The Forrest City times., 1913-10-17

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 of the other side of the mouth.
 and think your wicked peasant re- ceiyed a coddling from his master In comparson."
 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 his throat. and, for some moments thereafter. although of unusual size ana Vlgor, 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. "ards; the grasp on his neck tight. ened. Stil he could not shake off that deadly hold. and, aware that conscious ness was gradually leaving him, his eHorts relaxed. After that, for an in. terval. he remembered nothing; but With returning realization and a vague sense Of stiffness In his throat. in rough sort of way was prepared D ac- cept defeat; acknowledge the others supremacy, and seal that acknowledg-
 ment over the bottle. Only the mountebank affordsa him
 no opportunity thus to toast the best
 man." with long strap of leather
 snatched from one of the pegs, he had
 already bound the hands and, feet of
 his bulky antagonist, and was just ris-
 ing to survey his handiwork, when the l 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
 No: it's no joke" answered the
 
 Of the strap. binding the soldier. about | post of the stall and securing 1t, satlor-wise. "A poor return for hos pitality. yet needs must. when the devil drives!" quickly seizing hand fui of marsh grass from the ground | and rubbing it over his face Any how, youll be none the worse on the | rl kLz | while l-who can say? He laughs best" About to blow out the flame, he stopped attracted by something his 1 foot had thrust aside; a garment; the | soldiers. A moment he surveyed it; 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, we are l about of 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 vibrate in the soldiers
 ears, then: "Ill leave you the Ian.
 tern!" And darkness fell over the place.
 Boldly. little uncertainty, as the
 soldier had walked, the mountebank, l now. to all appearance, a man of the
 ranks in the service of his Excellency,
 the Governor, strode down the wide.
 stone-payed way separating the out. l houses from the officers quarters. hard l against the ramparts. In the sky's l I-, tI | small mottled patch of q @ud 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 1 entrance between the soldiers bar | racks and the officers row. There, set | in stone above the key of the time.
 worn arch, fiared a smoky lamp. dimly | revealing the surrounding details; but l 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 moment in unison; then jlngled out of time. He who approached | came to sudden standstill cast a quick glance over his shoulder. only 1 to be brought to an abrupt realization | that 1t was now too late to retreat. A black silhouette. suddenly precipitated across the pavement, preceded dark figure that stepped quickly out and barred the way, while at the same time. voice. loud and incisive, chal. | lenged.
 (TO BE CONTINUED)