Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-27

rose above the ring or brides and the
stamping OF iron hoofs, '-opcn, and that
quickly Master Hest. The watch are
here, and we must search"
waited TO hear no more. was ont of
bad and budding on my clothes and
thlIsting my feet into my boots IKE one
possessed. Ny heart vas beating as fast
IS IL had been running IN a race, and
my hands were shaking with the shock OF
the alarm. The impatient voice without
was Master Pritchard's, and it rang with
all the yengeful passion which I should
have expected that gentleman, duped,
tucked and robbed, to be feeling. There
would be little mercy TO be had at his
hands. Moreover, my cars. grown rs Keen
Tor the moment as the hunted hare's dis
tinguished the tranping Of at least half a
dozen horses, so that it was clear that he
had come with q force ut his back. Re
sistance would be useless. My sole chance
lay In eight, if flight should still be posi-
bic.
Even in my haste did not forsake the
talisman which had served me SO well,
but staid an instant to thrust 1t into my
pocket. The Guides have. fancy, a knack
Of keeping cool in emergencies, getting
indeed the cooler the greater the stress.
BY this time the inn was thoroughly
aroused. Doors were opening and shut
ting on all sides of me. and questions
were being shouted in different tones from
room TO room. In the midst of the hub
bub l heard the landlord come out, NUT
tering, and go down stairs to open the
door. Instantly Unmatched mine, slipped
through it stcalthily. sneaked q step or
two down the passage and then came
was moving rs softly as myself. The
surprise was complete, and I should have
cried out at the unexpected collision had
not the unkno laid cold hand on my
| mouth and gently pushed me back into
| my room.
Here there was now faint glimmer Of
| dawn, ard by this saw that my compan-
| ion was tho serving maid. ''Hist!'' she
said, speaking under her breath. lis 1t
| you they want?"
nodded.
Il thought co." she muttered. "Then
| you must get out through your window.
| You cannot pass them. They are dozen
or moro and armed. Quick! Knot this
about the bars. 1t is 10 great depth to the
| bottom, and tho ground is soft from the
| rain.''
She tore as she spoke tho coverlct from
| the bed. and twisting it into a kind of
| rope helped me to secure one corner Of it
about the window bar. when you are
| down. she whispered, keep along the
| wall to the right until you come to hay
| stack. Turn to the left there-you will
| have to ford the water-and you will soon
| be clear of the town. Look about you
| then, and you will see a horse track,
| which leads to Elstree, running in a line
1 -s$I~ 81 hot
| and through tho woods. At Elstree any
path to the left will take you to Barnet
| and not two miles lost
| Heaven bless you'll I said, turning
from the gloom, the dark sky and driving
| scud without to peer gratefully ut her.
| Heaven bless you for good womanP'
| "And God keep you for a bonny boy!'
she whispered.
kissed her, forcing into her hands-a
| thing tho remembrance OF which is very
| pleasant to Inc to this day-my last piece
Of gold.
A moment moro, and stood unhurt,
but almost up to my knees in mud, in an
| alley bounded on both sides as far as 1
could see by blind walls. Stopping only
to indicate by a low whistle that l was
safe, turned ana sped away as fast rs
could run in the direction which she had
/ pointed ont. There was no one abroad,
and in shorter time than had expected
l found myself outside the town, travel
ing over kind of moorland tract bounded
in the distance by woods.
Here l picked up the horse track easily
enough, and without stopping, save for a
short breathing space, hurried along it to
gain tho shelter of the trees. SO far 90
good l had reason to be thankful. But
my case was still an indifferent one. More
than once in getting out of the town
had slipped and fallen. Twas wet through
and plastered with dit owing to these
mishaps, and my clothes were in a wOeful
plight. For time excitement kept me
up, however, and made good way, warm
ed by the thought that had again baffied
the great bishop. 1t was only when the
day had come and grown on to noon, and
, l saw no sign of any pursuers, thu,
thought got the upper hand.
| Then / began to compare, with some
bitterness Of feeling, my present condition
wet. dirty and homeless-with that
which l had enjoyed only n week before
, and it needed all my courage to support
me. Skulking, half famishcd, between
, Barnet and To.tenham, often compelled
to crouch In bitches or behind walls while
travellers went by, and liable each instant
to have to leave the highway and take Il
my heels, I had leisure to feel, and die
| feel, more keenly, think, that afternoon
than at any later time, the bitterness o.
fortune. l cursed stephen Gardiner ;
, dozen times and dared not let my thought.
wander to my father. l had said that
D would build my house afresh. Well, trul,
l was building it from the foundation.
1t added yeyy, much to my misery tina
it raincd all day a cold, half frozen rain
D The whole afternoon l spent in hiding
5 shivering and shaking, in a hole under
ledge near Tottenbam, being afraid to q
/. into London before nightfall lest l SHOULD
| be waited for ut the gate and be captured
r Chilled and bedragglcd as was and wea!
Z through want of food, which dared no
' go out to beg. the terrors of capture go
/, hold of my mind and presented to Inc on
by one every horrible form Of humiliation
= the stocks, the pillory, the cart tails
e that even Master Pritchnrd, could he hav
, seen me and known my mind, might hav
. piticd RE; SO that l loathc to this day tn
s hours spent IN that foil hiding place
Q Between a mans best and worse there ]