The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-12
CHAPTFP. VII.

% the polishing of saddle leather than
TO the wearing out of the same ma
teria1 in the form Of boots. Horse and
man were so subtly suited, each to
each, that such another pair might well
have given to some early artist the
first idea of q centaur. Armstrong was
evidently familiar with the district he
traVersed. for he eVinced no surprise
when. coming to the crown of a height,
he saw in the valley below him
one-storied stone building, whose out
houses and general surroundings pro-
claimed it a solitary inn, but the horse,
less self-contained, and doubtless more
fatigued. thrust forward its ears and
gave utterance to a faint Whinny of
pleasure at the near prospect of rest
and refreshment. The hand of the rider
affectionately strolSed and patted the
long black name, as If in silent cor
roboration of the animals eager antici-
patton.
The young man was fair as his mount
was dark A mass of yellow hair
flowed out from under his Scots bon
net and over his broad shoulders. A
heavy blond mustaChe gave him a
semi-militaTy air, a look of the caVa-
lier, as if he were a remnant of that
stricken band across the border which
was fighting for King Charles against
daily increasing odds, but something
OF ja3iuty self-cOnfdence in Arm
strong's manner betokened that the
civil war raging in England was no
concern to him.
Both prOwess an geniality were on
the instant of being put to the test as
he approached the inn, where way
farer is usually certain of a welcome
If ne has but money in his pouch. A
Ianceman, his tall weapon held upright,
stepped out into the road from the
front of the closed door before which
he had been standing, when he saw
that the traveller was about to halt
and dismOunt.
yen be fur dawnerin' on a bit
faurer forret," limited the sentinel in a
cautious, insinuating manner, as If he
were but giving expression to the
others unsDoken intention.
"A wise man halts at the first public
house he comes to, after the sun is
down." replied Armstrong.
"Ah'm thinkin' a mans no vera
wise that stops whaur he's least want
ed, If them that's no wantin' him hiz
good arm in their hauns."
AYE. my lad, steeFs a bonny argu-
ment, rightly used. What's "a tn steer
here that tired man, willing to pay
his way. is sent doom tn rOad2"
Armstrong adopted for the moment a
brogue as broad as that Of his ques-
toner. He flung his right leg across
the horse, and now sat sideways in his
saddle, an action which caused the
sentinel TO grip suddenly the shaft of
his pike with both hands. but the
equestrian making no further motion,
cOnversing in an easy, nOnchalant tone.
as if he had little personal interest in
the discussion, the vigilance of the
man on guard partially relaxed, prob
ably thinking it as well not TO pro
woke so eXceHently equipped an op-
ponent by any unnecessary show of
hostility.
''Weel, We see, there's muclxle folk in
ben yonner that hiz many a thing to
chatter ABBOTT, an that's a An ken OF.
forby that Ah'm ia let name inside Ia
disturb them"
Whose man are YOu?'
'Ah belong Ia tn Yerl o. Traquair."
And a very good friend Of mine the
Earl OF Traquair is. VIII you just go
inside and tell him William Armstrong
is sitting here on his horse?'
That wUll All no, fur If tn king
himself were ia ask, All munna let
him by tn door. Sa jist taak a fule's
advice fur vince, and gang ava Ia tn
next botha afore it gets darker an
yes like to lose yer road amang tn
hills"
The descent OF young Armstrong was
so instantaneous that the man-at-
arms had no opportunity OF carrying
out his threat, or even of leveling the
uuWieldly weapon in his own defense.
The hOrseman dropped on him as if he
had fallen from the clouds. and the
pike rang useless on the rough cObble-
stones. The black horse showed no
sign of fright as might have been ex-
pected. but turned his intelligent head
and calmly watched the fray as if ac-
cUstOmed to any eccentricity on the
part of his master. And what the fine
eyes of the quadruped saw was star
Ting enough. The widespread limbs
of the surprised soldier went whirling
through the air like the arms of a
windmill in a gale. Armstrong had
grasDed him by the waist and turned
him end for end, revolving him, Cath
erine-wheel wise. until the bewildered
wits of the victim threatened TO leave
him through the action of centrifugal
force BY the time the unfortunate
sentinel lost all reckoning of the direc-
tiOn in which solid earth lay with re-
gard TO his own swiftly changing posi-
ton. he was spraWling on his assail
ants shoulder, gaping like a newly
landed trout, and, thus hoisted aloft,
ne was carried to the closed door,
which a kick from Armstrong; foot
burst crashing inward. The intruder
flung his burden into the nearest cor
ner OF the large room as if he were
sack Of corn. then, facing the startled
audience, the young man cried:
Strong orders should have a strong
er guard than you set. gentlemen. I
hold to the right of every Scotsman TO
enter a public dram shop when he
pleases.
A dozen amazed men had sprung TO
their feet, overseeing a chair or stool
here and there behind them. and here
and there a hagOn before them. Eleven
swords flashed out but the appraised
right hand Of the chairman and his
commanding voice caused the weapons
to hang suspended
The very man, BY God. the very
man we want, In the fiend's name.
VIII. where have you dropped from 90
Prom the back Of my horse a mo-
ment since. as your henchman here
viii bear witness. Traquair."
Armstrong. your arrival at this
jUncture is providential; that's what it
is. Drovidentiali"
ct must be. my lord. for you did
your best to prevent il. Your stout
pikeman would not even let you know
] was within call. so 1 Just brought him
In 20 give the message properly"
"L40sh. If he knew YOU as well as I
do ne would have thought twice ere
he stood i'm your way. Come TO the
table. man. and fill hagOn."
The young man drank long and well.
The sentinel had by this time got on
his feet and was staring at the COM
pany like one dazed.
where's your pike?" demanded Ira
QUAR-.
"On the stones ootside ma lord"
Very wei. Go out and lift it, and
nee that YOU keep a better grip of it
omen ne next man comes along At
fund r-rr7 & ron horse orT lrqer,