Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-20


you own the penalty right?"
'.Sir. 1t is partly-rsght and partly wrong.
| like most things in this world 1t is right
to punish me for DESERVING my post: it is
wrong to brand me a traitor"
"Ah you have found your voice at last,
and there is some courage behind 1t. De-
| sertion is an objectionable crime. The
point press upon you is this: Your life is
forfeit. yet. although your fault is unpar-
donable. do not say 1t cannot be compen-
stated for. Even my enemies admit I am
an honest trader. i will bargain with you
for your life. You shall buy it of me and
I shall pay the price; even though 1 do not
| forgive the crime.
I'VE will first. If you please. clear up the
charge OF treachery You were visiting
your own home that night. and as it is on
the further side of Rudby Hall your ances-
tors naturally thought you had a rendez-
vous there?"
mo: general; It was my intention to have
"rhe residence of that foul. malignant
Lord Rudby. so called?"
Eyes. but not to see his lordship. who is
my enemy, personal well as political"
The scowl vanished from the face of
| his questioner, and something almost re-
sembling laugh came from his firm lips.
| You are truthful and it pleases me-
Why did you make a foolish mystery Of
your excursions? l take the case to stand
| thus. Your grandfather and Rudby were
neighbors. and possibly friends. You were.
| and are in love with my lords daughter
people. this oppressor Of the people will
| have naught of you. You have risked your
| life to see the girl. who is doubtless silly
as the rest of her class. as you will dis
cover IL I let you live. Stands the case not
| thus?''
I'm a measure. sir. it does. saving any
reflection on the lady. who"
Surely surely. 1 know what you would
say, for I was once your age and as soak
ed in folly. The question is. If you will
risk your life for her. will you do what I
ask of you to earn the girl and your life
or will you refuse. and let her go to an
other?"
"Sir, will do anything for her,
"Then hearken well. There was here be-
fore me. where you now stand, some mo-
ments since, the most plausible liar in the
kingdom. He told me truths which on the
surface appeared to be treachery to his
friend. but which he was well aware 1 al
ready knew. This was to battle me into be-
lieving him. He rides to Oxford to see the
king, and in that L am willing to aid him.
He may tell the king what pleases him.,
and those who send him-little good will it
do any of them In return the king is to
give him a commission, to be handed to
certain lords in Scotland. If that commits
sion crosses the border we are like to have
a blaze to the north of us, which do not
wish to see kindled until year from now:
then, by God-then, by Gods will, 1 shall
be ready for them. We shall defeat the
Scots in any case, but If this commission
reaches these indictments we cannot have
the Observation-Disclosures shall be precluded
from the duty of beheading the ringleaders
without bringing on ourselves the con-
tumely of Europe. Without the kings COM
mission they are but broilers-marauders.
With this commission they will set up the
claim that they are belligerents. Do you
understand the position?"
Perfectly, general"
1.-THE commission must be Intercepted at
all costs. 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 mat
ter to run this messenger through the body
and there an end. Il want what he carries,
but l do not wish to- harm the carrier
These Scots are a .clannish, troublesome,
determined race. If you prick one with a
swords point the whole nation bowls. This.
then, must be done quietly SO that we bring
no swarm about our ears.
William Armstrong is the messengers
name, and he has powerful supporters in
his own country. He was stopped as soon
as he crossed the border yesterday and
brought here. He !pretends to be an inno-
cent trader In cattled and will likely keep
up that pretense. have appeared to be-
lieve all he says and he leaves this house
tomorrow with pass from my hand. CIV
ing him permission to travel as far south as
Manchester, which was all he asked. 1
would willingly have. given him safe con-
duct to Oxford but he was too crafty to
make his way south from Manchester. AS
matter of fact. he. cannot, but l wish to
| make the way easy for him..
"Of course, could give general order
that he was not to be molested. but there
are reasons against this, as we have doubt
less spies in our own ranks, and a general
order would excite suspicion, and would
probably prove useless, because this man.
south of his permits territory. will en-
deavor to go surreptitiously to Oxford and
by unfrequented routes 1t will be your
DUTY to become acquainted with Armstrong
and win his confidence You will accom-
~ md rnfr, yr,jft J, hi
You Will be protected by a pass so broad
! that it will cover any disguise either of
you may care to assume. 1t is such pass
as have never issued before, and am not
| likely to issue again. SO l need not warn
you to guard it carefully, and use it only
when necessary.
1t reads thus Here the speaker took up
sheet of paper on which he had been
writing, and holding it so that the ligh.
from the candles fell upon it, read aloud
Pass the bearer and one other without
question or interference from Carlisle to
Oxford and return.
The journey south will give you the
opportunity to become acquainted with
your man. On the northward march you
must become possessed of what he carries
and when you bring it to me- you rece We
| In return full pardon and promotion If
you do not succeed before you reach Car
iisle then must crush him: possibly kill
| MN as spy Will you undertake it?''
lis an ungracious office you would be-
stow upon me. sir. I had rather meet him
| IN fair fight and slay him, or have him
Stay me. as God willed."
| There speaks youth" cried Cromwell
impatlently This man is a treacherous
lying spy, whose life. by all the rules of
war, Is already forfeit 1 propose to dis
COMMIT him with his own weapons. Nay
more; willingly save him from the de-
structlon he merits. You are set to do him
the greatest service one man can offer an
other II you fail, he dies. If you succeed
ne mas probably a long life before him
God knows 1 yearn to cut no mans thread
Wnere II can be avoided, but the true in
terests OF england stand paramount. Would
you condemn thousands of innocent men
10 agony and the horrors of prolonged war
10 save the feelings of a border ruffian
VINO lntervenes in quarrel that should no,
/ concern him?"
SIT you are in the right, and your argu-
ment is incontestable. l accept your COM
mand willingly"
A sleam OF pleasure lit the rugged face of
the general. for he was flattered to believe
his proWess In controversy was no less po-
tent IMAM his genius In war. His voice soft
ened perceptibly as he continued
we are en1oined by the word to unite
the wisdom OF the serpent with the harm
iessness OF the dove Your mission COM
pines the two attributes, wisdom and harm
iessness. LOT you are to beguile deceit, and