Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-02

The footsteps still descended 1 heard an
aged voice muttering;
.'Shrirel my bones-ughl ughI Wintry
work-wintry work. Here's an hour to send
a grandfatherly man a-groping for key o
powder!'
4 wheezy cough closed the sentence, as a
KEY WIS with dificulty fitted in the lock.
ugh! ugh! Sure, the lock an be pair,
for stiff joints"
The door creaked back against me, and q
shaft Of light pierced the darkness.
Within the threshold, with his back to me,
stood gray bearded servant, and tottered
so that the lantern shook in his hand. 1t
shamed me to lift pike against one so weak.
Instead, l dropped it with a clatter and
Ieaped forward The old fellow jumped like
boy, turned and faced me with dropped
jaw, which gave me an opportunity to thrust
| four or five bullets, not over roughly, into
his mouth Then, having turned him on his
back, strapped Delia's kerchief tight across
his mouth and took the lantern from his
hand
Not word was said. Sure, the poor old
mans wits were shaken, for he lay meek as
mouse, and stared up at me while l unstrapped
his belt and bound his feet with it. His hands
| trussed up behind him with his own neck
cloth; and, catching up the lantern, left him
there. Hooked the door after me, and slipped
the key into my pocket as l sprang up the
stairs beyond
But here a light was shining, so once more
| [ sxtinguished nv lantern The steps ended
in a long passage, with handsome lamp
hanging at the uttermoSt end, and beneath
this lamp stepped into place that filled me
with establishment
| I ,of Iovrht fla hall
Of the governors house. An oak door, very
| massive, fronted me; to left and right were
two smaller doors that plainly led into apart
ments of the house. Also to my left, and
higher than the door on that side, ran up a
broad staircase, carpeted and brightly lit all
| the way, so that q very blaze fell on me as l
stood Under the first flight, close to my left
shoulder, was a line of pegs with many cloaks
and hats depending therefrom. Underfoot,
remember, the hall was richly tiled in squares
of red and white marble.
Now, clearly, this was a certain place
wherein to be caught But thought /,
''behind one of the two doors, to left or to
right, must lie the governors room of bust
ness; and in that room-as likely as MOTHS
| KEYS" Which door, then, should choosei
| For to stay here was madness.
While l stood bordering, the doubt was
answered for me. From behind the right
/ hand door came a burst of laughter and
clinking of glasses, on top of which mans
voice-the voice of Col. Essex-called out for
more wine.
took a step to the door on the left, paused
for a second OF two with my hand on the
latch, and then cautiously pushed it open.
The chamber was empty.
Twas long room, with light burning
on a square center table, and around it a
mass of books, loose papers and documents
strewn, seemingly without order. The floor,
| too, was Uttered with them Clear this was
the colonel's Office.
gave a rapid glance around The lamps
rays scarce illumined the far corners; but in
| one of these stood great leathern screen,
and over a fireplace near it a rack was hang
| ing, full of swords, pistols and walking
canes. Stepping towards it, caught sight of
Anthony's sword, suspended there amongst
the rest (they had taken it from me on the day
of my examination, which now took down
| and strapped at my side then chose out
pistol or two, slipped them into my sash and
advanced to the center table.
Under the lamp lay his majesty's letter,
open.
My hand was stretched out to catch it Up,
and the sound of mems voices They were
coming towards the office.
There was scarce time to slip lack and hide
behind the screen before the door latch was
lifted and two men entered, laughing yet.
Business, my lord-busiHess," said the
first ctwas Col Essexl; Il have much to do
tonight"
'Sure," the other answered, Il thought
We had settled it. You are TO lend me
thousand out Of Your garriSon"-
(which on my Own part | would willingly
do. Only l beg you to consider, my lord,
that my position here hangs OH a thread.
The extreme men are already against me.
They talk of replacing me by Fiennes"-
NAT Fiennes is no soldier"
mo; but he's bigot-a stronger recon-
mendation Should this plan miscarry and
lose a thousand mcn"-
Heavens alive, mani 1t cannot miscarry.
Hank ye; there's Euthen of Plymouth will
take the south road with all his forces. A
days march behind shall follow-along
roads to northward-parallelf for n way, but
afterwards converS.ly. The Cornislmen are
all in Bodmin. We shall come on them with
double their nuaber-ay, almost treble.
Can you doubt the issue!'
Scarcely, with the Earl of Stamford for
general"
The earl was too Tar occupied to notice this
compliment.
"'Twill be swift and secret" he said, 'as
Death himself-and sure. Let the fact
that Hopton is all at skies and sevens since
the marquis shipped for Wales, and at dag
gers drawn with Mohun."
Said the colonel slowly, "Ay, the notion
is good enough. Were not in this corner,
would not think twice. Listen now: only
this morning they forced me to order a young
mans hanging, who might if kept alive be
forced in time to give US news Of value. l
dared not refuse"
He that you caught with the kings let
terri
"Ay-a trumpery miSSive, dealing with
naught but summonlng of the sheriff's posse
and the like. There is more behind, could
we but wait to get at it."
1.-THE gallows may loosen his tongue. And
how of the girl that was taken tooln
81 have her in safe keeping. This very
evening shall visit her and make another
trial to get some speech. Which puts me in
mind
The colonel tinkled small hand bell that
lay on the table.
The pause that followed was broken by the
earl
"May see that letterF'
The colonel handed it, and tinkled the bell
again, more impstiantly a. length steps
were heard in the hall, and a servant opened
the door,
"Where is GilesFn asked the colonel. "Why
are you taking his placel"
ssGiles can't he fb1nd vour honor