Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-27


rode softly out of the courtyard and turned
our faces toward the city. The night wind
came sweeping across the valley of the
reached the brow of the hill 1t seemed
laden with melancholy whispers. Tho
wretched enterprise, i'll conceived, Ill Or
dercd, and in its very nature desperate, to
which we were in honor committed, would
have accounted of itself for any degree of
foreboding. But the scene through which
we had just passed, and on my part the
knowledge that had given up q fellow
being to death, had their depressing influ-
cnces For some distance we rode in ST.
lence, which was the first to break.
Why did you put off his punishment"
asked.
Because I think he will give us in
formation in the interval" BERTHE an
swered briefly. information which may
help us. A spy Is generally ready to boz
tray his own side upon OCCASION"
And you will spare him If he does?"
/ asked. 1t seemed to me neither justice
nor mercy.
mo" he said, "there is no fear of that
Those who go with ropes round their necks
know no mercy But drowning men will
catch at straws, and ten to one he will
babble.
I shiyered. sit is a bad business"
said.
He thought referred to the conspiracy,
and he inveighed bitterly against it, re-
preaching himself for bringing me into it
and for his folly in believing the rosy &C.
counts Of men who had all to win and
= hats h aa 1tvoc IN, linen
There is only one thing gained, /" he said.
I'VE are likely to pay dearly for that, SO
we may think tina more Of it. We have
been the means Of punishing villain. !"
Yes" said, that IL true 1t was 9
strange meeting and astrange recognition.
Strangest OF all that should be called
up to swear with him."
mot strange" Master BERTHE answered
gravely. II would rather call 1t provi-
Dental Let ns think of that and be of
better courage, friend. We have been
used; VIC shall not be cast away before our
time.'
looked back. For some minutes had
thought heard behind us a light footstep
moro like the pattering of dog than any
thing else. could see nothing, but that
was not wonderful, for the moon was
young and the sky overcast. DO you
hear some one following us?" said.
Master BERTHE drew rein suddenly. and
turning in the saddle we listened. For E
second thought still heard the sound.
The next It ceased and only the wind toy
ing with tho November leaves and sigh
ing away in the distance came to our ears
mo" he said, 81 think it must have been
%o-ou 1oov ~c<bSnry
But when wo rode on thu sound began
again, though at first moro family, ns II
our follower had learned prudence and
fallen farther behind. DO not stop, but
listen!" said softly. Cannot you hear
tho pattering of naked foot nowf''
II hear something" he answered. II
am afraid you are right and that We are
followed"
"what is to be donei" I said, my
thought sissy.
"Tilero i Caen wood In front" he an.
swered, with little open ground on
this side Of 1t. We will ride under tho
trees and then stop suddenly. Perhaps
We shall be able to distinguish him as he
crosses the open behind u.s. We made
the experiment, but as II our follower had
OWNED the plan his footstep ceased to
sound before We had stopped our horses.
He had fallen farther behind. we might
ride quickly back" Isusgested, land sur
prise him."
cit would be useless" BERTHE answered.
There Is too much cover close to the road.
Lot us rather trot on and outstrip him"
We did trot on, and what With the
tramp Of our horses az they swung along
the road and the sharp passage Of the
wind by our ears we heard no moro OF the
footstap behind. But when we presently
pulled up to breathe our horses-or rather
within few minutes Of our doing So
there it was behind US nearer and louder
than before. shiverod as listened, and
presently, acting on sudden impulse,
I wheeled my horse round and spurred
him back dozen PAGES along the road.
pulled up.
There was a movement In the shadow
of the trees on my right, and leaned for
ward, ppering In that direction. Gradual
~ l made out the lines of figure stand
ing still, as though gazing at me-a
distorted figure, crooked, short
and in some way, though no lineament Of
the face was visible, expressive OF a
strange and weird malevolence 1t was the
witch! Tho witch whom I had seen in
the kitchen at tho gatehouse. How, then,
had she come hither? How had she, old,
lame, deorepit, kept up with us!
tremblsd as she raised her hand, and
standing otherwise inotionless pointed at
mo out of the gloom. The horse undcr
mo was trembling, too-trembling violent
", with its ears laid back, and Us she
moved it's terror increased, 1t plunged
wildly. had to give for moment all
my attention to 1t, and though tried in
nero revolt against the fear which felt
was overcoming mo to urge 1t nearer my
efforts were vain. Aftcr nearly unseating
mo the beast whirled round, and getting
the better OF me galloped down the road
toward London.
"Whnt Ia iti" cried Master Bertie as
came speedily up with him. He had rid
den slowly on. What is the matter?''
Something in the hedge startled it,
explained, trying to soothe the horse. II
could not clearly see what it was. !"
"A rabbit, I dare say" he remarked,
deceived by my manner.
perhaps it was, answered Some
impulse, net unnatural, led me to say
nothing about what had sect. I was
not quite sure that my eyes had not de-
coiyed me. / feared his ridicule, too,
though he was not very promo to ridicule.
And above all shrank from explaining
the medley Of superstitious fear, distrust
and abhorrence in which held tho crea-
ture who had shown SO strange knowl-
edge of my life.
We wero already near Holborn, and
reaching without further adventure q
modest inn near the Bars We retired to a
room we had engaged and lay down with
none Of the gallant hopes which had last
night formed the subjoot of our talk. Yet