The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-03-05
WHO CARRIED THE
KINGS DISPATCH?

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 1, and made
way for him.
He stopped, glancing over his shoul-
der at the horse.
Nay" says L, ''have him In, too
There is naught to SPOIL" l says. look
ing around me, 'but If there were, he
would be welcome. We are for the
king" says l, willing to make him COM
Portable on the main point.
He pulled the horse inside. When l
turned to 1t from barring the door l
saw at glance there was not another
half mile left in it. The next moment
it dropped to the floor with a sharp
groan.
"'Tis the most cursed luck" says he.
Sure, have been followed by ill 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.
1--WE can stand tilt" says 1. "Rest
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, will do it no
harm, and may do it much good"
Standing by the pan and keeping my
fingers in the draft that 1 had mixed,
SO that l 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, square fellow.
with deep chest and square shoulders.
straight as 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, 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 in him
tonight" says he, gloomily. "'Tfs my
usual Ill fortune"
He gave me a quick, curious stare.
$50 you are for the king, farmer?" he
says 'Sdeath, tits a piece of the
rarest luck that CHANGED to knock at
your door! I am at the most desperate
pass, but you are for the king, ehY"
says he, with emphasis.
Il said SO and mean so," saysI,
Tis necessary to be sure of things
II these times" says he, with a sigh of
relief, "and l 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 at York-hark
you, farmer, it's the kings own sigma
ture that foots it-anu l find myself
stopped'-his eyes wandered to the
horse-"and followed"-they turned un
easily to the door.
"Followedw said l.
GAS l said," said he, coolly enouob
'sThey 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" saws
he But where they are now, the
Lord knows"
l 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 became aware of three troopers.
They were out on the road, and each
man sat his horse In such a strict quiet
ness that you might have sworn horse
and man were of bronze or marble.
THAT he turned in here" saws one
SIS certain. Why he t ned aside Is not
so certain. But If he carries dispatches
for Rupert at York tits certain that he
must go northward along this road.
And so the question is where to stay
him in his progress"
Il know this country, every inch of
it." says the third man. Leave 1t to
me. Two miles ahead lies Marshford
common-there's no likelier spot 'twixt
here and York-as desolate waste it
is as you could wish.''
Then they talked again and the end
of it was that they backed their horses
into the coppice and waited for his COM
ing forth.
The man sat on the edge of the table,
Just as had left him. 'They are with
out" | says, turning toward the fire;
''they will wait your going forth and
then follow you to Marshford common,
where they propose to take you In the
rear"
do they SOP says he. "But come,
master farmer. are we to be outwitted
by three crop-eared roundheadsw
'Tis the kings dispatch?" says l.
His eyes fixed themselves on mine and
/ saw the white teeth shut slowly down
Oh his lip.
There is some plan in your head"
says he.
sat down on the settle. He looked at
me for a moment. and then put his
hand within his doublet and drew out
a thin packet of blue silk, and there
was writing on each side of the knot.
His finger pointed to word in the cor
ner. Come" says he, "your plan,
farmer" and he put back the packet.