Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-04-19
CLARKE
). = BY A. conan DoYle. > =
XxXIII.
OF MY PERILoUS ADVENTURES AT
THE MILL
XxXIII.

horses which brought the farmers grain
Some grass was heaped up inside it, SO
! loosened Covenants girts and left him
TO have a hearty meal. The mill itself
appeared to be silent and empty.
climbed the steep wood ladder, and
pushing the door open, walked into a
round, stone-hagged room from which q
second ladder led to the loft above On
one side of this chamber was long
wooden box, and all round the walls
were ranged rows of sacks full of flour
In the fireplace stood pile OF fagots
ready for lighting, so with the aid of my
finder box / soon had a cheerful blaze.
Taking large handful of flour from the
nearest bag, l moistened it with water
from pitcher, and having rolled it out
into Il fiat cake, proceeded to bake il.
smiling the while TO think of what my
mother would say to such rough cook
cry. Very sure l am that Patrick Lamb
himself, whose book, tine Complete
Court Cook" was ever in the dear souls
left hand while she stirred and basted
with her right, could not have turned our
dlsh which was more TO my taste ut
The moment, for had not even patience
30 wait for the browning of il. but
snapped it up and devoured it half hot
then rolled second one, and having
placed it before the fire, and drawn my
pipe from my pocket, | set myself 10
smoke, waiting with all the philosophy
which | could muster until it should lie
ready.
l was lost in thought, brooding sadly
over the blow which the news would be
to my father, when / was startled bv a
loud sneeze, which sounded as though
it were delivered in my very ear. /
started to my feet, and gazed all around
me- but there was nothing save the solid
wall behind and the empty chamber be-
fore. had almost come to persuade
myself that l had been the creature of
some deluSlon, when again crashing
sneeze. louder and more prolonged than
the last, broke upon the silence. Could
someone be hid in enc of the bags
Drawing my sword, | walked round,
pricking the great flour sacks, but with
out being able to find cause for the
sound. l was still marveling over the
matter, when most extraordinary
chorus of gasps, snorts and whistles
broke out, with cries of t'0h, holy moth
err Blessed Redeemerl" and other sreh
EXPLANATIONS. This time there could he
no doubt as to whence the uproar came.
Rushing up to the great chest npOn
which | had been seated. | threw hack
the heavy lid and gazed in.
1t was more than half full of four in
the midst of which was foundeTing some
creature, which was so coated and caked
with the white powder that it would
have been hard to say that it was human
were it not for the pitiable cries which
it was uttering. STOPPING down,
dragged the man from his hiding place.
when he dropped upon his knees upon
the fioer, and yelled for mercy, raising
such cloud of dust from every wriggle
OF his body that | began to cough and
to Sneeze. AS the skin of powder began
to scale off from him, / saw to my sur
prise that be was no miller or peasant.
but was a man-at-arms, with a huge
sword grit to his side, looking at present
not unlike a frosted icicle. and a great
steel-faeed breastplate. His steel cap
had renamed behind in the flour bin.
and his bright red hair, the only touch
Of color about him, stood straight up In
The air with terror. as he implored me to
spare his life. Thinking that there was
something familiar about his voice,
drew my hand across his face, which set
him yelling as though i had slain hirl.
There was no mistaking the heavy
checks and the little greedy eyes. II
was none other than Master Tetheridge,
The noisy town clerk of Taunton.
but how much changed from the town
clerk whom we had seen strutting, in all
the pomp and bravery of his office, be-
fore the good mayor on the day of our
coming to Somersetshirei Where now
was the ruddy color like Il pippin in Sep
tember? Where We're the assured man
ner and the manly port? AS he knelt,
his great jack boots clicked together with
apprehension. and he poured forth. in Il
piping voice like that of Lincolns Inn
mumper. string of pleadings, excuses
and entreaties, as though ! were Fever
sham in person, and was about to order
him to instant execution.
Il am but a poor scrivener man, your
serene highness." he bawled. Indeed,
am a most unhappy clerk, your honor.
who has been driven into these courses
by the tyranny of those above him. A
meats leather, but when the mayor says
Yes, can the clerk say Mop Spare me,
your lordship, spare most penItent
wretch, whose only prayer is that he
may be allowed to serve King James TO
the last drop of his blood"
do you ren0unce the Duke of Mon
mouth?' / asked, in stern voice.
Il do, from my heart, said he, fervent-
ly.
'.Then prepare to die" 1 reared, whip
ping out my sword 'for | am one of his
officers
At the sight of the steel the wretched
clerk gave perfect below of terror, and
falling upon his face. he wriggled and
twisted, until, looking up, he perceived
that | was laughing. On that he crawled
mp onto his knees once more, and from
that to his feet, glancing at me askance,
rs though by no means assured of my
intentions.
You must remember me, Master
Tetheridge," said 81 am Capt. Clarke,
Of Saxon's regiment of Wiltshire foot.
| am surprised. indeed, that you should
have fallen away from that allegiance TO
which you did not only swear yourself,
but did administer the oath to so many
others.''
Not a whit, captain, not a whit he
answered, resuming his old bantam-cock
manner as soon as he saw that there was
no danger 81 am upon oath as true and
as leal a man as ever / was.
That can fully believe" immedi-
ate1y answered.
Il did but dissimulate," be continued.
brushing the -four from his person. Il
did but practise that cunning of the SER
pent which should in every warrior ac-
company the courage Of the lion. You
have read your Homer. doubtless. Ehf
|. too, have had touch of the humani-
ties. / am no mere rough soldier how
ever stoutly ] can hold mine own at
sword-play. Master Ulysses is my type.
even as thine. / take it, is Master
Ajax"
Methinks that Master Jack-in-the-box
would fit you better" said /. "Wilt
have half Of this cake? How came