Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07
|" S H R EW SBU R Y"
BY STANLEY j. WEYMAN.

Copyright, 1897. by Stanley J. weyman.
Written for The Evening Star
Chapter xx-Coptinued From Last
Saturdays Star.
The clock had gone midnight when. after
parting from Mary at the door OF the
house. 1 CROPPED my way upstairs to my
room. and throwing off my clothes. lay
down, not to sleep. but to revolve endlessly
and futileIy the plans We had made and
the risks we ran and the thousand issues
that might come of either. Cogitation
brought me no nearer to a knowledge of
the event, bur only heated my brain and
increased my impotence; the latter to
such a degree that with the first light 1
was up and moving, and had my trunk
packed; nor did / fail to note the strange
and almost incredible turn which now led
me to look for support in my flight to the
very person whose ominous entrance
twenty-four hours earlier had forced me TO
lay aside the thought
Long before II could by any chance be
necessary. 1 opened my door and softly
carrying out my box. placed 1t in dark
corner on the landing. After this great
interval elapsed, during which l conjured
I'D a hundred mischances. At length /
beard some one afoot opposite, and then
The stumbling treao of a porter carrying
goods down the stairs About IL VEN
tCred to peep out and learned with salts
faction that the trunk had vanished. 1t
only remained, therefore, for me to do the
same. Bestowing a last look on the little
attic which had been my home SO long,
and until lately no unhappy home. took
up my hat and cloak and having made
small stock of morey hidden in my clothes.
1 opened the door. and stealing out, stood
a minute to listen before 1 descended
/ heard nothing to alarm me, yet a
second later shrieked in alright and al
mos. sank down under the sudden grip of
hand on my shoulder. The nand was
Fergusons, who. listening, doubtless. at
my chamber door, led heard me move
toward it. and fiattened himself against
the wall beside it; and so, being in the
dark corner furthest from the staircase,
had eluded my notice. He chuckled vastly
at his own cunning and the fright he had
given me, and, rocking me to and fro,
asked me gri=nly what 1 had done with
my fine clothes and my wig.
'Ay. and that is not ALL he continued.
Il shall want to know a little more about
that matter. my friend. Ard mind you.
Mr.. Price. the truth. The truth or 1 will
wiring this tender ear of yours from your
head For the present, however, that mat
ter may wait. / shall have it when l want
it. Now 1 have other work for you. Come
into my ROOM
Il am going to the TAVERN said, des-
perately- And l hung back. ''Afterward,
Mr.. Ferguson
..'oh. to the tavern" he answered. MINI
licking me. And for what?'
My dinner 1 faltered.
He burst into a volley of oaths. and seiz-
ing me again by the shoulder, ran me into
his room. Your dinner indeed. you dirty
low-born peddler,' he cried in a fury.
no are you TO dine at taverns when the
kings business wants you? Stand you
there and listen to me, for by the God
above me, you shall never take meat or
drink again Do you see this, you cravenT p
and ne plucked out lis horrible horse pis-
tol and fourished the muzzle in my face
Mark 1t. and remember that am FergL-
son. the famous Ferguson, Ferguson the
piotter, and no little person to be thwarted
Ana now iiStea to me-"
L could have wept with rage and despai-
Knowing that with every moment this
wretch Kept me my chance of fulfilling the
appointment at Clerkenwell Gate was pass
ns. ana tnat II he detained me only one
Fan fotr longer / must be late, and, the
baggage being already dispatched, the girl
ana might be ruined. To the pistol how
ever. and his scowling. truculent. blotched
lece-that' lacking the wig, which hung On
cnalr beside him, was one degree more
ugly than its wcnt-there was no answer to
listen.
You had better" he answered. Mark
you, there is a gentleman coming to see
me, and TO his coming and to what he
says to me will have a witness. You fol-
low mey'
Yes" I said. miserably, looking round.
but In vain, for way of escape
And you are the witness You shall go
INTO that room, mark you, and you shall
De as mute as a mouse! / put this little
cupboard open. the back is thin and there
Is crack in it: set your eve to that. and
you will see him. And look you listen to
every werd. and note 1t; and keep still
Keep sun, or 1t will be the worse for you.
Mr. Pricer
Very WELL" I said. obediently, hope
spr1nging up. as thought I saw way OF
escape. And what time must be here %
You are here. and you will stay here, i"
he answered, dashing to the ground the
scarce-born plan. why. man, he may
come any minute"
still; if could go out for-for two min
utes." i persisted. II should be easier"
Go out! Go outr' he cried. interrupting
me. in a fury And dinners? And tav-
ems? And you would be easier? Dive
Know. Mr.. Price. have my doubts about
you, Ay. l haver' he continued leering at
me with his cunning eyes, and now thrust
ing his face close to mine. now drawing it
back again Are you for selling us, Won
der Mind you, if that is your thought,
two car play at that game. and I have
writing of yours. Ay. l have writing of
yours. Mr.. Price. and for twopence would
send it where 1t will hang you. So be care
full Be careful or-give me that coat"
Wishing that had the courage to strike
him III the back. praying that the next
word he said might choke him. hating him
with a dumb hatred. the blacker for its
impotence, and for the mental services he
lad made me do him. l gave him the long,
skirted. pium-colored coat to which he
pointed, and saw him clothe his lank, I'M
My figure in it. and top all with his
freshly curled wig. He babe me tie his
points and fasten on his sword; and this
being done to his liking-and he was not
very easy to please-he pulled down his
ruffies and walked 10 and fro, preening him.
self and looking hundred times more
ugly and loathsome for the fnery with
which. for the first time, 1 saw him be-
dizened.
Preparations so unusual, by awakening
my curiosity as to the visitor In whose hon.
or they were made. diverted me little
from my own troubles. to which I had done
no more than return when a knock came