Willmar tribune., 1903-07-08
Copyt0h 1898 and 1901 by the Bosoe' Me'1u Conpdny
Il II Il II II II Il :: II II II I: Il Il II II Il II 4 4 4 4, Il


alive with every nQisome thing that
creeps. There was no bed, no stool, no
floor, not even a wisp of straw; SIM
ply the reeking stone walls covered
with fungus, and the windowless arch
overhead. One could hardly conceive
a more horrible place in which to spend
even a moment. l had glimpse Of it
by the light Of the keepers lantern as
they put him in, and it seemed to me a
single night in that awful place would
protested and begged and tried to bribe,
but it was all Of no avail The keeper
had been bribed before l arrived. AL.
though it could do no possible good,
was glad to stand outside the prison
walls in the drenching rain all the rest
of that wretched night that might be
as near as possible to my friend and
suffer little with him.
As soon as the prison gates were
opened next morning l again impor.
tuned the keeper to give Brandon a
more comfortable cell, but his reply
was that such crimes had of late be-
come so frequent in London that no ia.
vor could be shown those who commit.
ted them, and that men like Brandon
who ought to know and act better, de.
served the maximum punishment.
l told him he was wrong in this case;
that knew the facts, and everything
would be clearly explained that very
day and Brandon released.
'"That's all very WE'LL" responded the
stubborn creature. Nobody is guilty
who comes here. They can every one
prove innocence clearly and at once.
Notwithstanding, they nearly all hang,
and frequently, for variety's sake, arc
drawn and quartered.
waited about Newgate until 9
o'clock and as passed out met Buck
ingham and his man Johnson, sort of
lawyerknight, going in. l went down
to the palace at Greenwich and, finding
that the girls were still at Scotland
palace, rode over at once to see them.
Upon getting Mary and Jane to my
self I told them of Brandon's arrest
on the charge Of murder and of his
condition, lying half dead from wounds
and loss Of blood in that frightful
dungeon. The tale moved them great
ly, and they both gave way to tears. I
think Mary had heard Of the arrest
before, as she did not seem surprised.
"Do you think he will tell the cause
Of the killin~?" she asked.
II know he will not" I answered,
"but also know that he knows you
WILL" And looked straight into her
face.
"Certainly we WILL" said Jane. 1--WE
will go to the king at once" And she
was on the qui vive to start immedi-
ately.
Mary did not at once consent to
James proposition. but sat in a reverie,
looking with fearful eyes into vacancy,
apparently absorbed in thought. Aft
er little pressing from us she said
Il suppose it will have to be done-I
can see no other way-but blessed
Mother Mary, help me!'
The girls made hasty preparations,
and we all started back to Green
wich, that Mary might tell the king.
On the road over stopped at Newgate
to tell Brandon that the princess would
soon have him out, knowing how well
come liberty would be at her hands,
but was not permitted to see him.
I swallowed my disappointment and
thought it would be only a matter of
few hours delay. the time spent In
riding down to Greenwich and sending
back a messenger. So, light hearted
enough at the prospect, l soon Joined
the girls, and we cantered briskly
home.
After waiting a reasonable time for
Mary to see the king I sought her
again to learn where and from whom
should receive the order for Bran
don's release and when I should go to
London to bring him.
What was my surprise and disgust
when Mary told me she had not yet
seen the king; that she had waited to
''eat and battle and dress" and that
"a few moments more or less could
make no difference"
my God, your highness! Did I not
tell you that the man who saved your
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