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

riSoned by the RoundneauS. DIS al i'.io"o
surmised from the sounds OF Singing tha'
rang out through the night. But suddenly
the noise ceased. For sentinel had pound
ed on the door with the butt OF MS PIKE
crying:
ing
From the darkness emerged three morse
men, two following a leader thick set
man who came somewhat stiffly to the
ground as if fatigued with hard riding. To
the man who sprang to the bride he said
curtly See the horse well rubbed down
and in half an hour feed him with corn
Then to his two followers: Look to your
] horses first and to yourselves afterward
Be ready in hour.
The chief officer now stepped forward
"You will surely stop the night, Excel
lency? Everything is prepared
mo. Did my order to stay the execution
of Wentworth reach you in time. Colonel
Porlock?"
Yes. Excellency. 1 would not have ven
tured to execute him without your sane
ton. although the death sentence was the
unanimous finding of the court -martial.
1.-The sentence was just. 1t may yet be
carried out or 1t may prove that the Lord
has other use for him. Lead the way
within
, General Cromwell gave greeting to the
different groups as he passed them, MS
ne0Ny TlulnS DOolS SWiSH-o" dShiiiS
each other as he followed Colonel Porlock
into the hall. He strobe awkwardly like
man more accustomed to a horses pach
than tiled floor. The colonel led him INTO
the great dining room. one end or Whlcn
was occupied by the shattered window
while the other was crossed by gallery
The vast room was almost completely
! bare of furniture. with the exception OF
high-backed carved chair which doubtless
! belonged to it. and a stout oake1 table
taken from some other part of the house,
replacing the long, hospitable board that
had witnessed many festive gathering.
but which had been used for hreWood ny
the troopers. The general gaZe1 about the
ample apartment for a moment as one VINO
had never seen it before, estimating his
bearings with the shrewd eye of a prac,
ticed soldier. then he pushed the table untli
it stood lengthwise with the room, instead
of across, as before, glanced at the galier!
and table if making some computation
regarding their relative positions drew up
the chair and seated himself setting the
two candles by the edge furthest from MN.
HAS Captain Bond arrived with MS
prisoner"
eyes Excellency. He came at sunset
as he sure of his mann
He appears to be so, sir.
Were any papers found on him.?
Yes. Excellency.
1.-The other prisoner. Wentworth, is little
more than youth, l am told%
HE is very young. EXceliency.
How came he to be set on an important
outward post that night?
"There was no danger of attack, and L
placed him there of deliberate purpose. He
was most reluctant to go, making one ex-
cuse and then another, saying he was Ill,
and what not. For more than month he
has been under suspicion of communicating
with malignants although we had no direct
proof He had been seen stealing away
from the domain of Lord Rubdy. the chief
of the disaffected in this district. On the
night in question he was watched, and as
soon as he supposed himself alone. he de-
serted his post, put spurs to his horse and
rode straight across country to RudbY
Hall"
And was arrested there?'
mo. Excellency. An unlooked-for event
happened. He rode out from the grounds
of the hall. fighting his way. as it appeared.
against a band of Rudbys followers, who
were attacking him, and ran into the arms
of our men, who were watching for him.
The attacking party. seeing. as they sup
posed. an unknown force of rescuers. turn
ed and fled. The night was very dark. and
= the account of what took place is con-
fused but Wentworth was carried back to
Corbiton. tried and condemned for desert
ing while on duty, and holding commerce
with the enemy"
'I-mph What version did Wentworth
give of the AFFAIR."
He maintained he was no traitor, but
did not give any explanation of his absence
from duty"
IL thought Rudby had surrendered all
arms and had taken the oath to remain
neuter?"
His men We're armed with slaves only.
and Wentworth. better equipped, held
his own against them"
What view did the court take of this
Array
They thought 1t merely a feint to cover
the retreat of a discovered traitor. The
night, as | said, was dark, and our be-
ing mounted. could not move silently.
knowing the house would be searched If
Wentworth was hidden, this plan of SEEM
ing enmity against him prepared be-
forehand. in case of discovery"
How old a man is Rudby?"
Nearing So
What family has hep
His two supposed to be with
the king at oxford There is one daugh-
ter at Rudby Hall"
'Humph. Is this the young man who
Is said to be a of the late scoundrel,
Strafford?'
Yes exceliency."
I'm that very blood Is hatred of the peo-
pie. contumely and all arrogance. At heart
he must be royalist. And yet-and yet
where was he brought up?'
On the estate of Sir John Warburton.
dead these some years back. Warburton
was his grandfather.
Where is the Warburton estate?"
ut adjoins the lands of Rudby"
'A-h. Is the boys mother living?"
NO. His only relative Is a sister who
seems to be the most bitter king hater in
all the land
rs there not chance the boy was on his
way to see his sister,"
1T was thought not. She has been at lib
erty to visit him here. and has done so on
various occasions
Has Wentworth ever been in actiono"
oh, yes, excellency. and he acquitted
himself bravely enough
mo hanging back; wavering in the
face of the foe?"
mo. excellency."
"Humph. Send Captain Bent to me with
the papers. When he is gone wish YOU to
bring me a trooper, some silent man who
can be depended upon. an unerring marks
man"
When Captain Bent arrived he handed to
the general the papers he had taken from
Armstrong. Cromwell examined them with
great minuteness by the light of the can
dies then set them In a bunch on the table
without comment of any kind.
Did your prisoner resist at all or make
any attempt at escape?"
NO. general"
He made no protest them"
He said England and Scotland were at
peace, that he therefore needed no pass
port: that his arrest was Illegal and that
you would be the first to admit as much"
Humph! Was he thoroughly searchedp
Are you sure he had no other papers than
these? -''''
Quite sure. general"