Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-14

StOCk?'
80, l pick it up on the roads. You'n
find no cattle on the way to Carlisle. The
country is swept bare in that direction.
But l can lead you to a fine herd IL you
make it worth my while
I'm which dircctIon?"
Down this way. Come along. Are you
after any particular brecd?'
NO. Anything there's money in"
You're just like me-" said the vaErant
with a laugh, as he strobe off down the I'M
frequcnted road. Tho object wa,ke with
incredible speed, laughing to himself now
and then, and Armstrong was forced to
trot his horse to keep up with him. on ar
irving at a slight eminenCc the guide waved
his long arm toward a stealing in the val
ley, which looked like "A deserted group of
farm buildings, and said:
There's "a fine lot of cattle down yon-
der"
81 can see no signs of them"
M no. They're well stabbed. Nothing
lasts in the fields nowadays. They're not
such fools as that. This herdsman knows
when to keep his beasts in shelter" And
with this the vagabond raised a shril, shout
that echoed from the opposite hills.
what are you crying like that for?"
asked Armstrong, without showing any
alarm.
"Oh, just to let the farmers know were
coming. Always give friendly warning IN
these parts and then you may not get
something in your inside that's hard to d.
gest. That's a FOOLS advice, aud costs you
nothing"
your cry meets with no response" said
Armstrong. laughing at the shallow cum
ming of his treacherous guide, for his keen
eyes noted crouching figures making way
along the other side of a hedge, and he
knew that If he went down the lane, at
whose junction with the road the beggar
stood with repressed eagerness, he would
find himself surrounded. Nevertheless, he
followed without betraying any knowledge
of the trap he was entering.
AS they neared the farmhouse. a voice
cried sharply. "Halt!' and an armed man
sprang from behind the hedge, cutting OF
retreat, If such had been attempted. While
the others made through the hedge to the
lane, the tattered man as nimbly put the
hedge between himself and his victim, as II
fearing a reprisal, laughing boisterously
but rather nervously.
Brave Captain, I've brought you a fine
horse and a gay gentleman, and the two
are for sale"
The man who had cried Haiti stepped
forth from the shelter of the nearest out
building, a drawn sword in his hand, fol-
lowed by two others with primed match
locks, sto,idly ready for any emergency.
Four others closed up the rear, coming
down the lane. There was no installing
the fact that the man with the drawn
sword was an officer, even II the object had
not addressed him as captain, a sa'utation
to which he paid no attention, for although
htg ,,nfFDrr, .L,ur.1 IEA.t-
that of his men. he had in his stern face
the look of one accustomed to obedience.
The horseman had drawn up at the word
and sat quite %nonchalantly on his steed, as
II this were an affair of no particular con-
Germ to himself.
"'Who are you?' asked the captain.
my name is William Armstrong" replied
the rider simply. In spite of himself, the
stolid face of the leader showed some sur
prise at this announcement, as II 1t were
unexpected, and as II he knew the name"
where are you from?"
IT came across the border this morning.
I am a Scotsman"
why are you here?'
81 am a cattle dealer, and as there 10
little doing in my own country / thought
I would just see If business was better on
this side of the line. This amusing lunatic
said there was cattle for sale in the valley
and led me hither, for which service 1 paid
him a trihe."
And so there is, and so there u.s." cried
the %lunatic, but the price was for my ad-
vice, not for the leading hither. l must
get my pay for that yet. Aye, there's cat
tie for sale here, and I'm the market
man."
peace to your folly" said the captain,
scowling. Then curtly TO the horseman,
"Dismount," Armstrong sprang to the
ground.
"Your sword" demanded the officer. The
weapon was handed to him.
DO cattle dealers in your country carry
armsT'
ITO tell you the truth" said the young
man with A laugh, "ff they did not they
would carry little money home with them.