Cañon City record., 1901-01-10

agreed with him that so hardened
wretch would be well punished. And
| finally / announced that l would see
the desperate villain. The sergeant,
nothing 10th to exhibit his prisoner,
and fiattered by my interest, made
ready a lantern and with Mistress
Molly, l followed him to the coach
room where a sentry stood watchful
at the door, his bayonet cleaning.
They threw open the door and thrust
in the lantern.
The prisoner lay in some straw, his
hands and feet bound with rope. At
our coming he sat up and blinked for
n moment at the lanterns light. Then
he lifted up his chin and looked at
me- There was quick recognition in
his eyes, instantly veiled; then fol-
lowed a full, direct gaze. All, the
power of that look! Something like
flame seemed to leap into my breast
and for once it was Bess Heriot's eye
that quailed and dropped. My knees
went weak, but kept my countenance.
Lord. sergeant" cried in my most
affected London drawl, what an ar
rant rebel it is. Sure the rogue is
dangerous Take me away
At Of the clock in the morning
led him into the kitchen where bright
fire was burning on the hearth and
| food and wine stood on the dresser.
And coming into the light we stopped
to look. Ragged he was and Ill
dressed, half-starved and trembling
with the cold, but brave and bright
and unshaken. Gone was the masque
OF the dandy, but he was handsome
as he never was in coat and wig and
powder. And l bore his scrutiny un-
finching, being in kitchen maids
gown and hooded and cloaked, with
a smutty face to cap it.
Eur" said l, hitting of to the life
the kitchen maid whose clothes l
wore, don't zee waste time. Hast
none long to bide. Fill stomach and
warm bones"
But to my astonishment, instead OF
going down on his knee and hailing
me as his preserver, he burst out into
a laugh and vowed he would not touch
a mouthful until l told him how his
escape had been effected. So l went
on, secure in my disguise:
"Ladyzhip have a-brought 1t about.
Ladyzhip zays to me zays zhe:
'Wench, come quiet to kitchen WI
your zweet'eart, Joe Gamekeeper, Tor
I've a-got a need O. 'se for what
mind to do. An Zhe telled Joe to
zaddle grey hunter-food an spirits
an pistols in the bags an big cloak
an to wait benin orchard wall. An
Ladyzhip zays to me, zays zhe. 'Zentry
] hava r,irItc In hpaSph-
Take lanthorn under zhawl an Zip all
Lnbeknown through passage to cellar
under coach house-puzh up trap door
quiet like-cut ropes-an' bring rebel
rogue to kitchen. Give zee this purse
O. gold for him. Tell him mount Grey
Hunter an ride for life. If he have
a-goa cart of Wy 'ee'll go free.
With that i laid tho purse down on
the dresser. But he made no move to
take and clapped his hands softly.
saying 1t was as good as a play, and
then fell to eating.
Eur" said l, IVY did zee zcowl 20.
Vast dreamin' of zweet'eart. likee?"
Nay" said he, mo time have had
for sweethearting. But / dreamed of
maid saw in London. In my dream
she was kind. but you walked me to re-
riember that in the flesh she had de-
lied me and called me 'arrant rebel,
and SO scowled.''
Fair, wuz zhe, zur?" asked.
THE toast of London town" he said.
but scatter-brained and with tenn
per-" And then he laughed.
The impudent roguei / said no more
till he had finished. And then the
audacious fellow came up close and
said, with wonderful dancing light in
his eye, but with his lips sweet and
sober:
Now, Lady Bess Heriot. with many
thanks for your food and wine and
fire. your humble servant is ready to
60 back to his straw-and his dreams"
Lord! / was that taken aback I
Just stood and stared at him. And he
vent on gravely and soberly:
Your worshipful father, you see.
has given billet for tonight to this cap
tain, and to free his prisoner atlantis
him-and his-of treason. cannot
accept freedom at such price toto
ny friends" With that he made a
grand bow and stood waiting my
answer.
Alas! I know he spoke the truth,
but l burst out on him with a torrent
Of reproaches and reservations that
the Heriots had naught to fear from
such cause. Methinks l mustShave
made too light OF it. for he drew OFF
cold and distant. But he answered:
Madame. | would / could accept
your estimate of my value as a pris-
oner, but l know what / know and
It's trouble for you all-sore trouble"
But, lad" cried, tbs Tyburn Tree
else"
Il know" said he gravely. But there
was no sign OF fiinching in him.
And then l forgot all my fine airs
and begged him not to throw his
young life away-aye, l pleaded with
him with tears.
Lady Bess, why have you done this