Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-03


ny mind. However, my foot struck the
bottom before had time to digest them,
and a streak of light which seemed to
issue from under n door forced my thoughts
the next moment into a new channel
Whispering to Master Bertic to pause q
| minute, for there WIS only room Cor one
OF us to stand ut the bottom OF the shaft,
Knocked in the fashion prescribed.
The sound CT loud voices, which I had
already detected, ceased or a sudden, and
l head q shuilling Oh the other side of tho
hoaTd:. This was followed by silence and
then the door was flung open, aid blinded
for the moment BIZ a blaze of light
walked mechanically forward into room.
1 made out as 1 advanced group Of men
standing round rudc table, their figures
thrown into dark relief by flares stuck in
sconccs on the walls behind them. Some
had weapons in their hands, ard others
had partly risen from their seats and
stood in pastures of surprise. What do
you scek:' cried . threatening voice from
among them.
Lace, answered.
What lace:''
French lace
Then you are weicome-hcartily wei
GOMEZ was the answer, given in a tonc of
relief. But who comes with you?'
Master Richard BERTHE Of Lincoln
shire l answered promptly, and at that
moment lie emerged from the shaft.
y still more hearty Eiurnur Of welcome
nailed his name and appearance, and We
were borne forward TO tic table amid a
chorus OF voices, the grcetin. given to
Master BERTHE being that OF mcn who joy
fully hail unlocked for help. The room,
from its vaulted ceiling and stone floor
and the trans of casks which lag hcre and
there or ::ndr the table serving for seats
appeared To be a cellar. Its dark, gloomy
rccesses, the farinc lights and the weapons
on the table seemed meet and fitting sur
roundings for the anxious faces which
were gathered about the board, for there
was something i'll the air which was not
so much secrecy Us Il thing more unpleas-
ant--suspiciou and mistruat. Almost at
the moment Of our entrance it showed it.
self. One Of the men, before tho door had
well closed behind Us, went toward it, as
If 70 go out. The lcadcr-hc who had
questioned mo-ca!lcd sharply to- him, bid
ding him cc::c back. And he came back,
but reluctantly, as it seemed to me.
l barely nat!Ced this, FOR Master BERTHE,
who was known personally to many and
two who were apparently The loaders-Sir
Th0lLas fonrIdlockC, 4 fai: man as tall as
myself, looso .:mbed and untidily dressed,
with Il reckless eye and loud tongue:
and Master walter Kingston, a younger
brother, ! Was told, of that Sir Anthony
Kingston who lad suffered death the year
before for conspiracy against the queen
the same in which LORD Devon had showed
the white feather. Kingston was 4 young
man Of moderate height and slender, of
brown complexion and delicate, almost wo-
maniSh beauty, his sleepy dark eyes and
dainty muatachc suggesting "a temper
rather amiublo than firm. But the spirit
OF revenge lad entered into him, and
soon learned that not even peEruddoCle
ii Cornish knight OF longer lineage than
purse, was so Vchamcnt a p!ottCr or so de-
voted to the cause Looking ct the Others
my heart tank. It needed no grcatey cx-
por!enco than mine TO discCr; that, except
three or four whom l identified as stout
professors Of religion, they were men rath.
CT Of desperate fortunes than good estate
l learned On tho instant that conspiracy
makes strange bcdfcllows, and that it is
impossible to do dirty work even with the
purCst intcntions-in good companyi
Master Ber;ic's face ind Gated to one who
knew him as well rs did something OF
tho same feeling, and could the clock have
been put back awhile, and we placed with
free hands and uncoTinittcd outside tho
gatehousc, l think We should with one &C
cord have turned our backs on it and Civ
en- up an attcmpt which, in this company,
could scarcely fare any way but i'll. Still
for good or evil the die was cast now, and
retreat was Out Of the question.
We had confronted too many dangers
during the last three years not to be ablo
to face this one with good courage, and
presently Master Berthe, taking a seat, re-
qucsted To lie told OF the strength and
plans OF our associates his businesslikc
manner introducing at once some degree
Of order and method into n conference
which before CUR arrival haG-unless /
was much r:istakcn-bccn conspicucusly
lacking in both.
Our resources" Pcnrudt!ocko replied
confidently. They lie everywhere, man,
We have but TO raise the flag, and the rest
will be triEmphai march. Tho people,
sick OF burnings ana torturines and heat
ed by the loss Of Calais last January, will
flock to Us. E!cck 20 us, 10 l say: l will
answer for it they will"
But you have some engagements, soma
promises from people Of Standing
oh, yes, but the whole nation will join
us. They are weary of the present state Of
things"
They may 10 as weary of it rs you
say" Master Bcrtic answered sErowdly,
but is it equally certain that they will
risk their necks to amend il? You have
fixed upon some secure haso from which
we can act and upon which, if necessary,
we may fall lack to concentrate our
strength
Fall backf" cried Penruddocke. rising
from his scat in heat. Master BERTHE, 1
hope you have not come among US to talk
of falling hacki Let us have no talk of
that. II Wyatt had held on at once Lon
don would have heen his! 1t was falling
back ruined him.
Master Bertic shook his head. IF you
have no secure base you run the risk Of
being crushed in the first half hour" he
said When n fire is first lighted, the
breeze puts it out which afterward but
fans it,
''You will not say that when you hear
our plans. There are to be three risings
n; once. Lord Delaware will fise in the
west"
But will he" said Master Berthe
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