The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-09-12

him steadily. ION the Mount Is, or
should be. plenty for all Go seek
for yourself!"
"Pardi" softly. Here's one dares
speak his mind!
Il speak plainly" in a tone OF au.
thority. "and you would do well to
heed!"
Perhaps" interposing. What say
you, comrades"
Evil smiles illumined evil faces;
they. who had just been on the point
OF blows among themselves. now re.
garded one another with common un.
Outstanding. One weighed tentatively
that delicate weapon, spontoon; a
second stroked his halberd. as liking
to feel the smoothness Of the shaft.
while third reached for cleaning
"Folard's Partizan." And in the glare
Of the fire every implement showed
sign It had been used that night. The
point of the spontoon was as stee'
crusted DER; the ak of the halberd
might have come from boucherie;
the blade of the "Partizan" resembled
great leaf at autumn-time. This last
wavered perilously near the uncon
scious burden; had the man made
movement to resist. would have
struck; but the black eyes. only
combated-held the blood-sho. ones.
Though not for long; again the weap
on seemed about to dart forth; the
man about to hurl himself and his bur
den desperately aside, when, from
above, came the sound of hoarse
laughter and singing. and simultane
ously number of peasants. Bretons
by their dress, burst into view.
"Eh, cockatoo, what now!"
"Eh. cockatoo!" shrilly. who would
you be killing"
"A selfish fellow that refuses to
| share!" answered he of the halberd,
as II little pleased at the interruption.
Refuses to share, does he?" she
repeated. and, staggering down,
peered forward; only to start back
"The Black Seigneur!"
"The Black Seigneur!"
Those who accompanied her-a
rough rabble from field and forest
gazed, not without surprise, or uncouth
admiration. at one whose name and
fame were we'll known on that north
ern coast; but these evidences OF
rough approval were not shared by the
alien rogues. On my lady's finger the
gem sparkled; held their eyes like
lure. Black Seigneur, or not, they
muttered sullenly. what knew they of
her he had with him; whose hand was
not that of cinder-wench or scullery
maid? Let them look at her face!
She might be great lady-she might
be the Governors daughter herself!
"The Governors daughter!" All.
alike, caught at the word.
"And IL she were!" fiercely the
Black Seigneur confronted them.
While. hesitating, they sought for
| reply. quickly he went on. Who had
better right to her? The Black
Seigneur! The Lady Elise! Harshly
he laughed. Was 1t not fair spoilf His
Excellency's enemy; his Excellency's
daughter. Did they think treasure
sweeter than revenge? Let them try
to rob him of It! AS for the ring?
CONTEMPORARY he took 1t from my
lady's hand; threw 1t among them.
A few scrambled, others were still
for finishing the tragedy then. The
people versus the lords and their
spawn. "Kill at once!" the injunc-
ton had gone forth from Paris.
AS he spoke, one of the fiercest put
out his hand; touched my lady, when
the fingers of the Black Seigneur
gripped hard his throat; hurled him
SO violently back, he lay still. Com
panions sprang to his aid; certain of
the peasants interfered. ~
"Let him alone!" * -.,a
"He speaks fart -'S'>'sr''
"Bah! Tonight all are equal"
"Your Black Seigneur Is no better
than others!"
"You lie!" In high tone the wom'
an with the great lady,s hat broke In.
"At them, my chickens! Beat well
these Paris rogues, who come only for
the picking!"
"Yes; beat them WE'LL" 7-ee-'
But the runagates of the great city
were not Of kind to submit lightly;
curses and blows We're exchanged:
knives cleaned and swords flashed.
Amid a scene Of confusion. the cause
of 1t stayed not to witness the out
come; running down the sloping way,
soon found himself on the sands; then
keeping to the shadows. passed around
the corner of the wall. ~&y
(TO BE CoNTfNUED)