Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-20

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caught a glimpse Of him, arild eyed and
frantic lCith fear.
A viilagcr or two also had dropped In, and
there were two pcddlers lying half asleep
in tho corner. All these pricked up their
ears more or less at my words. But, like
most country folk, they were slow to take
in anything new or unexpected, and had
10 drink afresh and say again, Here is
bad luck to purveyors!' before any one
took it up.
Then the landlord showed he understood.
AYE, so say Il' he cried, with an oath.
''Purveyors, indeed! 1t is such as they
give tl,c queen bad name"
CIV, bless hertz quoth the monk loyal
ly.
And drown the purveyors!" farmer
exclaimed
They were hero year ago and left us
as bare as n shorn Sheep" struck in q
strapping villagcr, speaking at white
heat, but telling me no news, for this was
what had heard ut Towcester the night
before. The queen should lie warm If
she uses ali the wool they took! And the
pack horses they purveycd to carry off the
plunder-why, the packmen avoid STRAIT
ford ever since as though we had the black
death! oh, down with the purveyors, say
/! Tho first that comes this way 1 will
show the bottom of the Ouse. AVE. that
will, though hang fer it!''
Easy, easy, Tom Millerl" the host in
terposed, affecting an air CT assurance,
even while he cast an eye of trouble at his
flitches. 1T will be another ten years be-
fore they harry us again. There is Pot
ter's Puryl They never took testers
worth from Potter's Pury! No. nor from
Preston Gobion! But they will go to them
next, depend upon it!'
II hope they will. I said, with world
Of gloomy insinuation in my words. but
doubt it!''
And this time my hint was not wasted.
The landlord changed color. What are
you driving at, master:" he asked mildly,
while the others looked at me in silence
and waited for more.
what If there be one across the road
now" said, giving way to the tempta-
ton and speaking falsely-for which 1
paid dearly aftcrward. "A purveyor,
mean, unless am mistaken in him, or he
tells lies. He has come straight from the
chancellor, white wand warrant and all.
He is taking his dinner now, but he has
sent for the hundredman, SO l guess no
means business
For the hundredman?" repeated the
landlord, his brows meeting
Yes, unless am mistaken"
There was silence for a moment. Then
the man they called Tom Miller dashed
his cap on the floor, and folding his arms
deaantly looked round on his neighbors.
g He has come, has hep he roared, his face
swollen, his eyes bloodshot. Then 1 will
be as good as my word! Who will help?
Shall we sit down and be shcrn like sheep,
as we were before, SO that our children lay
on the bare stones and we pulled the
plow ourselves? Or shall we show that we
are free Englishmen and not slaves of
Frcnchmen? Shall we teach Master Pur
veyor not to trouble us again? Now, what
say you, neighbors?"
So fierce growl Of impatience and en-
ger r,ss round me as at once answered the
question. A dozen red faces glareS at me
and at one another, ana from: tie very mo-
ton and passion of the meE as they snarIed
and threatened the room seemed twice as
full as it was. Their oaths and cries Of
encouragement, not loud, but the more
dangerous for that, the fresh burst of fury
which rose as the village smith and an
other came in owl learned the news, the
menacing gesture of a score of brandished
uStS-tHese sights tnOGgn -ney tOlu Oh Inc
very effect at which I had aimed, scared
as well as pleased me. / turned red and
white and hesitated, fearing that I had
gone too far.
The thing was done, however, and, what
was more, had soon to take care of my
self. At the very moment when the hub
bub was 1t its loudest felt a chill run
down my back as met the monks eye,
| and, reading in it whimsical admiration,
read in it something BESIDES and that
was an unmistakable menace. "Clever
ladr' the eye said. Il will expose you,"
IT threatened.
I had forgotten him-or, at any rate,
that my acting would lie transparent
enough TO him holding the clew in his
hand-and his look was like the shock of
cold water to me. But il is wonderful
/ how Keen the wits grow on the grindstone
of necessity. With scarcely seconds
hesitation I drew out my only piece Of
gold, and unnoticcd by the other men,
who were busy swearing at and encourag
ing one another, disclosed morsel of it.
The monks crafty eyes glistened. I laid
my finger on my lips.
He held up two fingers
shook my head and showed an empty
palm. ! had no moro. He nodded, and
the relief that nod gave me was great.
Before had time, however. to consider
the narrowDess of my escape q movement
of the crowd-for the news had spread with
strange swiftness. and there was now .