Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-11

your peace. If Master Bertie will not raiso his mon to savo his own skin, ho will 1 hardly do it for ours. Now, Sir Richard Bray being taken, what Is to be done, my lads? Come, let us look to that"
 So tho storm blew over. But it was with heavy hearts that two of us fell to l tho discussion which followed, counting over weapons and assigning posts and de- | batting this ono's fidelity and that ones lukowarmness. Our first impressions had not deceived us. Tho plot was desperate, and those engaged in 1t werc wanting in l every element which should command | successful information, forcthought, ar | rangCmCnt-evcryt thing save sheer audac- | ity. When, after prolonged and misor- able sitting, 1t was proposed that all should takC tho oath of association on tho 1 gospels, Master Bortio and I assentcd | gloomily. It would make our position no worse for already we wcrc fully commit ted. The position was indeed bad enough. Wo had only persuaded tho others to u l short delay, and even this meant that we must remain in hiding in England, OK posed from day to day to all the chances | of dotCCtion and trCachery.
 | Sir Thomas brought out from some sc l crot place about him tiny roll of paper l wrapped in a quill, and while We stood about him looking over his shoulders hc laboriously added letter by letter, thrce or four names The stern, anxious faces | which pccrcd tho while at the document or scanned each other only to find their anx- | iCty reflected, tho flaring lights behind us, | the recklCSsncSS of some and tho distrust of others the cloaEs in which many wcro | wrapped to tho chin, and the occasional | glCam of hidden weapons, made up scene | very striking, tho moro as it was no moro l show, but some of Us saw only too dis tinctly behind it the figure of tho heads man and tEc block.
 Now" said Pcnrudduckc, who him. self, think, took a certain grim pleasure in the furmality, "bc ready to swear, gen tleIncn. in pairs us 1 call tho names Kingston nnd Matthcwson."
 | Lolling against the wall under ono of tho sconccs, looked at Master Bcrtic, ex- pccting to be called up with him. He smiled as our eyes met, and thought l with q rush of tenderness how lightly | could have dared tho worst had all my as- sociatcS been liko him. But repining camo too lato and in moment PCnrud- dockc surprised mo by calling out Crowd son and Carcy!"
 So Master Bcrtic was not to be my com- paniun! l learned aftcrward that men who wCro strangers to ono another were | pnrpoSrly associated, tho theory being that each should keep an eye upon his oath follow. went forward to tho end of thu tahlo and took tho book.
 Thcro was slight pause.
 "Crrwison" called PCnruddockc sharp ly. Did you not hear man?"
 Thcro WAS a little stir at tho farther | end of tho room, and ho camo forward, moving slowly and reluctantly. l saw that he was the man whom PcnruddockC had called back when we entered a man | of great height, though slender, and close | ly CioakCd. \ dropping gray mustacht covered his mouth, and that was almost all I made out bcforc Sir Thomas with somc sharpness, hado him uncover, He did SD with an abrupt gcsturo, and reach ing out his hand graSpcd the other end oi tho hook aS though he would take 1t from mo. His manner was so strango that looked hard at him, and he, jerking III his head with gesture of defiance, looked at Tnr, tuu, his face very pale.
 heard prnrudduckC's Voico droning tho words of the oath, but paid no at trntiun to thcm-I was busiCd with somo thing rlSr. Whrr, had I SCCn the sinister glcam in thuSc eyes hrf0rU, and that furo head high and narrow, and thoSC lean swarthy Chrrks> Where had before con fruntrd that very face which now GlarCt into luinc across tho hook! Its look wa. bold and defiant, but low down In thu check l saw a little pulSr beating furious ly, a pulse which told of anxiety, and tn, jaws, half yelled l,y the ragged mustaCho wcrr st In an iron grip. Whcrr? Ha! knew. dropped my end of the book ana stepped back.
 ,'l.uuk to the door!' cried. my voic, sounding harsh and strange in my OWL rnr>. ''l.rt no one lvlVV, dvnuunCr tha man." And raising my hand l pointrt pitllr~-ly at my oath fellow Il denuuuct him-hv ia a spy and traitor'"
 Il d spy'' the man shouted tlcrCCly with tho iirrcrncss Uf despair
 ''.Ayr, you, you! ClarcncN, or Crcwdson or whatever you call yourself, dcnounc, you! My timc has ComC!"