Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-08-14
CHI 1908 BY me eose3 -t1ERRILL CO.

tltlT haDlts out a mortar intrusion On
the argent way could be fraught only
with visibility.
TO reach the point he had in mind,
however no choice remained; the
steps had to be mounted, and, lower.
ing his head and looking down. delib-
his solitary figure seemed 20 become
more distinct; his presence more OBJ
trusive and his echoinR footsteps 10
resOund louder. No indication he had
been seen or heard, however. reached
him; to all appearances espionage of
his movements was wanting, and only
the saint with the sword at the top OF
the steeple-guardian spirit Of the
rock-looked down. as II holding high
cleaning warning OF that unwonted
intrusion.
Yet, though he knew II not, mortal
eye had long been on him, peenng
from a window OF the abbot's bridge
spanning the way and joining certain
long unused chambers, next TO the
Governors palace. with my lady's
abode. Against the somber background
Of that covered passage Of granite, the
face looking out would still have re-
manned unseen, even had the young
man, drawing near, lifted his glance.
This, however, he did not do; his eyes.
with the pale reflections dancing In
them. had suddenly fastened them
selves lower; toward another person,
not far beyond the bridge; some one
who had turned in from a passage on
the other side of the overhead archi-
tectural link, and had Just begun to
come down. An old man, with flow
/ ing beard, from afar the newcomer
looked not unlike one of the ancient
Druids that in days gone by, had
lighted and watched the sacred fires
of sacrifice in the rock. He, too guard
ed his light; but one set in the tall,
pewter lamp of the medieval watch
man.
Twelve o'clock and all's-" he be-
gan when his glance, sweeping down,
caught sight Of the ascending figure.
and, pausing, he leaned on his staff
with one hand and shaded his eyes
with the other
A h0lf-sayage exclamation of disap-
pointment was suppressed on the
young mans lips; had he only been
able TO attain that parallelogram OF
darkness. beneath the abbot's passage,
be would have been better satisfied,
his own eyes, looking ahead, seemed
to say; then cleaned with a holder
light
- sword and blade
drab and a jade.
AIS one TO the Kings men OF the army
he began to hum softly, as with a
more reckless swing. quickly he went
up In the manner Of a man assigned
some easy errand. At the same time
the patriarch slowly and rather labori-
ously resumed his descent, and just
below the bridge, without the bar of
shadow, the two came together.
Think you il is too late for his Ex.
cellency, the Governor, to receive a
MESSAGE at once spoke up the young
sr, breaking of In that dashing, but
W-murmured. song of the barracks.
That you may learn from the guard
81 A--[ kdAGA-t " al AA< BtIdLt an
swer. as. raising his lamp. the watch
man held it full in his questioners
face.
Thanks! I was going to inquire"
AS he answered, at the old abbot's
window in the bridge above. the face,
looking out, bent forward more in
tently; then quickly drew back Good
night"
But the venerable guardian OF the
inner precinct was not disposed thus
lightly to part company. y don't
seem TO know you, young man" he
observed, the watery, but keen and
critical eyes passing deliberately over
the others features.
MOI" Unfinching in the bright
glare Of the lamp, the seeming soldier
smiled. DO you, then, know all at
the Mount--even the soldiers?"
u should remember even them"
was the quiet reply.
Those, too, but lately brought from
St. Dalard?"
True, true! There may be some OF
those" uncertainty.
No doubt! So If you will lower
your lamp, which smells rather vile
ly-"
From the miscreants 1t has smelled
out" answered the old man grimly,
but obeyed; stood as If engrossed in
the recollection his own response
evoked; then turned; walked on, and,
few moments later, his call, sudden.
ly remembered, rang, belated, in the
drowsy air: Twelve o'clock and ais
well! A new day. and st. ALBERT
guard US ALL"
A sword and a blade;
a drab and Jade
The words, scarcely begun, above his
breath, died away on the seeming col
dier's lips, as the watcher on the