Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-21

friend, but which ne was well aware | al
ready knew. This was to battle into belicv-
ing him. He rides to oxford to see the
king, and in that | am willing to aid him
lie may tell the king what pleases him, and
those who send him-littlc good will 1t do
any of them. In return the king is to give
him commission to be handed To certain
lords in Scotland. If th2t commission
crosses the border we are Ike to have
blaze to the north of us, which ! do not
wish to see kindled until year from now,
then, by God-then, by Gods will | shall
be ready for them. We shall defeat the
Scots in any case. but if this commission
reaches these malcontents we cannot have
the pleasure-humph-we shall he precuded
from the duty of bcheadnE the rinElcaders.
without bringing on ourselves the con-
tumcly of Europe without the kings
commission they are but broilers-marau-
ders with this commission they will set
up the claim that they are belligerents
DO you understand the position?"
"Perfectly General"
"The commission must be intercepted at
all cost 1t will be your task to Illustrate
the intentions of the king and his Scottish
mobiles But the task is more complicated
than yet appears. 1t would be an easy
matter to run this messenger through the
body and there an end. l want what he
carries. but | do not wish to harm the car
rier. These Scots are Clannish, trouble
some, determined race. If you prick one
with swords point the whole nation
howIs This, then must be done quietly,
so that we bring no swarm about our cars.
"WiIliam Armstrong is the messengers
name, and ne has powerful supporters in
his own country He was stopped soon
as he crossed the border yesterday and
brought here. He pretcnds to be an inno-
cent trader i'm cattle, and Will likely Keep
up that pretence. / have appeared TO be-
lieve all he says, and re leaves this house
tomorrow with a pass from my hand, CIV
ing him permission to travel as far south
as Manchester, which was all he asked.
would willingly have given him safe con-
duct to oxford, but he was too crafty TO
accept such thing. He THINKS ne can
make his way south from Manchester. AS
q matter of fact he cannot, but WISH 10
make the way easy for him.
of course | could give n general order
that ne was not to be molested, but there
are reasons against this, as we have doubt
less spies in our own ranks and general
order would excite suspicion, and would
probably prove useless, because TINS man.
south of his permits territory, will en-
deavor to go surreptitiously to oxford, ana
by unfrequented routes 1t Will be your
duty to become acquainted with Armstrong
and win his confidence. You will accom-
pany him to oxford and return with him
You will be protected by a pass so broad
that II will cover any disguise either OF
YOU may care to assume 1t is such pass
as 1 have never issued before. and I am
not likely to issue again, 80 l need not
warn YOU to guard 1t carefully. and use II
only when necessary.
II reads thus" Here the speaker took
uD a sheet Of paper on which he had been
writing, and. holding II so that the light
from the candles fell upon 1t, read aloud
Pass the bearer and one other without
question or interference from Carlisle to
Oxford and return.
"rhe journey south will give you the OPP
portunity to become acquainted with your
man. On the northward march you must
become possessed of what he carries, and
when you bring 1t to me. you receive in
return full pardon and promotion. If you
do not succeed before you reach Carlisle,
then l must crush him; possibly kill him
as spy. VIII You undertake it?'
"'Tis an ungracious office you would be
stow upon me, sir. l had rather meet him
I'm a fair fight, and slay him, or have him
slay me, as God willed.'
There speaks youth" cried Cromwell i'm
patiently. This man is a treacherOus. ly-
ing spy, whose life, by all the rules OF
war, is already forfeited. | propose to dis
comfit him with his own weapons Nay
more; l willingly save him from the de
struction he merits. You are set to do him
the greatest service one man can offer
another. If you fail. he dies II you sue
coed, he has probably a long life before
him, God knows | yearn to cut no man 8
thread. where 1t can be avoided, but the
true interests of England stand paramount.
Would you condemn thousands Of innocent
men to agony and the horrors Of pro-
longed war to save the feelings OF a border
ruffian, who intervenes in quarrel that
should not concern him.
"ST, you are in the right, and your argu-
mont is inconteslabc l accept your com
mand willingly"
A glram Of Measure lit the rligged face