Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-13

pondered Whicad should he take? He
knew them equally well. The main road
/ have been PREFERABLE; the other, less direct
would probably carry him further in these
uncertain times, That he could avoid con-
tact with the parliamentary forces was i'm
possible, whichever road he took. and the
| question which nav demanded solution was
| not so much his direction as whether II
| were well to bring on his inevitable encoun-
| ter with the Cromwellites sooner or later.
| But to an observer he bore the attitude
| of a stranger who had lost his way This
was evidently the conclusion arrived at by
| an object hidden in the hedge which had
| proved his nights lodging The object
sprang out across the ditch with a sudden
| ness that made the horse start and snort
in alarm, to be soothed by the gentle pat Of
its riders hand. for the imperturbable Arm
| strong seemed surprised at nothing which
took place The object had the wild un-
kempt appearance of one who habitually
slept out of doors. His long and matted
| hair emaciated face and ragged beard no
less than his tattered clothing, or covering.
| rather, made up of odds and ends of vari-
Gus costumes. formed a combination by no
means attractive. He held in his hand
grasped by the middle. a long stick, some
| what taller than himself (which road are
you going to take. my gay gentleman he
cried
II was just switherin''
| "Ah, you're from Scotland They tell me
they grow fine crop of fools there. The
| road on the right leads to Carlisle and the
FOOLS name in that direction is the king
The safest way Is the one you came and
the FOOLS name there is like to be Crom-
well, so they tell me- Am to get the fools
price for advice?"
The horseman threw him a coin, which
the object clutched in midair with great
expertness and examined eagerly.
| Thank you, gay gentleman. The advice
| Is to turn your fine horse end for end. and
| get back among the fools of your kidney
| We are always safer among our own kind"
Are there any cattle for sale hereabout?
Icno In "a 40
"Everything's for sale in England, crown.
| cattle, opinions, swords. Oh, it's a great
market for cutlery. But the price Is uncer-
well, it's cattle, not cutlery, want to
buy"
| II sometimes sell cattle myself" said the
| object. with a cunning look.
| 'It does not seem very PROSPEROUS busf-
ness. then? Where do you get your stock?'
| oh pick it up on the roads. You'll find
no cattle on the way to Carlisle. The coun-
| try Is swept bare in that direction. But
can lead you to fine herd If you make 1t
| worth my while"
I'm which direction"
| Down this way. Come along. Are you
| after any particular breed?"
mo. Anything there's money in"
You're just like me-" said the vagrant
| with a laugh as he strobe off down the
| unfrequented road. The object walked
| with incredible speed, laughing to himself
| now and then. and Armstrong was forced
to trot his horse to keep up with him. On
arriving at slight eminence the guide
| waved his long arm toward a stealing in
the valley, which looked like a deserted
| group of farm buildings, and said:
| There's fine lot of, cattle down yon-
| der"
| 81 can see no signs Of them"
| NO. no. They're well stabbed. Nothing
| lasts in the fields nowadays. They're not
| such fools as that. This herdsman knows
when to keep his beasts in shelter" And
| with this the vagabond raised a shrll shout
| that echoed from the opposite hills.
What are you crying like that for?"
asked Armstrong, without showing any
| alarm.
"Oh. just to let the farmers know we're
coming. Always give friendly warning in
these parts and then you may not get
| something in your inside that's hard to
digest. That's FOOLS advice, and costs
| you nothing. a.
| your cry meets with no response" said
Armstrong, laughing at the shallow cum
| ming Of his treacherous guide, for his keen
| eyes noted crouching figures making way
along the other side of a hedge. and he
| knew that If he went down the lane, at
| whose junction with the road the beggar
stood with repressed eagerness. he would
find himself surrounded. Nevertheless. he
| followed without betraying any knowledge
of the trap he was entering.
| AS the neared the farmhouse, a voice
cried sharply, Haiti and an armed man
| sprang from behind the hedge. cutting off
| retreat If such had been attempted. While
the others made through the hedge to the
| lane, the tatteredfman as nimbly put the
hedge between himself and his victim. as
II fearing a reprisal laughing boisterously
'' Brave rave, captain I've brought you fine
horse and a gay gentleman. and the two
| are for sale. .5s..
The man who had cried "Haltw stepped
forth from the shelter Of the nearest out
building. drawn sword in his hand. fol-
lowed by two others with primed match
locks, stolidly ready for any emergency.
/ Four others closed the coming
down the lane. There was no mistaking
the fact that the man with the drawn
sword was an officer. even II the object
had not addressed him as captain. a salu-
tation to which he paid no attention. for
although his uniform showed little differ
ence from that of his men, he had in his
stern face the look of one accustomed to
obedience. The horseman had drawn up
at the word and sat quite nonchalantly on
his steed. as If this were an affair Of no
particular concern to himself
! who are your" asked the captain.
My name Is William Armstrong. replied
the rider simply. In spite of himself. the
stolid face of the leader showed some sur
prise at this announcement. as If 1t were
unexpected, and as If he knew the name
| Where are you frOmT
Il came across the border this morning.
I am Scotsman"
why are you here?"
Il am cattle dealer, and as there Is little
doing in my own country I thought I would
just see If business was better on this side
of the line. This amusing lunatic said there
was cattle for sale In the valley and led
me hither, for which service 1 paid him a
trif1e.'
And so there Is, and so there isl cried
| the lunatic. but the price was for my adj
| vice. not for the leading hither. 1 must
get my pay for that yet Aye. there's cattle
for sale here, and I'm the market man."
| Peace to your folly, said the captain,
scowling. Then CURLY to the horseman.
"Dismount" Armstrong sprang to the
ground.
Your sword" demanded the officer. The
weapon was handed to him.
do cattle dealers in your country carry
arms?'
ITO tell you the truth" said the young
man with a laugh, If they did not they
would carry little money home with them.
not only carry arms, but know how to
usee them on occasion"
Il ask to see your papers giving you per-
mission to travel in England"
Il have none. Scotland Is at peace with
England, and a citizen of my country
should not require papers in visiting Eng
land. any more than an Englishman would
need the same to go from one end Of Scot
land to the other''
"Humph." growled the captain. you are
well versed in the law. I hope you are en-
gagged in no enterprise that is contrary to