12
THE THREE GUARDSMEN
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That is enough to drive away all Wy pains I could ride upon him with th1rty balls in my body. What hand some stirrups. Hola! Bazin, come here thb miud6e.s
 The two young men and the lackey wsnt down into the yard. ih
 -Hald my stirrup. Basin," cried Ara m1n.
 And AKanztS spTang into his saddle with his usual grace and lightness, but aftsr q few vaults and curvets of the noble animal rhis rider felt his pains come on e ineupportably that he turn a pale and became unsteady in his ssat. UARtagnan caught him in his arms and asslDted him to his cham ber.
 .sThatss well, my dear Aramis; take caro of yourse1f." 1" said he. 'T will 90 alone in search of Athos."
 -You are . man of brass" replied Aram1A
 ''lee; I have good luck, that is all. But hoW do you mean to pass your tine tn como backf No more theol- ogy!"
 They took leave of each other and in ten niuutsa, after commenting his ff1end b the car0 of the hostess and Bexin D,Axtagnan wasstrotting along 1n the direction of Amiehs s
 How. was he going to find Athos, even shoulA he ind him 1t all? The position in which he had left him was critical He might very probably have soccumbed. This idea, while darken. 1ng hls bruW. drsw several sighs from hlm and caused him to formulate to h1meelf . few vows of vengeance. Of m his nlends Athos was the eldest and the least resembling him in ap- peafance, in his tastes and s1mpathies. And ysf he entertained marked pref efeoce for this gentleman The noble and distinguished air of Athos, those flashes of greatness which from time to time broke out from the shade in which he voluntarily kept himself, that unalterable equality of temper which made him the most pleasant companion in the world, that forced eayety, that bravery,which might have been termed blind if 1t had not been the result of the rarest coOlhess-such qualities attracted more than the es- teem. more than the friendship, of D'Artagnan; they attracted his admfrA ton. .s.ss5
 "Well," thought D'Artagnan, poor At8os is perhaps at this moment dead and dead D: my fault, for 1t was who dEaGged him into this affair ''a
 And these thoughts redoubled the ca. sernsss of D'Artagnan, who excited his horse, which stood in need of no excitement. and they proceeded at . rapid pace. About II o'clock in the morning they perceived Amiens, and at half past ,11 they were at the. door of the inn. va
 UArta6nan had often meditated aeainst the perfldious host one of those hearty vengeances which offer conso. lation while being hoped for. He en- tered the hostelry with his hat pulled over his eyes, his lef. hand on the pum- mel of the sword, and cracking hie whip with his right hand 2.
 Do you remember mer' said he to the host. who advanced. lowing, to- wand him.
 ''I have not that honor, monsie. gneur." replied the latter. his eyes be. ing dazEled by the brilliant style in which D'Artagnan travelled
 "Weu. two words will refresh your memory. What have you done with that gentleman against whom you had the audacity about twelve days ago to make an accusation of passing bad noneyr
 The host became as pale as death D'AftagnAn having assumed a threat sning attitude, and P1anchet having wodeled himself upon his master
 "Ah, monseigneur, do not mention itv' cried the host in the most pitiable voice imaginable. "Ah. sefgneur, how dearly have I paid for that fault! Deign to listen to me, monseieneur and be .merciful. Sit down, I beg"
 D'Artaenan. mute with anger and uneasiness, took a seat fin the threaten. ing attitude of judge, Planchet look ing .Aeneely1 over the back of his fau teuiL f ..
 Here is the history. monseieneur, '' resumed the trembling host, flor now recollect you. It was yon who rode off at the moment I had that un- fortunate difference with the gentle man you speak of. had been warn cd by the authorities that celebrated coiner Of bad money would arrive at my place with several of his compan- ions. Ill disguised as guards or mus keteers. I was furnished with a de scription of your horses, your lackeys, your countenances-nothin was omit. ted"
 ''Gc on. 90 ony said D,Artaenan, who quickly conceived whence such m exact ooneription had come.
 aI took fheh IT conformity wt4
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