Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-09-21
MICAH CLARKE
J = BY A. Conan Doyle. = y


brace Of bottles of the old Aicant.' So
saying. he brought a pair of TASKS out
ron recess. and having seen us served
and our glasses filled. he seated himself
IN, high backed oaken chair and pre-
sided with old-fashiOned courtesy over
our feast As we supped, l explained TO
MN what our errand was, and narrated
che adventures of the night without max
ing mention of our destination
You are bound for Monmouth 5
camp. he said, quietly, when l had
| Finished. looking me full in the face with
his keen dark eyes. Il know it. but We
need not fear lest | betray you, e, IN
We're it in my power. What chance.
think We. hath the duke against the
Kings forcesY'
AS much chance as a farmyard fowl
against a spurred gamecock, did he rely
! only on those whom he hath with him. .
Saxon answered. He hath reason to
think. however, that all England is like
a powder magazine, and he hopes to be
the spark to set it alight."
The old man shook his head sadly.
The King hath great resources" he re-
marked. Where is Monmouth to get
his trained soldiersg'
There is the militia" | suggested.
And there are many of the old Par
liamentary breed who are not too far
gone to strike Il blow for their belief, -
said Saxon do You but get half a
dozen broad brimmed shuttle nosed
preachers INTO a camp, and the whole
presbytery tribe will swarm round them
like flies on a honey-pot. No recruiting
| sergeantS will ever raise such an army
as did N0llS preachers in the eastern
counties. where the promise of seat by
the throne was thought of more value
than Il ten-pound bounty. | would
could pay mine own debts with these
same promises
Il should judge from your speech, sir, =
our host observed, that you are not one
of the sectaries. How comes it, then.
that you are throwing the weight of
your sword and your experience into the
weaker scale?"
For the very reason that it is the
weaker SCALE" said the soldier of for
tune. II should gladly have gone with
my brothers to the Guinea coast and had
no say i'll the matter one way or the
other beyond delivering letters and such
| trlfes. Since L must be doing some
thing. ! choose to fight for Professionalism
and Monmouth. 1t is nothing TO me
whether James Stuart or James Walters
| sits upon the throne but the court and
army of the King are already made up.
Now, since Monmouth hath both cour-
tiers and soldiers to find it may we'll
happen that he may be glad of my serv-
ices and reward them with honorable
! preferment."
Your logic is sound" said our hoSt,
save only that you have omitted the
very great chancc which Won will incur
Of losing your head if the dukes party
| are borne down by the odds against
them"
"a man cannot throw main without
putting Il stake on the board, said
Saxon.
And you, young sir" the old man
asked, what has caused you to take 4
hand in 50 dangerous game?'
Il come of Roundhead stock, | an
swered, land my folk have always
fought for the liberty of the people and
the humbling of tyranny. l come in the
place of my father.
And you, sir?" our questioner con
| tinued, looking at Reuben.
II have come to see something of the
world and to be with my friend and
companion here" he replied.
And | have stronger reasons than any
of We" Sir Jacob cried, for appearing
in arms against any man who bears the
name of Stuart Had | not a mission
here which cannot be neglected, | might
myself be tempted to HE westward with
sc and put these gray hairs of mine
once more into the rough clasp of a steel
hcadpiece. For where now is the noble
castle of Snellaby, and where those
gades and woods amid which the Clanc-
ings have grown up. and lived and died,
ere ever Norman William set his foot
on English soil? \ man of trade-a man
who by the sweat Of his half-staryed
workers, had laid by ill-gotten wealth
is now the owner Of all that fair prop
erty. Should |, the last of the Clancings,
show my face upon it, | might be handed
over to the village beadle as a treSpasser,
or scourged off it perhaps by the bow
strings Of insolent huntsmen."
And how comes so sudden a reverse
of fortune| | asked.
Fill up your glasses" cried the old
man. suiting the action TO the word.
Here's toast for you. Perditi0n 10 all
faithless princes. How came il about.
We ask? Why, when the troubles came
upon the first Charles, | stood by him as
though he had been mine own brother.
At Edgehill, at Naseby, in twenty Skin
miShes and battles / fought stoutly in his
cause, maintaining a troop OF horse al
my own expense, formed from among
my own gardeners, gr0oms and attend
ants. Then the military chest ran low,
and money must be had to carry ON The
contest. My silver chargers and candle
sticks were thrown into the melting pot,
as were those of many another cavalier,
They went in metal. and they came out
as troopers and pikemen. SO we tidcd
over a few months until again the purse
was empty, and again we filled II among
us. This time it was the home farm ana
the oak trees that went. Then came
Marston Moor, and every penny and man
was needed to repair thaf great disaster.
| hiOrhed not, but gave everything. ms
boiler of soap, n prudent. I3t-cheekcG
man. had kept himself free from civil
broils. and had long had Il coyct0us eye
upon the castle 1t was his amDiuon'
poor worm. to be a gentleman, as Enough
Z nit} NI "A