The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-30
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4 Stirring Story efthe English Parliamentary War
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Copyrighted. 1903. by Robert Barn.
CHAPTER xvII.-contInued.
Poison.
By ROBERT BARR

i
CHAPTER xvII.--contInued.
Poison.
I congra tulate you, Sir William" said
the Frenchnaan. The sight Of the smile
aroused the new hatred against the9man
which was snloldering in his heart and he
made no reply to the greeting but said
to the king: rS.
Sire, the only thanks can tender you,
Is haste to the north, and may God make
my arm as strong to defend this sigma
ture as my heart is true to your majesty"
With that he turned his back upon roy
atty. grievous breach in the eyes Of
courtiers, and fled.
God grant it," said the king with a
from whence he had risen. =: -
There Is no doubt of3it,' said De Cour-
cy softly.
Doubt Of what?' asked the king.
1.-THE oath he took will sit lightly on his
conscience. He prayed that his arms
strength might equal his hearts fealty: ]
distrust those who talk glibly Of their
hearts, and his was a most. ambiguous
prayer. If his heart be not true, and he
made no assertion that it was, his strong
arm will avail us little.'' FL.
Surely If ever honesty beamed from
mans face 1t was from Armstrong;. The
Scots are trustworthy men,
Uneasy suspicion came into the sunken
eyes Of the king as he turned them on his
Chamberlain. 80 T.. Iaz." :. T., =.
What do you fear. De Courcey?"
L have been studying the man these
three days past. I accepted without ques-
ton his assurances, and threw him off his
guard. Cromwell loves an honest looking
envoy, and from what Armstrong said, I
am sure he saw Cromwell no farther away
than Northampton. He was very ready
with his account of his own country peo-
pie, but he told us nothing, about the mar
vellous luck that brought him safely thru
hostile land, which we know to our cost
is admirably patroled. 49,. There is young
Rudby. gone this month and more to Edin-
burg, and yet no word Of him.; And this
stranger expects us to believe he came
over the same ground unsca thed and I'M
questioned in less than a, week.
"Oh God Oh God! In whom can I place
Dependence cried the tortured king,
burying his head lin his hands. Then he
raised it and said with a trace Of anger" in
his voice:
IF you knew this man to be a traitor,
Or an emissary Of that malignant, why did
you bring him into our presence"
= IT could not be sure Of him., your maj
esty,- and there was always a, chance that
he was loyal, and could get thru
ITO raise my hopes like this and then
dash them to the ground!"> r'.'* re"
mot so, your ma iesty, if you will pardon
me. Do you place Importance on this COM
mission?''
THE utmost Importance. know Ira
QUAR-, and he will raise all Scotland for
me, If this commission reach him. r':~
= tThen he will max sicear; as a. famous
Scot once said"
"Ah, De Courcy, that was said when a
treacherous murder was intended. How
will you make sure that Armstrong is
honest?'. - 8 =. 80 +. = 49, - - - :
II should trouble no more about Arm
strong: but if you will issue duplicate
of that commission, I will guarantee that
it reaches the hands of Traquair. am a
Frenchman, and subject Of the French
king. I carry my passport to that effect.
Even If am stopped, 1 shall resist search
on the ground Of Internationally and
Cromwell is too greatly in awe Of the
power Of France to risk gits might being
thrown In Tthe scale against him. Indeed,
I doubt if I can offer a greater service to
your majesty than to be captured, and ap-
peal to Louis" - s.. - u.s. -
The kings face CLEARED.
'tYou would not stop Armstrong. then %
'Assuredly not. If his copy gets into
Cronwells hands he may slacken his
alertness, and not be on the outlook for a
duplicate. AS said before, there is a
chance the Scot: plays fair, but two COM
missions the hands of .TraQuaif will do
no harm, and we max siccar'';t - ,r"e'' .
You are in the right, and your advice
( IS always Of the best. How soon will you
be ready to leave?'' =: ~
This very moment, your majesty. There
is no time to be lost ~.
True. True, True Then to the
secretary: write another: Do you re-
| member the names?" u-r; ;y. 49,
Yes your majesty. have them here
on slip" 'rr.. - :,.,- -. - g.: ~,
De Courcy babe farewell to the king,
who urged him to return as soon as horse
could bring him, and went to s~roor,l to
prepare for the journey, the duplicate
commission following him there. -.
Armstrong strobe to the inn, sped un
the stair and knocked at the door by the
landing. Frances herself opened it, the
deterrnin a ton on her face to refuse a d
mission to any other than he melting into
a welcome as she greeted him. ~. 49,,
MY girl, are you ready for the northe
Yes. yes. ready and ceager. Have YOU
seen the king?"-s >.;~s- sl.,.,a": !. -.
+ = have, and his royal signature rests
over my heart .."r< = . - -
turned and walked with uncertain steps
to the table. hope had arisen that the
| venomous De Courcy would have ;preju
! diced the king against the young man an6
that her hateful task would not be re.
| CURED Of her, but now this last refuge hat
failed her. She strove not to weep.
IF you would rather not go until to.
| morrow said Armstrong, II can wait bu
| lasste I'm desperate anxious to leave OK
| ford as soon as possible. We will mo-
travel further than Banbury tonight
Il am ready she replied with forced