Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-05-29

q course of the operation an immens
deal of Information oozed out OF tn
), barber, one item Of which was that b
9 had the night before dressed MIN
; wounds, great and small, for Maste
r Brandon, the kings friend. This es
I tablished the identity Of the man VIII
had rescued the girls, fact of whicl
t Buckingham had had his suspicious al
: along. So Brandon's arrest followed
c as / have already related to you.
;, 1 afterward learned from various
. sources how this nobleman began Il
avenge his mishap with Brandon a
Mary's ball when the latter broke hi
, sword point. First he went to New
, gate and gave orders to the keeper
who was his tool, to allow no commu
, nication with the prisoner, and it was
by his instructions that Brandon had
, been confined in the worst dungeon In
London. Then he went down to Green
witch to take care Of matters there
knowing that the king would learn OF
Brandon's arrest and probably take
steps for his liberation ut once.
The king had just heard of the arrest
when Buckingham arrived, and the
latter found he was right in his sur
mise that his majesty would at once
demand Brandon's release.
When the duke entered the kings
room, Henry called to him: "My lord,
you are opportunely arrived. So good
a friend Of the people Of London can
help us greatly this morning. Our
friend Brandon has been arrested for
the killing Of two men night before
last in Billingsgate ward. / am sure
there Is some mistake and that the
good sheriff has the wrong man, but
right or wrong, we want him out and
ask your good Offices"
II shall be most happy to serve your
majesty and will 60 to London at once
to see the lord mayor"
In the afternoon the duke returned
and had a private audience with the
king.
II did as your majesty requested in
regard to Brandon's release" he said,
but on investiga ton l thought 1t best
to consult you again before proceeding
Brandon is the right man. 1t seems he
was out with couple of wenches con-
corning whom he got into trouble and
stabbed two men In the back. 1t is a
very aggravated case, and the citizens
are much incensed about it, owing
partly to the fact that such occurrences
have been SO frequent Of late. !
tha civ no nd
In view of the fact that your majesty
will soon call upon the city for loan
to make up the Lady Mary's dover 1t
would be wise not to antagonize them
In this matter, but to allow Master
Brandon to remain quietly in confine- |
ment until the loan is completed, and
then we can snap our fingers at them"
I'VE will snap our fingers at the
scurvy burghers now and have the
loan, too" returned Henry angrily. II
want Brandon liberated at once, and l /
shall expect another report from you
Immediately, my lord"
Buckingham felt that his revenge
had slipped through his fingers this
time, but he was patient where evil
was to be accomplished and could wait
Then 1t was that the council was called
during the progress Of which Mary
and l had tried to obtain an audience
of the king.
Buckingham had gone to pay his re-
spects to the queen and on his way
back had espied Mary waiting for the
king in the anteroom and went to her.
At first she was irritated at the sight
Of this man, whom she SO despised,
but a thought came to her that she
might make use Of him. She knew his
power with the citizens and city au-
thorities of London and also knew, or
thought she knew, that a smile from
her could accomplish everything with !
him. She had ample evidence Of his
and she hoped that she
could procure Brandon's liberty through
without revealing her
dangerous secret =
Much to the dukes surprise, she
smiled upon him and gave cordial
saying: my lord, you have
,een unkind to us of late and have not +.
'hown us the light of your counte- ,,
lduCe. MI Sidu " See you OuCe .,
more. Tell me the news" d,
II cannot say there is much Of inter
st. l have learned the new dance
rom Caskoden. If that is news, and
Iope for favor at our next ball from {
he fairest lady in the world
And quite welcome" returned Mary,
omplacently appropriating the title, .
and welcome to more than one, ! !.
ope, my lord" !!
This graciousness would have looked =
uspicious to one with less vanity than =
but he saw no craft in it. :
lie did see, however, that Mary did =
OF know who had attacked her In ;,
and he felt greatly re- !,
eyed :
The duke smiled and smirked and
'as enchanted at her kindness. They n
'alked down the corridor, talking and
lughing, Mary awaiting an opportu- =
ity to put the important question with.
ut exciting suspicion. At last it came,
hen Buckingham, half inquiringly,
his surprise that Mary
,ould be found sitting at the kings
,or.
II am waiting to see the king" said
e. Little Caskoden's friend, Bran
N, has been arrested for a brawl Of
me sort over in London, and Sir Ed
In and Lady Jane have importuned
e to obtain his release, which 1 have