Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-03-19
WHO CARRIED THE
KINGS DISPATCH?

Ere l could step across the Kitchen ia
nnbai the door the knock came again.
sharp and hard, us though the man
without We're in no mood for DELAY,
lifted the latch and threw wide the
door, and in the light of the lantllorn
saw his hand lifted in the act to knock
again.
lin the kings name." he avs, with
II foot across the threshold.
And welcome," says i, and made
way for him.
He stopped, glancing over his Shout
der at the horse.
Nay" says l. "have him in, too.
There is naught to SPOIL" 1 says. look
ing around me. ''but if there were, he
would be welcome. We are for the
King. says 1. willing to make him COM
Portable Oh the main point.
He pulled the horse inside. When
turned TO it from barring the door l
saw at Il glance there was not another
half mile left in it. The next moment
1t dropped to the floor with a sharp
groan.
lis the most cursed luck" saws he.
Sure. i have been followed by ill for
tune" He broke OFF and looked s,ls-
piciously at the door and window. you
are we'll protected. MASTER" lie saws.
turning his eyes to mine.
wv can stand IL tilt" saws l. Crest
easy on that score"
"A quart OF old ale made hot and
poured down its throat.'' says /. as
much TO myself as to him. will do it no
harm. and may do it much gOod.'
Standing by the pan and keeping my
fingers in the draft that | had mixed.
SO that conid tell when the right heat
w;lS attained. took Il careful look at
the man at my side. He was of my own
size and build-a tall. square fellow.
With a deep chest and square shoulders.
straight as a pi!le>tatf. and having n
certain stern look about his mouth and
eyes. His uniform was Very plain. Int
there We're jewels in the hilt of his
sword. and til" feathers that dropped
floln MS hat. dlaggled as they were,
were rich and thick as IL %yallaut's should
Gr.
Between lis we poured the ale down
the poor beasts throat.
"Iiiere's na,lg!t to hope for in him
tonight. says he. gloolnil.y. "'I'is nv
usual ill Fortune"
He gave me IL quick. curious stare.
5 you are for the king. farmer.:' lie
says. "'Sdeati. tits a piece of the
l'alest luck that l CHANGED to knock M
your door. l am at the most desperate
pass. but sou are for the king. chg"
says lie. with emphasis.
II said SD and mean So SAWS 1.
"'Tis necessary to be sure of things
In these times" says he. with a sigh of
relief. and l have that to tell Won
which l would no Willingly tell to the
kings highest enemy. Here 1 am" he
says. lowering his voice, Carrying n
dispatch of the strictest Importance to
Rupert and Newcastle at York-hark
you. farmer. it's the kings own sigma
/, ture that foOts it-anu l find myself
stoppel"-his eyes wandered to the
horsc-'and follOwed"-they turned nm.
easily to the door.
"Followed!" said 1.
".As l said" said he. coolly enough.
''They have been at my heels for the
last ten miles; three of them there are,
and all we'll mounted, plague take
them"
"They are without, then::" says I.
"They We're within 200 yards of me
when l turned in ut your gate,' says
l lie. .'But where fhpy nro now the
Lord knows"
l opened the shutter of the hatch and
got out into the little garth between the
great ash and the hedgerow. taking
good heed not to crack even a dry twig
when became aware of three trooper
They We're III OH the road. and eacl
man sat his horse in such Il strict quiet.
ness that YOU might have sworn horse
and man were of bronze or marble.
That lie turned in here" says one
ais certain. Why he t med aside is no,
SC certain. But If he carries dispatches
for Rupert ut York it's certain that he
must go nOrthward along this road
And so the question is where to stay
him in his progress"
Il know this country. every inch OF
it." says the third man. Leave it Il
me. Two miles ahead lies Marshfori
commOn-there's no likelier spot 'twix'
here and York-as desolate a waste /
Is as you could WISH"
Then they talked again and the ent
| Of 1t was that they backed their horse,