Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-22

4 tempted there than IN Sanoon- IL as
larger town."
True" he admitted. ''But It is Just
| this Will you be able to reach Vessel: 1t
| is the getting there. That is the difficulty
| tho getting there before you are caught"
If we have a good start, why should
| we not:" urged, and urged It tho moro
persistently the more I found them OPP
posed to it. Naturally there ensued
\ warm discussion. At FIRST they all sided
against me- save, of course, Annc,' and
| she sat silent, though she was visihly agi-
| tated, as from minute to minute l or they
seemed likely to prevail. But presently,
| when grew warmer and urged again and
again tho strength of Wcscl, my own par
ty veered round. yet still with doubt and
| misgfving. The Dutchlnan shrugged his
shoulders to the end and remained upper
suaded But finally it was decided that
should have my own way. We would 60
| to Wescl.
Every one knows how a man feels when
he comes victorious out of such battle.
He begins on the instant to regret his vic
tory and to SEQ the possible evils which
may result from 1t, to repent the hot words
he has used in the strife and the (leclara-
tions he has flung broadcast. That dread
full phrase, II told you so!' rises like On
nvenging fury before his fancy, and he
quails.
I felt all this the moment the thing was
settled, but 1 was too young to back out
and withdraw my words hoped for the
best and resolved inwardly to get the
party mounted the moment We reached
Emmerich.
soon had the opportunity of proving
this resolution to DO moro easily made
than carried out About O'Clock we
reached the little town dominated, as We
saw from afar, by an ancient minister,
and prcferring not to enter it landed at
| the steps on an inn q quarter of q milo
short of the gates and marking a point
where VIC might take the road to Vessel, or,
crossing tho river, the road to Santon.
Master Lindstrom seemed we'll known,
but there were difficulties about the horses.
The German landlord listened to his story
with apparent sympathy, but no horses!
We could not understand tho tongue in
which the two talked, but the Dutchman's
! questions, quick and animated for once,
and the landlords slow replies, reminded
! mo of the foggy morning when in SIM
liar plight we had urged tho master of the
Lion Whclp to put to sea, and feared
similar result.
"Hc says he cannot get SO many horses
tonight" said Master Lindstronl, with a
long face.
"Offer him moro money!" quoth the
duchess.
"If VIC cannot have horses until the
morning we may as we'll go on in the
boat l urged.
"Hc says, too, that tho water is out on
the road" continued the Dutchman.
Nonsense! Double the price!'' cried
; my lady impatiently.
l suppose that this turned the scale.
The landlord finally promised that in an
hour four saddle horses for Master Bcrtie
and the duchess, Anne and myself should
DO ready, with couple of pack horses and
a guide. Master Lindstrom, his daughter
and Van Tree would start little later for
Cloves five miles on the road to Santon,
IL conveyance could be got And If not, Z"
our late host added as wo said something
about our unwill!ngness to leave him in
danger, Il shall DO safe enough in the
town, but / hope to sleep in Clevcs."
1t WAS all settled very hastily. We felt
and in particular, since my plan had
been adopted-an unreasonable impa-
tiencc to be off. As VIC stood on the bank
by the inn door we had q straight reach of
river a milo long in full view below us,
and now VIC were no longer moving our
selves, but standing still, expected each
minute to see the Spanish boat, with its
crew of desperadces, sweep round the cor
ner before our eyes. Master Lindstrom
assured us that if we were once out Of
sight our pursuers would get no informa-
ton as to the road we had taken, either
from the innkeeper or his neighbors.
There is no love lost between them and
tho Spaniards,' he said shrewdly, land l
know the people here, and they know me.
The MrShers may not be very keen to
, come to blows with the Spaniards or to re-
, sent their foray, but the latter, on their
part. will be careful not to go too far or to
make themselves obnoxious
We took the opportunity of supping
, then, not knowing when We might get
food again. happened to finish first,
and hearing the horses hoofs went out
and watched the lads who were to be our
, guides fastening the baggage on the sump-
ter beasts. gave them hand-not with
out vince or two, for the wound in my
, | chest was painful-and while doing SO had
? | a flash of remembrance. l went to the I'M
glazed window of the kitchen in which
the others sat and leaned my elbows OH
tho sill. II say!" l said, full of my dis
covery, "there is something we have for
1 gotten!''
, What" asked the duchess, rising and
. coming toward me, while the Others paused
in their meal to listen.
/ 1.-The letter to Mistress Clarence" an
swcrcd. II was going to get it when I
l was stabbed, you remember, and after
Q | ward we forgot all about it. Now it Is too
late. 1t has been left behind"
o She did not answer then, but came ont
to me and turned with mo to look at the
I horses. This comes of your foolish scru-
Piles, Master Francis!'' she said severely.
r Where was ics''
s Il slipped it between the feathers Of the
. old haversack you gave me" answered,
r (which used to have for pillow. Van
' Tree brought my things down, but over
r looked the haversack, suppose At any
4 | rate it is not here
d We'll, it is no good crying over split
r milk" she said
She called the others out then, and there
d was no mistaking Mistress Annc's pleas
g urc at escaping the Santon road She was
O radiant and vouclsafed me q very pretty
{ glance of thanks, in which her relief as
- | well ne her evratifusie chope clearly Nv