Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-09-30

might have arrived, d1u NOT teno 70 SlvO
me assurance. poked my head timidly
into the great room, hoping that might
have it to myself. TO my disgust it was
fun of people. Half a dozen travellers and
as many townsfolk we're sitting round the
fire, talking briskly over their draft Yet
/ had no choice I was hungry, and the
thing had to BIO done, and 1 swaggered In,
something of the sneak no doubt peeping
through my bravado. / remarked, as
took my scat by the fire and set to drying
myself, that / was greeted by a momen-
tary silence, and that two or three of the
company began to eye me suspiciously.
There was one man, who sat on the set.
tie In the yyarmest corner of the chimney,
vino seemed in particular to resent my
damp neighborhood. His companions
treated him with SO much reverence, and
he snubbed thcm so regularly, that Won
dered who he WINS, and presently, listen
ing to the conversation which went on
round me, had my curiosity satisfied.
He WINS no less n parsonage than the hailif
OF St. Albans, and his manner befitted
such man, for it seemed to indicate that
he Thought himself heir to all the powers
of the old abhots under whose broad
thumb his father and grandfather had
groaned
My conscience pricking me, ! felt some
misg.ving when I saw him, nfter staring
at mo and Whispering to two or three OF
his neighbors, bcckon the landlord aside
His big round face and burly figure gave
him general likeness to bluff King Hal,
and he appeared to be aware Of this him
self and to be inclined to ape the stout
kings ways, which, have heard my un-
Gle say, were ever ways heavy for others
toes. For awhile, however, seeing my
supper come In, forgot him. The bare
armed girl who brought 1t to me and in
whom my dragged condition seemed to
provoke feelings of different nature lug
ped up O round table to the fire. On this
she laid my meal, not scrupling to set
aside some OF the snug dry townsfolk.
Then she set chair for me we'll In the
blaze, and folding her arms in her apron
stood to watch me fall to. did so with o
will, and with each mouthful Of beef and
draft of ole spirit and strength came back
to me. The cts round me might sneer
and shake their heads and the travellers
smile at my appetite. In five minutes I
cared not q whit. could give them back
ioke for Joke and laugh with the best of
them.
Indeed I had clean forgotten tho bailif
when he stalked back to his place. But
the moment our eyes met guessed there
was trouble afoot The landlord ca.ne
with him and stood looking OF mo, send
ing Oh the wench with q fiea in her ear,
and I felt under his eye an uncomfortable
consciousness that my purse was empty.
Two or three late arrivals, to whom sup
pose master bailiff had conf1ded his suspi-
cions, took their stand also In a half cir
ole and scanned me queerly. Altogether 1t
struck me suddenly that was In tight
place and had need OF my wits.
..Aheml'' said the bailif abruptly, talk
ing skillful advantage Of lull in the talk.
where from last, young mani" He spoke
in deep, choky voice. and II ! was not
mistaken he winked one Of his small eyes
in the direction of his friends, as though
to say, Now see me pose him
But only put another morsel IN my
mouth. For moment indeed the tempta-
ton to reply sTowcester. " seeing that
such o journey over middling road was
something to brag Of before the highway
law came in, almost oyercame me. But
in time bethought mo of Stephen Gar
diners maxim, Be slow to speak r. and
/ put another morsel in my mouth.
The bniliff's face grow red. or rather
redder. Come, young man did you hear
me speak, he said pompously. Where
from last"
From the road, sir, I" I replied, turning
to him as II had not heard him before.
..And very wet road it WAS.
A man who sat next me chuckled, being
apparently q stranger like myself. But the
SbailifY pulled himself into still moro
striking likeness to King Henry, and In
GLIDING him in his scowl shouted at me:
"Sirrah, don't handy words with me
Which way did you come along the road,
Iasked.
1t was on the tip OF my tongue to an
swer saucily, 1.-The right wayl" But I re-
flected that might DO stopped, and to be
stopped might mean to be hanged at worst,
and somthing very unpleasant at best So
l controlled myself and answered, though
the mans arrogance was provoking
enough: ~ have come from Stratford,
and / am going to London. Now you
know as much as do.
..Do l?n he said, with sneer and q
wink at the landlord.
Eyes, / think SO. answered patiently.
well, don'ti" he retorted in vulgar
triumph. II don't. 1t is my opinion that
you have come from London.
went on with my supper
...Do you heari" he asked pompously,
sticking his arms akimbo and looking
round for sympathy. You will have to
give IN account Of yourself, young man.
We will hnve no penniless rogues and
sturdy vagabcnds wandering about st. Al
bans"
..Penniless rogues do not go a-horse-
back, /" answered But it was wonderful
how my spirits sank again under that
word .tpenniless. 1t hit me hard
wait bit, he said, raising his finger
to command attention for his next ques-
ton. what is your religion, young
mani"
"Oh," I replied, putting down my
knife and looking open scorn at him, you
arc an inquisitor, are your" AT which
words of mine there was kind of stir.
"You would burn mo as hear they
burned Master Sandars at Coventry last
week, would your They were talking
about 1t down tho road.
you will como to q bad end, young
man!'' no retorted vioiously, his out
stretched finger shaking as II the palsy
had seized him. for this time my taunt
had gone homo, and moro than one OF the
listeners standing on the outer edge OF the
group, and so beyond his ken, had NUT
tered shame More than one face had
grown dark. s"You will como to bad
end, ]" he repealed. II 1t be not here, then
somewhere else. 1t is my opinion that
you have como from London and that you
have been in trouble. There is hue and
crv ort for a yonno fellow inst yo,lr age.