Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-03-17
WHO CARRIED THE
KINGS DISPATCH?

Ere COuIu SleIp dcTOSS tne kltcneu 10
unbar the door the knock came again
Sharp and hard, as though the mar
without We're in no mood for delay. !
lifted the latch and threw wide the
door, and in the light of the lanthorr
saw his hand lifted in the act to knoci
again,
I'm the kings name" he says, with
one foot across the threshold.
And welcome" says i, and made
way for him.
He stopped, glancing over his shouL
der at the horse.
Nay" says I, have him In, too.
There is naught TO spoil" i says, look
ing around me, but II there were, he
would be welcome. We are for TIE
king says |, willing TO make him COM
Portable on the main point.
He pulled the horse inside When l
turned 10 1t from barring the door
say at glance there was not another
half mile left in 1t. The next moment
II dropped to the floor with d sharp
groan.
It's the most cursed luck" says he
Sure, / have been followed by i'll for
tune" He broke off and looked sus-
piciously at the door and window. You
are well protected. MASTER" he says,
turning his eyes to mine.
We can stand u tilt" says l. Rest
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 ii no
harm, and may do it much good"
Standing by the pan and keeping my
fingers in the draft that l had mixed
80 that | could tell when the right heat
was attained, took careful look at
size and build-a tall square fellow.
with deep chest and square shoulders
straight as a pikestan, and having a
certain stern look about mis- mouth and
eyes. His uniform was very plain, but
there We're jewels in the hilt of his
sword. and the feathers that dropped
from his hat. draggled aG they were,
were rich and thick as gailants should
be
Between US we poured the ale down
the poor beasts throat.
There's naught TO hope for in him
tonight says he, gloomily. IT'S my
usual Ill fortune"
He gave me quick, curious stare.
so you are Tor the king, farmer" he
says Sdeath, tits a piece of the
rarest luck that l Glanced to knock at
your door, | am at the most desperate
pass, but you are for the king, ell 2"
says he, with emphasis.
Il said so and mean So" saysI
"'Tis necessary 70 be sure of things
in these times" says he, with a sigh of
relief. and | have that to tell YOU
which l would not Willingly tell to the
kings lightest enemy. Here | am" he
says, lowering his voice, carrying a
dispatch Of the strlctest Importance to
Rupert and Newcastle at York-hark
you, farmer, tits the kings own sigma
ture that foots it-anu | find myself
stopped''-his eyes wandered to the
horse and folIowed'-the turned un-
easily to the door.
Follower said I.
las / said" said he, coolly enough.
They have been at my heels for the
last ten miles; three of them there are.
and all well mounted, plague take
them
They are without, then?" says l.
They were within 200 yards OF me
when | turned in at your gate" says
he But where they are now, the
Lord knows"
/ 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 l became aware of three troopers.
They were out on the road, and each
man sat his horse in such a striC- quiet
ness that you might have sworn horse
and man were of bronze or marble.
That he turned in here says one,
''is certain Why he t med aside is not
90 certain. But If he carries dispatches
for Rupert at York 'tis certain that he
must go nOrthward along this road.
And so the question is where to stay
kim in his progress
II know this country, every inch OF
r." SAYS the third man. Leave 1t to
ne Two miles ahead lies Marshford
esmmon-there's no likeIier spot 'twixt
here and York-as desOlate waste it
is as you could wish
Then they talked again and the end
- Il ,vas that they hacked their horses
into the coppicc aud waited for his COM
ing forth.
The man sat on the edge OF the table,
Just as / had left him. They nre with
out" l says. turning toward the fire;
they will wait your going forth and