Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-08-31
MICAH CLARKE
) - BY A. Conan Doyle. = =
CHAPTER yIII.-(Continued.)

:
Saxon. kneeljng by the dead mans side
and passing his hands over his pockets.
"F9otpads, doubtless. Not a silver ia h:s
nockets. not so much as a sleeve-link to
holm pay for the burial
How was he slain?" l asked in hor-
~,r. looking down at the poor vacant
f3ee. the empty house from which the
reuant had departed.
"A stab from behind and a tap on the
head from the butt of pistol. He can
not have been dead long and vet every
rr0at is gone. A man of position, too, I
Should judge from his dress-broadcloth
coat by the feel, satin breecheS, and sill
yer buckles on his shoes. The rogues
must have had some plumber with him.
Could we but run across them. Clarke.
il would be a great and grand thing"
1T would, indeed" said |, heartily
What greater privilege than to execute
Justice upon such cOwardly murderers :"
Pooh, pooh"' he cried. Justice is
slippery dame, and hath two-edged
sword in her hand. We may have enough
Of Justice in our character as rebels to
rive us surfeit of it. l would fain
overtake these robbers that we may fe-
Ieye them of their spolia Opima, to-
gether with any other wealth which they
NAV have unlawfully amaSsed NV
learned friend, the Fleming. layelh 4
down that it is no robbery to rob rob-
Der But where Shall we conceal this
cody
wherefore should we conceal it,? I
asked.
"Why. man, unused to war or the pre-
cautions of warrior, you must yet see
that. should this body be found here
there will be hue and cry through the
country, and that strangers like our
selves will be arrested on suspicion
Should we clear ourselves, which is no
very easy matter, the justice will ut least
want to know whence we come and
whittier we go, which may lead to in
quiries that may bode us little good.
shall therefore take the liberty, mine I'M
known and silent friend, of dragging you
into yon bushes, where for a day or two
at least you are like to lie unObserved
and so bring no harm upon honest men,"
For Gods sake do not treat it so I'M
kindly" | cried, springing down from
my horse and laying my hand upon my
companions arm. There is no need to
trail it in so unseemly fashion. If it
must be moved hence, | shall carry i
with all due reverence" So saying.
picked the body up in my arms, and
bearing it to a waysde clump of yellow
g0rSe bushes, | laid it sOlemnly down and
drew the branches over it to conceal it.
You have the thews of an OK and the
heart of woman" muttercd my COM
panion by the mass. that old white
headed psalm singer was right; for. if
my memory serves me, he said words TO
that effect A few handfuls of dust will
hide the stains. Now we may jog upon
our way without any fear of being called
upon to answer for another mans sins.
Let me but get my girth frightened, and
We may soon be out of dangers way"
Il have had to do" said Saxon, as we
rode EDWARDS, with many gentry Of this
sort, with Albanian brigands, the ban
ditti of Piedmont, the Lanzknechte and
Freiritter of the Rhine, Algernne plea
rooms, and other such folk. Yet | cannot
call TO mind one who hath ever been able
20 retire in his old age on a sufficient
competence. 1t is but a precarlous trade,
and must end, sooner or later, in dance
on nothing in tight cravat, with some
kind friends Juggling at your legs to ease
You of any breath that you might have
left"
Nor does that end ALL" I remarked.
NO. There is Tophet behind and the
fantes Of hell. So our good friends the
parsons tell us. Well, if a man is -
make no money in this world. be hanged
at the end of it, and finally burn forever
he hath assuredly wandered on TO 4
thorny track. If, on the other hand one
could always lay ones hands on we'll
lined purse. as these r0gues have done
tonight. one might be content to risk
something in the world TO come
But what can the well-illed purse d"
score pieces which these bloodthirsty
wretches have tilched from this poor
creature avail them when their own
hour of death comes round:
True" said Saxon. dryly; they may,
however, prove useful in the meantime.
This. you say. is Bishopstoke. What are
the lights over yOnder:
They come | think, from BISHOPS
Waitham." | answered.
We must press on. for | would fam
be in Salisbury before it l. broad day:
There we shall put our horses mp until
evening and have some rest, for there Is
nothing gained by man or beast coming
western roads will be crowded with cou-
Tiers. and mayhap patr0l'ed by cavalry
as well, 50 that we cannot snow our
faces upon it without a risk Of beng
stopped and examined. Now. It we lie
by all day, and push on Mt dusk, keep
way across Salisbury Plain and the
NomersetShire downs, we are less likely
to come to harm"
But what if Monmouth be engaged
before we come mp To hin:'
Then we shall have missed chance
Of getting our threats cut. W ny. man.
opposing that he has been routed and
entirely Dispersed would il uot be Il
merry conceit for us to appear upon the
scene as two loyal yeomcn. who had rid
den all the way from Hampshire TO
strike in against the Kings enemies We
might chance to get some reward IN
money or in land for our zeal. Nay,
IgoWn not. for | was bur testing.
Breathe our horses by walking them up
ms hill. My jennet is a. fresh as when
we started. hut those great limbs OF
thine are telling upon the gray
The patch Of light in the east had in
creased and broadened, and the sky was
notified with little pink feathers Of
cloud. As we passed over the low hills
by Chambers Ford and Romsey we
could see the smoke Of Southampton TO
the southeast. and the broad, dark eX-
pause Of the New Forest with the haze
"t morning hanging over it, a few
"of>emen passed us. pricking along. 700
much tngrossed in their own errand to
inquire ours 4 couple of carts ana a
long string of pack-horses, laden prln-
pa!y wi,h bales Of wool, came strag-
gang along a by-road. and the drivers
waved their broad hats ~ Us and wished
Ms God-Speed. At Dumhridge the folk
were just stirring. and paused in taking
5. "u The cottage shutters TO come 10 the
-@Eien ratings and watch Us pass. As