Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08
He's fist that"

linen nm ava an gle ma message, lot
am wet an tired In hungary"
The warder sought Traquafr In his IL
brary. where he sat, an anxious man, with
many documents spread out on table be-
fore him..
yer lordship, there's a soldier in the
uniform of the English rebels at tn gates
VIVA says he's a freen O. Cromwelrss and
begs word wi We"
"Ah,' said the earl, frowning. they've
caught poor Armstrong then, and now In
addition to our troubles we'll need to bar
gain with that fiend Noll to save his neck.
Everything is against u.s."
He may be an Englisher. but he's got q
Scotch accent as broad as tn Tweed"
He's one of our counthymen fighting for
Cromwell. and therefore thought by that
him in
There may be others O. his like in hid
Ing, me lord"
Close the gates after him then. and keep
strict watch. There's no danger on that
score yet but lippen to nothing. This
man just come to strike a bargain an
I'm afraid we must dance to the tune he
pipes. Bring him In
When William and the warder came in
together, a moment or two passed before
the earl recognized his visitor, then he
sprang forward and held out both his
hands
I'm Gods name. Armstrong. is this your"
ne cried What have they done to you?
Save us ALL Who has shorn and ac-
coutered you like this?"
The necessities of the chase, Traquair.
Ihis Is a disguise, and although you saw
through it, I'm happy to think 1 deluded
Jock Tamson there"
"Losh? cried Tamson, peering forward
you IL never threep doom ma throat that
this is Wull Armstrong"
Sir William, II you please, Tamson,"
corrected the new knight. 1.-The title was
bestowed upon me by his majesty himself
and Shall expect that Difference from the
lower orders. Tamson, which the desgna-
ton calls for. Still, Jock, III forgive your
familiarity If you'll help me off with this
helmet. that seems glued to my skull"
The old man grasped the edges Of the
steel cap with both his hands when Arm
against that of the helmet wearer and
pulled with all his might, but his strength
was unequal to the task.
Lord pity us! growled VIII: catch
me ever putting my head in a trap like
this again. I'll have to take it off with
bootjack.'
Bring in Angus" laughed the earl. hell
pull either the helmet or the head off you"
The huge Angus came numbering in after
the warder who went in search of him.
Have you had your supper, August"
asked the earl.
Yes, ma lord"
Then let us see what strength It's given
you. Tug this iron pot from Armstrong;
head"
Angus, bracng himself as the warder had
done, jerked Intellectually several times.
Pull, we deevil." cried Armstrong. we've
no more strength than a three-year-old
waen."
Am feart to thraw yer neck" protested
Angus
Never mind the neck. Being hanged by
Cromwell is as nothing to this Pull We
goineral Am l to go about with my head
in metal bucket all my life? Pulll
Angus put forth his strength and the
helmet gave way with unexpected sudden
ness, whereupon Angus sat down on the
W hnI Ito 10 fIn
steel cap in his lap. Traquair slapped his
thigh and roared till the rafters rang
'W1ll, you'll be an inch taller after that
L never saw the like of it. 1 have heard
that mans head grows with new honors
placed upon him, but 1 had no idea it was
so bad as that. Man, where's your hair?
And did they chop 1t off with a battle ak?
Ii that Is fair example of BARRIERS work
In England, am glad 1 live in Scotland"
Armstrong rubbed his shorn head with
his open palm
"A barber may have other qualities than
experience with the shears he said
The trick of the shears is surely the
chief requirement for the trade"
Yes. You're in the right NV hair was
cut out in a stable yard, under the moon
nght, with great haste and blunt blades
we Will see what your own poll-man can
do In still shortening the result I have
been hotly chased, Traquair, and haircut
ting was the least drawback that troubled
me. 1 think my tailoring is even worse
than my harhering. and there also you
must stand my friend. Is the castle tailor
out of worl<?"
MY whole wardrobe is at your disposal,
Will"
Nothing in 1t would fit me, and I am a
thought particular about a new dress as
have lost all self-respect in this one NAV
borrow hat from you, If you have one Of
the latest fashion, with fine feather on
It," ''
AHA! What's come over you. VIII?
Some lady in the court of Charles? You
didn't fash much over your clothes in the
old days"
Il don't fash much now. as you may see
by my array. Still, 1t isn't duds, but food,
that is the first necessity I've had nothing
all day but a hurried drink out of the Eden.
1t was as thick as brose and about the
same color but not so sustaining"
They're preparing supper for you now.
ana III bear you company when It's ready
I'm eager to hear what befell So the king
knighted you. Deed. he might have gone
further than that, and made you q marquis
or a duke at the same cost"
"Oh. he offered me anything in his gift II
brought the commission safely through to
you, promise that I'm thinking I'll never
troupie MIN 10 redeem Nevertheless. here's
the packet. little damp. but none the
worse for that"
He placed the cause of all the trouble on
the table. and Traquair turned it over and
over IN his hands. with no great delight in
its possession. as the messenger thought
The earl sighed as he opened 1t at last. and
slowly perused it's contents in silence. Law
Ing 1t on the table again when he had fin
ished.
You are a wonderful man, William" he
said. IF every one in Scotland did his
duty as thoroughly as you do it we would
soon place the king on his throne again."
us there more trouble brewing?'
more trouble, and the old trouble. and
the new trouble. Every one pulling his own
way. and in all directions. thinking only of
himself. and never, by any chance of the
interests Of the whole"
May I tell Cromwell that? He seemed
at some pains to intercept a billet that you
receive but lightly"
Tell Cromwell! You're never going to
write to that scoundrel2''
I intend to see him before the week Is
past"
What! You're not such fool as to put
ONE FOB HIS ]