Mexico Missouri message., 1913-10-09

hin steadily. ION the Mount is. OF
should be, plenty for all Go seek
for YOURSELF"
"Pardl!" softly. Here's one dares
speak his mind!
81 speak plainly" in a tone OF au.
thority, "and you would do well to
heed!"
Perhaps" interposing. what say
you, comrades?"
Evil smiles illumlned evil faces:
OF blows among themselves. now re-
garded one another with common I'M
Outstanding. One weighed tentatively
that delicate weapon. a spontoon:
second stroked his halberd, as liking
to feel the smoothness of the shaft,
while a third reached for a cleaning
'Folard's Partizan." And In the glare
of the fire every implement showed
sign II had been used that night. The
point Of the spontoon was as steel
crusted Ger; the ak Of the halberd
might have come from a boucherie:
the blade OF the "Partizan" resembled
a great leaf at autumn-time. This last
wavered perilously near the uncon.
scious burden; had the man made a
movement to resist, would have
struck; but the black eyes, only,
combated-held the blood-shot 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 a number of peasants, Bretons
by their dress. burst into view.
Eth, 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 well known on that north
ern coast; but these evidences of
rough approval were not shared by the
allen rOgues. On my lady's finger the
gem sparkled; held their eyes like a
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 a great lady-she might
be the Governors daughter herself!
THE Governors daughter!" All,
alike, caught at the word
And If she were!" fercely 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 It not fair spoil? 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?
Contemptuously he took II from my
lady's hand; threw It among them.
A few scrambled. others were still
for finishing the tragedy then. The
people versus the lords and their
spawn. xiii 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!"
"He speaks fart"
Bah! Tonight all are equal"
Your Black Seigneur is no better
than others!"
you lie!" In high tone the won.
an with the great lady's hat broke in.
AT them, my chickens! Beat we'll
these Paris rogres, who como only for
the piclling!"
"Yes; beat them WE'LL"
But the runagates of the great city
were not Of kind to submit lightly;
curses and blows were exchanged:
knives cleaned and swords flashed.
Amid 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
CTo BE CoNTINUED)