The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-06-19
HERES FOR YORK. 8

Ere could step across the kitch-
en- to unbar the door the knock
came again, sharp and hard, as
though the man without were in no
mood for delay. lifted the latch
and threw wide the door and in the
light of the lantern saw his hand
lifted in act to knock again.
"In the kings name'' says he,
with one foot across the threshold.
"And welcome" says I, and made
way for him.
He stopped, glancing over his
shoulder at the horse.
May" says I, "have him in too.
There is naught to spoil" /" says,
looking round me, "but if there
were he were welcome. We are for
the king" says I, willing to make
him comfortable on the main point.
He pulled the horse inside. When
I turned to it from barring the door,
I saw with a glance that there was
not another half mile left in it. The
next moment it had dropped to the
floor, with a sharp groan.
" 'Tis the most cursed luck" says
he. "Sure, have been followed by
i'll .fortune"-- He broke off and
looked suspiciously at the door and
window. "You are well protected,
master" he says, turning his eyes
to mine.
"We can stand a tilt" says L.
"Rest easy on that score"
"a quart of old ale made hot and
poured down it's throat" says I 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 I had
mixed SO that / could tell when
the right heat was attained, took
careful look at the man at my
side. He was of my own size and
build-a tall, spare fellow, with q
deep chest and square shoulders,
straight as pikestaff and having q
certain stern look about his mouth
and eyes. His uniform was very
plain, but there were jewels in the
hilt of his sword, and the feathers
that dropped from his hat, draggled
as they were, were rich and thick
as gallant's should be.
Between us we poured the ale
down the poor beasts throat.
"There's naught to hope for il
him tonight" says he gloomily
} ""Tis my usual i'll fortune
He gave me quick, curious stare
$50 you are for the king, farm
err" he says. 'Sdeath, tits piece
of the rarest luck that I CHANGED te
knock at your door. am at the
) most desperate pass, but you are fol
5 the king, eh9" says he with empha
) sis.
5 II said SO and mean SO, !" says I.
/" 'Tis necessary to be sure o.
things in these times" says he
with a sigh of relief, land 1 hav,
that to tell you which l would no
willingly tell to the kings lghtes
: enemy. Here / am, !" he says, low
! ering his voice, carrying dispatcl
3 : of the strictest Importance to Ru
o pert and Newcastle at York. Harl
9 you, farmer, tits the kings owl
8 signature that foots it, and l flint
0 myself stopped his eyes wander
0 ed to the horse" land followed
0 They turned uneasily to the door.
3 Followed saysI
. "As said, says he coolly enough
q q "They have been at my heels TO
the last ten miles. Three of then
there are, and all well mounted
g Plague take them"
"They are without, then" +" says
S "They were within 200 yards 0
{ me when turned in at your gate,
Il says he. "But where they are nov
/ the Lord knows.
= l opened the shutter of the hate
and got out into the little garth be
tween the great ash and the hedge
row, taking good heed not to crac
: even a dry twig, when l becam
aware of the three troopers.
K They were out on the road, an
e each man sat his horse in such
strict quietness that you might hav
sworn horse and man were {
II bronze or marble.
THAT he turned in here" say
one, ''is certain. Why he turne
aside Is not SO certain. But if b
carries dispatches for Rupert 1
York it's certain that he must G
northward and along this roa'
And so the question is where
stay him in his progress. +"
Il know this country, every inc
of it, " says the third man. LEA,
it to me. Two miles ahead lii
Marshford common-there's no lik
lier spot 'twixt here and York;