The times., 1901-06-23

MacGregor to follow me down the street
in the opposite direction. Arrived at the
house abutting on the mill we Knocked
at the street door, claimed audience of the
master and we were ushered forwith into
the chamber. where he sat drinking a
mug of old October. ] hastened to him, a
world of anxiety in my demeanor.
Sir" said /, you have strange COM
pany under your roof today"
What say you. young man?' he an
swered, glancing from one to the other
of us stolidly.
My friend and / are in dire peril l
went on; I'VE asked in the village where
lived the honest man in it. and were sent
to you Can you keep a secret, miiler?'
"As well as most men"
''Ay, 1 would swear you could. Well,
then, our need is urgent, and it is no time
for mincing words. My friend here Isl
! lowered my voice-'who, think YEP
Nay. how should 1 tell? BY his petit
! coats. l warrant he's one of the Scots that
are marching close by here, they say.
Come, my masters, is it a jest ye play on
me?"
| Yes, the jest of life and DEATH an
| swered grimly. The Scotch are beaten,
and their leader has sought flight with
the miller of Newcastle-get to your feet
and bow, man, for this is no less than
Prince Charlie who has come TO honor
| your poor roof.
The miller was a hard man to move, 1t
! seemed; vet even he got up from his chair
| as the name passed his lips. He stood
| regarding Archie attentively. then: Il
| had heard tell he was a handsome lad to
| look at" said he, with evident disappotnt-
/ laughed out of all moderation, so
| quantity it WAS said. and so honestly
! 1T is plain speaking, that, | said; and
! plain speaking leads us to expect plain
/ dealing from you, miller"
| "Ay, it was plain eneuch, muttered
Archie ruefuliy.
Wen, sirs, what do you want of me?"
| asked our host.
Just this The troops are up and after
| the Prince here. and he must hide tlll
nightfall. WIN you give him shelter
| The miller pondered and the miller
| frowne1. and not for a full five minutes
would ne venture yes or no" Then,
| LAY, I'll do it," he said
! Seeing his mind was fixed I thought
| that it would do no harm to carry the
mummery a little further. Think well
| / urged him; lit is hanging matter, as
you know. if King Georges troopers catch
fiTve said my say He can hide here If
! he win" said the miller stubbornly.
Good. They said well. miller, when
| they told me you were passing honest.
! II will not forget your honesty. sir,
when [ come to my own again. put in
| MacGregor with such admirable mimicry
! of the Princes manner-nay, OF his very
| wCrds-that ! was fain to look out OF the
window for awhile and smile my fill.
| When ] next turned about l saw that
| comeIy lass had stepped into the room,
| and that she stood regarding MacGreSor
and myself with interest and surprise. IT
was the maid we had seen standing at the
! street door earlier in the day. and / was
/ struck for the second time with the fresh
| ness of her beauty and the modest way
| in which she wore 1t. Indeed. / began 70
be sorry that l had given MacGresor SO
| fair part to play in What was next TO
happen. -. .,s
| bowling first to the maid and then to the
dusty miller. Il guessed as much, ana l
am glad that she has ctme, for his High
ness here had never anything TO fear from
women
| wisdom of such frankness, but MacGreg-
or taking his cue from me, insisted on
| her knowing all his secret; and the girl
| went white and pink by turns as she
Your Highness," said. bowling low to
! Archie al must see to some matters that
we know of, but 1 will be here by night
fal without faiE
| MacC;regor responded without a blush.
BE expeditions, sir he answered loftlly;
| remember that even prince mas put
the one life. nor is he one whit more Will
ing to loose 1t than a common man
| He dropped his English speech as soon
as we were alone together. 'Laddie, he
| whispered with a twang you could nave
| buttered bannocks with. i aye thocht ye
had a bee 4 your bonnet ana now We ",
nae doot at a aboOt the matter De II
kens what this last devilry o'yours may
| mean. ? ..,,,. 80
| TO do and Archie grew thougEttul Tor
| awhile Then he took me by the DGttoh-
hole and quizzed me with his Keen grey
eyes Man Anstruther, yeV% head on
| your sholldersr' he cried. Gang your
| gait, laddie and trust me to empty
measure or two, while I'm biding for ye'
a T. the Princes easy fashlon. -.
| ''Ay but you've not the Princes mead
for LIQUOR. and I'd rather find you sober
when / come back again. said !. ell
then, you'll remember the lane that leads
mast the mill garden? Have your horse
| ready saddled underneath the window
that overlooks the lane, and gaIlop when
the signal comes.
ing his dirk AN the wee bit lassie,
Anstruther? Think ye now 1 should deal
saft wi her, just to make the foolery
seem Iealg' -,
out of the street door, Archie MacGregoT
will deal saft with her"
A quick ride brought me to the tavern
AT the far end Of the village, where my
| troopers lay; and, after bidding them
| hold themselves in readiness to fulfill GER
| tain commands of mine, ana after Dor
| rowing a trumpet from one OF them, sci
| on AT a gallon up the road. The sun was
cinea "a on getting by this time. and a silver
| moon was Frightening the frst euse Oh
nightfaH: the roads, though heaVy 1T
nlaces. were drying under crisp nortI
| wind: the night seemed made for me and
| for my purpose. A mile ride Drough,
me TO the spot where the narrow, tangled
| nath which we had noticed earlier IN tbs
day led off at right angles from the mar
| road: | followed this, and hy-and-Dy came
! in sight of a high. turr-ted house perchee
unon the topmost Of the slope whlch !
| iudged could be no other than SIR PtteI
| Talbot's Any doubts | may nave felt
unon the point were settled long before
| reached the house itself; for there were
troopers in the Hanoverian livery all VI
and down the grounds and had scarceiy
| ridden through the outer gate when d !ouc
,fyyho goes there?' came down the slop'
| to me. ,..,
The sentry waited till l Ore" the reli
| at the gate then asked me for the pass
word / carried the matter with g hlgi
hand, told him that / had left the reDe
| army TOO lately to be acquainted with TN
ma assword. and said that l must see th'
| officer in command without delay;
| You come here from the rebel army
and YOU have the face to own it, III
growied staring at me in amaZement.
| "yVeu =" | answered, do you THINK IT
| the first to exchange bad penny Ior
| good? l must see your captain, tcII you
| take to him the tale We given you an an
1 say that ! have certain Information VI lii
! Princes whereabouts. -
He hesitated glanced at me again, thei
| called to a comrade near at mana ah'
passed me forward under his escort Il
the house The second trooper left M
standing in the hall while he took M
, tale and presently / was ushered into
. dark oak-Danneled room. a well-faVor
! ed man of five-aud-thirty years or so sa
writing at table. Ihe trooper VINO @ na'