The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-30
CHAPTER Y
lfY ADVENTURE AT TIE THREE CUPS"

CHAPTER V.
lfY ADVENTURE AT TIE THREE CUPS.n
Secure Of pursuit, and full of delight in the
mares easy notion, must have Travelled a
good SIX miles before the moon rose. In the
frosty sky her rays sperkled cheerfully, and
by them l saw on the holsters the silver demi
bear that knew to be the crest of the Kill
CREWS, having the fellow to it engraved on
my sword hilt So now l was certain twas
M69uy that / bestrode, and took occasion of
the light to explore the holsters and saddle
dap.
Poor Anthony's pistols were gone-filched,
20 doubt, by the captain; but you may guess
ny satisfaction when, on thrusting my hand
Ieeper, touched heap Of coins, and found
,sem to be gold.
'Twes certainly a rare bargain had driven
with Capt. Settle For the five or six gold
pieces l scattered on the road. had won
close on thirty guineas, as l counted in the
Lot TO speak Of this Incompatible
Jolly. And l began to whistle gleefuIly,
nd taste the joke over again and laugh to
Lyself, as we cantered along with the north
s. Eind at our backs
Il All the same, | had no relish for riding
St@Ls till morning. For the night was chill
enough to search my very bones after the
heat of the late Callop; and, moreover, ]
knew nothing Of the road, which at this hour
was quite deserted. So that, coming at
length TO tall Hill with a black ridge Of
pine wood standing up against the moon like
ish lin, | was glad enough 10 note below it,
ard at some distance from toe trees win
dow brightly lit, and pushed forward in hope
o. entertainment.
The building was an inn, though a sorry
one. Nor. save for the E1htcd window, did
1t wear any grace OF hospitality. bat thrust
OFT bare shoulder upon the road, and sign
that creaked overhead and looked for all the
world ike gallows. Round this shoulder
of the house and into the main ward that
Turned churlishly towards the hillside, the
wind howled like beast IL pain. | climbed
of Molly, and, pressing my hat down on my
head, struck loud rat-tat on the door.
Curiousiy, it opened at once. and / saw
couple Of men in the lighted passage.
Heard the mares heels on the road, Cap
Hiilol What in the iend's name Is this?'
,S2id I, "If you are ne that keeps this house,
want two things Of you-first, a civil
tongue, and next bed
s'Ye1l get neither, then"
FYour sign says that you keep an INN
"Ay-tEe Three Cups; but we're full"
Your manner Of speech proves that to be .
a lie"
liked the fellows voice so little that It's
odds ! would have remounted Molly and rid .
den away; but at this instant there foated .
down the stairs and out through the drink
smelling passage a sound that made me jump.
Twas girls voice singing:
Hey nonni- nouni-nol
Men are fools that wish to die!
lS'C not fine 10 laugh and sing
When the bells of death do ring"
There was no doubt upon ii. The voice be-
longed TO the young gentlewoman l had met
at Hungerford l turned sharply towards
the landlord, and was met by another sur
prise. The second man, that till now had
stood well back in the shadow, was peering
forward, and devouriug Molly with his gaze
Twas hard to read his features, but then and
there / would have wagcred my life he was
no other than Luke Settles comrade, Black
Dick
My mind was made up ''I'Il not ride
step farther tonight, said |.
Then bide there and freeze, g" answered the
landlord
He was for slamming the door in my face,
when the other caught him by the arm, and.
pulling him a little back, whispered a word
Or two. guessed what this meant, but re-
solved not TO draw back; and presently the
landlords voice began again, betwixt surly
and polite:
Have ye too high stomach to lie on
straw"
"Ohor thought I to myself, then am to
DO kept for the mares sake, but not admitted
20 the house. and said aloud that could put
lp with straw bed
Because there's the stable loft at your
ervIce. As ye hear land in fact the singing
Till went on. only now ! heard a mans voice
dining in tbs catch, ''our house Is full OF
company. But straw Is clean bedding, and
he mare I'll help to put in stall"
Agreed l said, ION one condition-that
-ou send out a maid to me with a cup OF
nulled sack; for this cold eats me alive"
To this he consented, and, stepping back
nto q side room with the other fellow. re-
urned in n minute alone and carrying Ian
ern, which, in spite of the moon, was need
d to guide a stranger across that ruinous
ard. The fare, as we picked our way along,
Eli for a moment on an open cart shed, and,
'ithin, on the gilt panels of a coach that l !
In the stable that stood at the far end of
he court | was surprised to find half dozen
orseS standing, ready saddled and munching
heir ill of oats. They were unGroomed, and
ne or two in lather of sweat that on such
night was hard TO account for. But | asked
0 questions, and my companion vouchsafed
o talk, though twice caught him regarding
lie curiously IS 1 unbridled the mare in the
My vacant stall. Not word passed as he :
'ok the lantern OF the peg again and led the
ay up aramshackle ladder TO the loft above
e was = fat, numbering fellow, and made O
lie old timbers c,eak. At the top he sat {
own the light and pointed TO heap of straw Y
the corner.
lyons your bed he growled, and before b
could answer was picking his way down the
oder again.
l looked about, a1d shivered. The caves of Il
y bed chamber we're scarce on speaking h
rms with the walls, and through a score OF h
-annles az least the wind poured and wills +
Ell, 50 that after shifting my truss of straw L
dozen times / found myself still the center
whirl Of draughu The candle flame
70, was p2ted this way and that inside the
1In sheath l was losing patience when ..
card footsteps below; the ladder reaked. 4
I'd the red hair and broad shoulders of q
lambermaid rose into view She carried a u
canning mug IN her hand. and muttered all
lie while in no very choice talk. &,
The wench had a kind face, though, end
ar Of eyes that did her more credit than her
ugue.
And what's 10 be my reward for this, l
ant to LnowF she painted OUT, resting her
# palm on her hip
"Why,a groat or two" sad l. '.when it
OneS TO the reckoning"
'Lnd" she cried, what dull young
an." n
"DullT7
''Ay-to make me ask for kiss in so many