The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-07-02

and isn't seen any more. Besides, you
| two know the mark cut in the stone.
Only the gods know that. We thought
you were men till you showed the sign
of the master
Il wished then that we ilad explain.
! crets of a master Mason at the first
go off, but l said nothing. All that
night there was il blowing Of horns in
a little dark temple halfway down the
! hill. and heard a girl crying fit to die.
One of the priests told us that she was
being prepared to marry the king. The
girls little bit afraid says the priest.
She thinks she's going to die. and they
are a-heartening of her up down in the
temple.
Hearten her very tender. then.
says Dravot, or III hearten you with
the butt of gun so that you'll never
want to be heartened again.
II got up very early in the morning
while Dravot was asleep. and | saw
the priests talking together in wills
pers and the chiefs talking together.
too, and they looked at me out Of the
corners of their eyes.
"'What is up, Fish, says to the
Bashkai man, who was wrapped up in
bis furs and looking splendid to behold.
IL can't rightly say, says he. but if
you can induce the king to drop all this
nonsense about marriage you'll be do
ing him and me and yourself a great
service
"'That do believe says !. But
sure, you know. Billy, as well as me.
having fought against and for us. that
the king and me are nothing more
than two of the finest men that God
Almighty ever made. Nothing more.
do assure you.
"'That may be- says Billy Fish. and
yet should be sorry if it was. He
sinks his head upon his great fur cloak
for minute and thinks. King says
he, be you man Of god or devil. I'll
stick by you today. have twenty Of
my men with me. and they will follow
me- Well 80 to Bashkai until the
storm blows over
"A little snow had fallen in the
night and everything was white except
the greasy fat clouds that blew down
and down from the north. Dravot
came out with his crown on his head.
swinging his arms and stamping his
feet and looking more pleased than
Punch.
"'For the last time. drop it. Dan.
says in a whisper. Billy Fish here
says there will be row.
"A row among my people! says
Dravot. Not much Peachey. you're
fool not to get wife too. Where's
the girl?' says he with voice as loud
as the braying of jackass. Call up
all the chiefs and priests and let the
emperor see if his wife suits him
There was no need to call any one.
They were all there leaning on their
guns and spears round the clearing in
the center of the pine wood. A depu.
tation Of priests went down to the lit
tie empire to bring up the girl. and the
horns blew up fit to wake the dead.
!! Billy Fish saunters round and gets as
close to DAME. as he could, and behind
him stood his twenty men with match
locks. not Il man Of them under six
feet. was next to Dravot. and be-
hind me was twenty men of the regu-
lar army. Up comes the girl. and a
strapping wcnch she was, covered with
silver and turquoises. but white as
death and looking back every minute
at the priests.
"'She'll do said Dan, looking her
over What's to be afraid of. lass?
Come and kiss me- He puts his arm
round her. She shuts her eyes. gives
bit of squeak, and down goes her
face in the side Of Dams flaming red
beard.
1.-THE girls bitten met says he,
clapping his hand to his neck. and
sure enough his hand was red with
blood. Billy Fish and two of his
matchbox men catches hold Of Dan by
the shoulders and drags him into the
Bashkai lot. while the priests bowls in
their lingo, Neither God nor devil. but
a man. l was all taken aback, for a
priest cut at me in front, and the army
behind began firing into the Bashkai
men.
II tried to give some sort of orders
to my men-the men O. the regular
army-but it was no use. so fired into
! the brown of 'em with an English Mar
! tint and drilled three beggars in a line.
TIE valley was full of shouting howl
ing creatures, and every soul was
shrieking, Not q God nor a devil. but
only ia man!' The Bashkai troops
stuck to Billy Fish all they were worth.
IbutS their natchloeks wasn't half ~
| oo6 ~ IN Kat6I breechloade rs, and
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