The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-05-08
WHO CARRIED THE
KINGS DISPATCH?

Ere could step across the kitchen 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 lanthorn
saw his hand lifted in the act to knock
again,
I'm the kings name,' he says, with
one foot across the threshold.
"And WelcOme,' says l, and made
way for him.
He stopped, CHANGING over his Shout
der at the horse.
Nay" says I, shave him in, too.
There is naught to SPOIL" says, look
ing around me, "but if there were, he
would be welcome. We arc for the
King says |, willing to make him COM
Portable on the main point.
He pulled the horse inside. When I
turned to 1t from barring the door l
saw at a glance there was not another
half mile left in it. The next moment
1t dropped to the floor with sharp
grOan.
Ills the most cursed luck" says he.
"Sure, | have been followed by i'll for
tune--' He broke Off and looked sus-
piclously at the door and window. "You
are well protected, MASTER" he says,
turning his eyes to mine.
1--WE can stand n tilt says l. "Rcst
easy on that score.''
"a quart Of old ale made hot and
poured down it's throat" says l, as
much to myself as to him, twill do it no
harm, and may do it much good"
standing by the pan and keeping nv
fingers in the draft that 1 had mixed,
SO that could tell when the right heat
was attained, took a careful look at
the man at my side. He was of nv own
size and build-a tall, square fellow,
with deep chest and square shoulders.
straight as a pikestaff, and having a
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, dragglcd as they were,
were rich and thick as gallants 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. ""ris nv
usual i'll fortune"
lie gave me a quick curious stare.
80 you are for the king, farmer?" he
says. Sheath, it's a piece Of the
rarest luck that l CHANGED to knock at
your door! am at the most desperate
pass, but you are for the king, eh?"'
says he, with emphasis.
. Il said so and mean So" saysT
"'Tis necessary to be sure of things
In these times" says he, with a sigh of
relief, and | have that to tell Won
which would not Willingly tell to the
kings lightest enemy. Here | am" he
says, lowering his voice, carrying a
dispatch of the strictest Importance to
Rupert and Newcastle ut York-hark
you, farmer, It's the kings own sigma
tllre that foots it--anu | find myself
stopped'-his eyes wandered to the
horse-"and followed turned un-
easily to the door.
"Followedw said I.
"As | 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 I.
"Thcy were within 200 yards of me
when turned IN at your gate" saws
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 dry twig,
when became aware OF three troopers.
Ihey were out on the road, and each
\ man sat his horse in such a strict quiet
ness that You might have sworn horse
ana man We're Of bronze or marble.
That he turned in here" says one,
us certain. Why he t,.rncd aside is not,
so certain. But If he carries dispatches
for Rupert at York It's certain that he
must so northward along this road.
And so the question is where to stay
him In his progress
[ know this country, every inch of
says the third man. Leave it to
Two miles ahead lies MarshfOrd
on-there's no likelier spot 'twiXt
nd York-as desolate a waste it
could WISH
'ey talked again and the end