The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-03-09
HERES FOR YORK"

though the man without were in no
mood for delay. lifted the latch
and threw wide the door and in tho
light of the lantern saw his hand
lifted in act to knock again.
''In the kings namel' says he,
with one foot across the threshold.
"And welcome" says l, and made
way for him.
He stopped, glancing over his
shoulder at the horse.
May" says !, "have him in too
There is naught to spoil" says,
looking round mo, "Iut if there
were he were welcome. We are for
the king" says l, willing to make
him comfortable on tho main point.
He pulled the horse inside. When
/ turned to it from barring the door,
! saw with glance that there was
not another half mile left in it. The
next moment it had dropped to the
floor, with q 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.
1--WE can stand tilt" says l.
"Rest easy on that score. -
IA quart of old ale made hot and
poured down its throat, says l 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 l had
mixed go that l could tell when
the right heat was attained, took
q careful look at the man at my
side. He was of my own size and
build-a tall, spare fellow, with a
deep chest and square shoulders,
straight as pikestaff and having n
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 a gallant's should bo.
Between us we poured tho ale
down the poor beasts throat.
"Thcre's naught 10 hope for in
him tonight" says he gloomily.
"'Tis my usual i'll fortune
He gavo me quick, curious stare.
$50 you are for the king, farm
err" he says. 'sdcath, lis a piece
of the rarest luck that / chaEced to
knock at your door. / am at the
most desperate pass, but you are for
the king, eh2" says he with empha'
sis.
II said so and mean SO, says !.
TITS necessary to bo sure of
things in these times" says he,
with sigh of relief, land / have
that to tell you which l would not
willingly tell TO the kings lightest
enemy. Hero em, !" he says, low
ering his voice, carrying dispatch
of tho strjctest importance to Ru-
pert and Newcastle at York. Hark
you, farmer, it's the kings own
signature that foots it, and find
myself stopped"-his eyes wander
ed to the horse-"and followed"--
They turned uneasily to the door.
"Followed2" says /.
"As said, says 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 theml"
"They arc without, then, says l.
"They were within 200 yards of
me when turned in ut your gate, !"
says he. "But where they are now
the Lord knows. ="
Iopened the shutter of the hatch
and got out into the little garth be-
tween the great ash and the hedge
row, taking good heed not to crack
even dry twig, when became
aware Of tho three troopers.
They were out on the road, and
each man sat his horse in such a
strict quietness that you might have
sworn horse and man were of
bronze or marble. ..
"That he turned in here" says
one, sis certain. Why he turned
aside is not so certain. But if he
carries dispatches for Rupert at
York Ills certain that he must go
northward and along this road.
And so the question is where to
stay him in his progress. "
II know this country, every inch
of it," says the third man. Leave
it to me. Two miles ahead lies
Marshfoyd common-there's no like
lier spot 'twixt here and York-as
desolate a waste it is as you could
wish"
Then they talked again, and the
end of it was that they backed their
horses into the coTpico and waited
for his coming forth.
The man sat on the edge of the
table just as ! had left him. "Thoy
are without" / fays, turning to-
ward the fire. "They will wait your
going forth and then follow you to
Marshford common, where they
purpose to take you in the rear"