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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 19, 1903)
July 19, 1903. THE ILLUSTRATED 15EE 11 tn the yard made him rear he had lain longer abed than was his custom. lie was the more convinced of this In that he remembered Im-rlly lbs -laf Wiring Jtuofa tt a horse aome time before and then ialiur another being ld out; now tbere appoerod to be a third ana tie bra d talk cane up to him. His window vrlaok4 tbe stable yard and. be reoogniaed Ike mumble vt tbe hostler wko bad assisted bim restoriday. He lay aUU, half drowsed, rbe mattrwos most alluring to bini, wm-n suddenly he wns startled wide awake by a voice he knew. "The. I turn to the left (or Brough ton?" "Yea, air, muttered tbe hsstior. Armstrong leaped from his bed, placed bis eye at tbe chink la tbe shutters and jwari down into the stuble yard. The voice bad nut misled him. Ie Ooorry, sitting m a horse, was Just gathering nj the reins and departing. The Scot iiwt no time in pulling on him boots, puBikg aside tbe bed, un bolting the door and making Ms way down the stair. Waal did tbhi rally plumaged bird of lll-eanen htw want ber ta tbe wn try of the Parliament vha bis plane was beside the king? Was tbere trasxdicry afoot It ookd like H. One wutslde be saw It was rtill early, wkfe tbe sua soaroely risen. Tie accosted the yawning bostler. "Who was that man you were directing to Broughton?" "I don't know, sir." "When did he arrive?" "Last night, sir, after dark." "Did he stop in this house?" "Tea, sir. I thought he was a friend of yours, for he knew your horse when I was putting up hlB own. He asked If you were here, and I told him you were In the room Over the yard " "What Is Broughton; a hamlet?" "It is a castle, sir. Ixird Buy's castle, about three ms from here. General Crom well is there now; ft Is his headquarters in this district." "Cromwell" The young man stood stock still, eyes gazing Into vacancy. What traffic had this king's chamberlain with Cromwell? How dared he come within the Parliamentary lines, undisguised, unless unless Like inspiration the whole situation flashed upon him. De Courcy knew the burden he carried, and had seoji where it was placed. He was on his way to soil his secret and set the troops on the track of the messenger. He roust be off at once and outride the traitor. Before De Courcy had gone his three mile he would have tra versed a. dozen, and from then on it would be a race to the Scottish border. "Is my horse fed?" "Yes, slr." Cet him out at once. I will urouBe the others." He took three steps toward the Inn, then stopped as If shot, bis band clutching his breast. -By God, he's got the thing itself. Roblied, as I'm a sinner!" Now the disturbance In the nlgbt stood out clear In his memory, but he wasted not a thought over it. In upon the astonished hostler be swept "Never mind the saddle, fellow. Spring up behind me and show me the Toad to Broughton. T'p, 1 say, the horse can carry a dozen like us. Here's two goldpleces for you; guidance and a still tongue In. your head Is what I want." Armstrong grasped the two pistols from the holsters, flung the hesitating bostler upon the animal's back and leaped up in front of rim. "Which way, which way, which way?" "Straight down the Btreet, sir," gapped the terrified man, clasping the rider round the waist. "Now to the right, sir, and next to the left. That'B it, sir. Up the hill. Ah, there'B "your man, Jogging on ahead, leisurely enough. If Its blm you seek." "Right. Slip off; I can't stop. God be with you." The hostler rolled In a heap along the ditch, staggered to his feet feeling his limbs for broken bones, thinking his sold pieces hardly earned in such usage, then, satisfying himself that the damage was not great, hobbled back to Banbury. De Courcy, riding easily, as the man had said, wholly unsuspicious of pursuit, or any reason for it, hud dlsuppcarod lute u hol low, when Black Bruce, like a thunder cloud came over the cret and 4-tourge.d down upon him with the lrneslsdub' force of a troop of drasotuis. The Kneiu-btnun,, hearing too late the rumble f the hoofs, partly turned bis horse across tbe ivumI, the worst movement he could have made, nr Black Bruce, with a war neigh .came lirettat on, maddened with the del&ht of buttle, eod whirled opposing horse .and rider river and over like a cartwheel flung aJmg tbe road from the hnad ft a smith, i le Cwusrcy lay partly etunnud at the raudaide, while his frightened steed HlugKrrd t its feet, lej-d tbe hedae axrrsss the ferla to its furthest eKtremtty. Armstrong t blia self t the ground with rulettng word to Bruce, aim stood still gating and watch lag every movement o Ills master. A lsu4 la HM-k tut ad, ArasstrMig vtond ever Ma victim. "Yrm hnser dag. traitor and acvlitsn, give me tbe kilter's eomssUuil ." "far. vnu bare Idlta-d ate,' nwuml De Courcy, faintly. "You bribed thief, the Torpe 1a your end. Tou'll take no asathe through bonsrable warfare. Disgorge!" De Courcy, vaguely wondering how the atlner kaev be cau-rind it. Anew from wlLbrn bis ra snablet tbe seotmd Himmlnsien signed by tbe king and feaaOod It a with A faaa to tbe eongwwr. Aa it was an caait dwiUcat f tbe me be had tost, -nn as the sftk-en mr&. the torment Boot bad t tbe Oieb1-Jit doubt he itad umiti inr bis wa arain, and tbe prone snan was q Bally dfunviBoed that someone bad be tra'd ArmarrtBig bis swret mtMtion, jt, ftir tbe life sf blm. could net :uss how this were jioasfWe. Tbe young roan platn-d tbe docisetit wbe.re its jiredwewwir bud been, then waid to bis vlcttm Had f a roe and a iiangmun with vie yenj wtKild nd your UTc on yondor .reo. "ben first t leAnrvnd your ciharacter j'tnt were hi anise Unfrw from my swsnfl: a ncmwnt bn yau stood in iofijwrdF from any tmkIoIk; beware our third tneeth:.. r if rou cross jriy th ag'ita I sni trunglo ywu wtb my naked bands, if weed Je." re Oowrry aade na rejily. He resBacd tbat ttiis was Jot a ttme fr cmtrwwry. A stamfting maa woll arwred bas muirWent SkdrajrttssKS over an nwr ru amd n tbe fnwnt, and mm tbtmsiit f tbis caac to tbe snkad f tbe peerws wictw, mew that his anger whs cooling. He felt that it was rather undignified to threaten a helpless adversary, and If be were a traitor to the king, let the king deal with him. So whistling to bis iww, be n bis back and rode to BnnbuiT "tower oe than he bad traversed the awf raad soma minutes befor. The hostlt made rnevmis jireterme tbat he had bwea ail bot iwardwred by bis tall, and Armstrong tTcamined tabs snttiute'ly., as he wmM aave done wtli a favorite horse, pnnncusiatag bhn te tbe wnrse fur his tumilmg. but rather Die betl-er, as be was now more snupi-l1 lbaa be bod boon for ycann. He rwarfled tbe man luvlxdib", nevertbelewn, nd ETe bim tbe meoeipt JT a llnlmrnt cod for man asd beast, should after ootn plications eiusne. "I Iiok air," wbmd tbe man, '"that you did not treat the pent3ejna,n you were in such haste to newt as rouehly aa you did me." "Very much tbe sasne., jrted Arsatreg, with a aajsgb. ut tm re te beitter nT, because I teft bim oeitbar erold nor snedi clne, tafeiac Cram fatal ratber tban bestow ing." "Ah, as tbat your casae?" wbiapend the hostler, a gTlnt of arhrrrratlmi ttgtrtmr trp his eyes. "Dang me if I did not take thee for a gentleman of the road when I first clapped eyes on thee. Be sure I'll say naught, for I'y-e cut a purse myself In youmgor days. Those times were better than sew, There's too many soldiers and too few igentlemen with fat purses traveling the roaoH nowadays, lor our traae. Aain William laughed and shook hands with the old man, us one highwayman in a good way of busluess might condescend to another less prosperous, and the veteran hotoiur bouwted of his intimacy with a noted freebooter for the rest of his days. "Hub down my horse well while I am at breakfast," said Armstrong, and, re ceiving every assurance that the beast of so excellent a man should receive every attention, hi; wemt to the inn and there foand Frances awaiting blm. Tbe arinl was atandlug . by the window, which was low and long, with -a vaJanoe of -crimpled potte4 muslin running atbwout the lower fealf of Jt. A bench was fixed boacath the wiiulow, and on this bench the girl had rested a knoe, while her cheek was placod aguinet the diamond punes. Tbe light struok her face and Jlluminatad it strongly and eue stood so stU) that ahe seeraed to ftirm port of a tableau which might have been entitled. "Watching." On the table placed in the oenter -of tbe room braakfiiBt was aproad. It was a Jubilant man who disturbed this quiet picture by his abrupt Incoming. Tbe early .morning calltip, the excitement nf contest, the lluah of victory, all had their effects on his hearing, and be came in with the jncln of a Saxon prince, his yellow hair almost tcuichuuT the beams of the low coil ing. The two formed a striking contrast, when the embodiment of dejection. There was a new fnrtiveness In the brief glance she cast upon him. and niter her first sUtrtled cognisance, she looked be.yond him, on either side of Jilm, over bis bead or at his feet, but never turned her eyes full upon 1dm as of yore. "Ah. my girl," he cried, "you have not slejit well. I fan see that at once. This will never do; never do at all. But you are certainly looking better this mornlnir than yoii flirt last night. Is that not so?" "Ton are looking very well," she said, a roMlng his question. "ffli. TVp bnrt a morning gtillop already" Wlmt: With the ride to Scotland still hTore yon. Js not a -merciful man merciful to Ms horse? Mo should tre; nrt I may say this Tor Bmee. h enioj-rd tbe rifle quite as much ns T did. And now. I am ravenous for lwerHt. and eiiger for tbe Toad again." He InMefl mtle bandbcTl that rested on the table. -"We bare another splendid flay for ft. The -sunrise this wiorntrrg was positively lnsirh-bK. Conn twss. and sit yon flown. We must set 1n msei hack Into tbnse rie'Vs and T fblrtk Tbe rifle to day wH o tt for we w1fl beterr1ng tbe ntotb, and ja are jost 11k vne, yev -arm yearning for the northland', where all the men are brave and all the women fair." "Fair and false, perhaps you would add. That was your phrase, 1 think." William iaturtxid heartily, krawbtc in Kis chair. "Yes, about our ftluurts, wt abfwt ur ladies. Tbey are ver loal and true.. Amd Indeed many of Vtn?m are -dark sa weB as fair, iud tb'y are tbe best. liai-k bair, fair face anfl a loyal heart; tlxre a com bination o cherish, when Ood is fitoC to a man and allows bhn to meet it." The servant bad now auswetird tbe timk llr.g belt aid rrunres -as too ttwy uctin the ho-.isewlfe to make any oorn-roent tin iris enthusiastic demt'lptiim f What was to ie found In the north. Mer jtuie -bek red dened us he ;oke, and he tfk this for a promlslnc siyn. fhe w ounvinced tlint he had as yet no kiu-3odge nf bis loss, and wondernd a-b( n aud a bere sucb knoa-edge would clime to him. Kite boped tbe nn:bt en merit would tie delayed until tbey wore ner the Scottish line, r .aiiruss . Tbnn she must toll blm tbr trulh at whatever cost to bfTsef, and jeruufk' btm. If he could, nt to return. Wbi sbe snade bnr ronfcsMium she would be a foedtlen te relate nil Ortitnwe.il bad said t her; sbow blm that tbe sfowraJ bad mvttn Wts which Wf-ulrt block any ttackwarfl more and reveal his determination to hang the Scot, should he entangle himself further with Kngllsh politics. Yet she had the frv( 4lwultB Lhat tieae iluMfirT would lnfiuonoe bim. Rhe knew him woll enou.itb to be aware tbat iris own personal safity weigbed bat ligbfy with tdra, and tbe very opposition would .determine him to try ooa luslons wlt.b it, vnaliaMlied by tbe (ir whehning odds affu-itirt Mm. Tliose rofletrtions troubled ber -nntil the time th-- were on their horses one tnimi, when ArrmstTtnig inlrruptod tbean by crj--itrz out: "WiMmes Old aohn?" "I sent iilra on abend long since. replied Frances. 'Good. We shall soon overtake bitn. Oood-iy, 7lrote," he -orled to the grinning honUcr. "May I meet you -on the road nert time whh a thousand pounds on you, and Iff you wblaper "Banbury" to me I win not Jtf a penny if it." "Good luck to you and your lair lady, ir," replied tbe onriched H man raising bis cap in salute. He wished more trav ellers Site the brawny Boot came tbat way. -Wfej- 4a you call the MHir maa a iateT' asked Frances. "Oh, we're comrades," laughed Arm strong. "He thinks me a capable, prompt and energetic highwayman, and admitted on the quiet that he had cut a pa rue him self upon occasion in the days of his youth." "And why does he th'uk you are a high wayman?" ".Ah, that would be telling. Suppose it is because I escort the fairest lady In the land? .The sex has ever favored the big gest rascals. No, I shall not Incriinintte myself, but shall maintain my pose of the amiable hypocrite. Here rides Will Arm strong, the honest man, If you will take his own word for it. But the hostler knew better. He sees secret comings and going ) and draws bis sage conclusions. Banbury! Oh, Lord, I shall never forget Banburyl It is a place of mystery, the keeper of dark secrets and sudden rides, of midnight theft and of treacheiy. Ask the Broughton road, where -Cromwell lies, to -rvmeal what It knows. Tliti.gs happen along vtaat track which the king knows nothing f, snd h'.s royal signature takes journeys thai, be never cintnted upwn." "Heaven's pltyl What do you mean?" moaned the girl, whitening to tbe Hps. He laughed Joyously, but chocked blmsclf v. hen bo saw the terrifying effect of his words on bis companion. 'They were now clear of Banbury and trotting along the Coventry road. Their departure hai tnot with no opposition and they had veen not even a single aolilier. The open country lay before fhem, the turrets rtt tbe town sinking in the reuh "My foolish words have frightened yon. Forget them. I am accumulating experi ences that will interest you to heir wl.et the time comes for the telHng -of them, but of one thing 1 am assured, the good Lord stands by bis own, and he has shielded me rlnce yesterday morning broke. Come, Frances, let us gallop. That and a trutt in the LorJ will Toinedy all the ills -of man or woman." Bho wus glad of the respite and they set off at futl speed; nevertheless ber mind was sowy troubled. "Wbat did he fcnow? Wbut dM be Vnow?" beat through her br.iin In unison with the datteT tle horse's hoofs. It was not possible that chance bud brought bim thu te the very oenter of ber guilty secret. Cromwell, tneaobery, mld ntclit stculth, the 7roughton rovd, the words und phrases tartured bor. Was thht then the Tine of bis revige? TJid tn know aTl end did be purpose to keep ber Thns ta suienwe, hinting, soothing her fears, tlien reviving thom, making hor black crime the cubjeet Tf jest and laughter? Bhe cast a glance over b- wltotilder. Banbury bad disappeared; they were -atone, flying over the land. 'Tire dutfht was unbearable; slie would endure tt -no To oarer, fmpetnouy she reined her borse to a ste-nfl. "Btivp,' sire ciled, -amd aft the word ber own boras aad Brute bailed and stood. Tba young man turned with alarm to her agitated, face. 'What do you menu by yonr ttlk of Broughton and Cromwell?" Ofc. tbat Is a serart. I dkl sn tolwnal to teill ytmi wntifl nir Jearnef vn otdjt wkwn we vHid Isugli -r It fwbeir. "It ta no taagbbvc mattier. 1 mast know wbat you man." "Atl dsnrer are lauxbabte mce tb;- ars fuutt. An -Biiknown, msusi"td datigrr tbreateud me at Banbury, It b Jiow rast and dkr wJth aad he jhtkhi who plotted agaluwt me can barm me no more. Tbena are reasons why I do not winn to mentioa this penH' name. I -arr j thai, 1 may UH you siew aa wnll aa auotbor tune, if you care to listwn." "ffo I know le ptTstm?" yt. Von kntw the piTstin long be fore I did. It was a atrstm I truRted. but now know t be a t rail or and a t hicl." It was some aaaints ix'fore Frances romld sjioak, but at last sbe said very yuretiy, looking dowa at ber horse's mane: "'TVflJ me the stry, and I will till the name of tbe traef." 'tu dtn badly last t1it. tUd yos) hoar anj-Chlng?" "! I beard tbe -lck vtaike nbe bowra," '! bnard tt strike a. but !- so tncknd n flmwliress tbat I knew rr tbe ord was calling to me. If the seven Sleeiwrj wore metled Into one, I would otitslecp that one. WeU, to get on, I wus robboil In the night. It must have been at thut hour, for 1 re member dimly some sort of disturbance. But Providence stood my friend. By the merest chance, it might srem, but not by chance as I believe, I saw the creature make for Broughton. 'Ho, here's for Broughton,' cried 1, 'on the bare back of Black Bruce, and tee if my go d pistols would win back what had beeu stolen from me." Tbe Broughton roud it was, and the pistols did the business," paying this, he whisked from his pocket the king's coin mission, waving it triumphantly uloft. Her wide eyes drank In the amaiclug fight of It, slowly brimming with Uwr Utlous fi&r and then ho asknd a duplicate of the question that had bot n asked of her a few hours before. "Hid you kill Cromwell?" "Cromwell! I never saw him." "From whom then did you wrench that parchment?" "From the thief, of course. He never reached Cromwell." "O, I am going mud! Who is the LhleC who Is the thief?" "Ie Courcy, If you must know. Why does tills trivial matter so iMsturt) youT De Courcy followed us from Oxford last night, and was lodged at our bin. By some means be penetrated into my room, stole this from ma, and I mvor raisnod It until I saw him ride for Urougbttm, and not even then, to t41 the exart tratk. But I remembered that he bad seen IM place this paper in the inside pocket of my vest. In the king's own presence, and then the whole plot name te me. Before he saw BreughUm, Bruce and I were ibiwn upon him like a Highland Urxn on the low lands. My sword! You abould haw sum us! Fur a minute there was one wbtrteig of horses legs and Frenchman, like a runs show of acrobats struck by a whirl wind. If I had not been so angry I would have bad the best laugh of my life,' and the genial William threw liack bis bead and made the wood echo with his merri ment at the recoUectron. But the girl waa solier enough. "This is not the king's oommtHrdon," she said, quickly, "a but It ia" "It Is not. Have you read it?" "No, but that's soun l(me." He untied the cord aird lutifoldod tins ShnepHkin. Btie loaned eagerly forward and scanned the writing, while Armstrong rend It aloud. "Vou see," he cried, gleetilly. "Ctt onurm It 4a the ciunmissitHi. There are the names of Traqualr, and all the rest, bist as f gave thom to tbe secretary, sad there la 'Charles Hex' in the king's own hand." "It is a duplicate. Cromwell has tba original. You aevwr left De Oourcy aliva with! a a mile of Bronghton castle?" "I did that vary thing. Not an lively as I have anon liim, yet alive, nevertheless. "Then ride, ride for the north. Wa buva stood too long c.hutterlag hare." "All In good time, Francos. There Ja no more hurry limn ever tbere was; less, in deed, for It seems to me tbat Cromwell, for some reason, waDts to ouine at this by fraud and not by force. Hut now tlutt I Courcy's name la wenlluued between no, I ask you what you know against blaa more than I have told you?" "Agalust lilm? I know veryUiing ugaixst him. Would that you bad killod liim. Ha would sell Ms soul, if be bus one. lia roblK-d my dylug falber, and on tbe -day of bis death, when I was the only ane in London who did not know ha was exoauteid, TDe Courcy lured me to his ajmrtmaivts mt Whitehall under pretwice of loading to to lite king .that I might jjtaad tor mv father's life. Tbene Ue attompted to en trap nw, snapped In my haul iha sword which I bad lu4ched frcua tbe wall t defend myself, and I struck bim twice in the face, and hliudad Mm with bis awn falsa blood, and sa scajd. Judga, tben my ear whoa J aaa bun there at Oxford. " tPontlnued on Page Plfteon.)
