Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-10

trees ana then stop suddenly. fefDapS
We shall be able to distinguish him as he
crosses the open behind u.s." We made
the experiment, but as II our follower had
OWNED the plan his footstep ceased to
sound before we had stopped our horses.
He had fallen farther behind. I'VE might
ride quickly back" Suggested, land sur
prise him."
1T would be useless" BERTHE answered.
There Is too much cover close to the road.
Let us rather tfNt on and outstrip him."
We did trot on, and what with the
tramp of our horses as they swung along
the road and the sharp passage Of the
wind by our ears we heard no more Of tho
footstcp behind. But when we presently
pulled up to breathe eur horses-or rather
within q few minutes Of our doing So
there it was behind us nearer and louder
than before I shivercd as listened, and
presently, acting on sudden impulse,
l wheeled my horse round and spurrcd
him back q dozen PAGES along the road.
Ipulled up.
There was q movement in the shadow
Of the trees on my right, and leaned for
ward, peering in that direction. Gradual
ly made out the lines Of a figure stand
ing still, as though gazing at mc-a
strange, distorted figure, crooked, short
and in some way, though no lincamcnt Of
the fscc was visible, expressive of q
strange and weird malcvolence 1t was the
witch! The witch whom I had seen in
the kitchen nt tho gatehouse. How, then,
had she come hither? How had she, old,
lame, dccrepit, kept up with us?
trcmblod as she raised her hand, and
standing otherwise motionlcss pointed Mt
me out of tho gloom. The horse under
mo was trembling, tOo-trembling violent
ly, with its cars laid back, and as she
moved its terror increased, it plunged
wildly. had to give for O moment all
my attention to 1t, and though tried in
mere revolt against the fear which felt
was overcoming me to urge it nearer my
efforts were vain. After nearly unseating
me tho beast whir;cd round, and getting,
the better of me galloped down the road
toward London.
What is it," cried Master BERTHE as I
came speedily up with him. He had rid
den slowly ON. what is the natter"
Something in tho hedge startled it,
explained, trying to soothe tho horse. II
could not clearly SEQ what it was"
"A rabbit, dare say" he remarked,
deceived by my manner.
Perhaps 1t was" answered. Some
impulse, not unnatural, led mo to say
nothing about what I had seen. was
not quito sure that my eyes had not de-
ceivcd me. l feared his ridicule, too,
though he was not very prone to ridicule.
And above all shrank from explaining
tho medley Of superstitious fear, distrust
and adherence in which held the crea-
turc who had shown SO strange knowl-
edge of my life.
o1v al ov,I
reaching without further adventure q
room wo had engaged and lay down with
none of the gallant hopes which had last
night formed the subject of our talk. Yet
VIC slept well, for depression goes better
with sleep than does the tumult of nntici.
patton, and was up early and down in
the yard looking to the horses before Lon
don was we'll awake. As I entered the
stable man lying curled up in tho straw
rolled lazily over, and shading his eyes
glanced up. Apparently he recognized
me, for he got slowly to his feet Morn
ing!" he said gruffly.
stood staring at him, wondering If /
had made a mistake.
What arc you doing hcre, my mani"
said sharply when had made certain
knew him, and that he was really the
surly hostlcr from the Gatehouse tavern
ut Highgate. why did you come heres
Why have you followed us:"
Como about your business" he an.
swered. To give you that"
I took tho note no held out to me.
From whom:" said. who sent it by
you.''
Cannot tell, ho replied, shaking his
head.
Cannot or will not?" I retorted
both" he said doggedly. But there!
II you want to know what sort Of kernel
is in a nut, you don't shake the tree, mas.
tcr-you crack the nut"
/ looked at the note he had given me-
1t was but a slip Of paper folded thrice.
Tho sender had not addressed or scaled or
fastened 1t In any way, had taken no care
either to insure its reaching its destination
or to prevent prying eyes seeing the con-
tents. II one of our associates had sent it,
no had been guilty Of tho grossest careless
ness. You arc sure 1t is for mc." said
las sure rs mortal can be" no an
swercd. only that 1t wns given me for a
man, and not a mouse! You are not
afraid, master:'
was not, but he edged away as he
spoke and looked with SO much alarm ut
the scrap OF paper that 1t was abundantly
clear he was very much afraid himself,
even while he derided me- / saw that il l
had offered to return tho note he would
have backed ont Of the stable and gone of
there and then as fast as his lame foot
would let him. This puzzled me. How
ever, read the note. There was nothing
in 1t to brighten me. Yet, as l read, the
color came into my face, for it contained
one name to which l had long been stran.
ger.
ITO Francis Cludde," it ran. IF you
would not do thing Of which you will
miscrably repent all your life, and which
will stain you in the eyes of all Christian
men, meet me two hours before noon Mt
the cross street by st. Botolph's, where
you first saw Mistress Bertram. And tell
no one. Fail not to come. In heavens
name. fail not!''
The note had nothing to do with the
conspiracy, then, on the face Of it, mys-
FERROUS as 1t was and mysteriously as it
came. Look he1er' said to the man.
''Tcll me who sent 1t, and will give you
a CROWN"
Il would not tell you." he answered
stubbornly. ''if you could make me king
Of England! No.s nor king of Spain too!
You might rack me, and you would not