The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1903-12-10
Godfrey Heathcote, Esq
BY John FINNIMoRE. fcopyr.-.. Zoo 8 ! Mseanre 90
By JOHN rINNIhoRE


BY JOHN FINNIMoRE. q
On he came, small. bright eyed man
Of sixty, perched q HIS big hackney,
and cycling Uncover with a keen glance
as he rode up onssrny left hand /
stared at aim from under the broad
brim OF my hat and tngged itarespect-
fully. He Slightly lifted his bride
hand in return, and / ers~IniJTAMfas
straight with much ado. The truth is,
II could have Rugged him. His quiet.
4 pleasant faceRand clear brown eyes
were delightful to see again. and home
strides carried him level with Enid, and
he jumped in his. saddle. Two strides
again and he swung his hackney clear
across9the path n pulled him up
dead, blocking our way.
STAND shouted Roger, but fear
nought.S am a + man, and I de
mand speech witT you.'
He looked round with flushed face
and bright eyes, staring eagerly at
Enid. She had drawnr rein atgonce, and
sat looking at him. The sweetness and
4 beauty Of her smile disarmed him and
he took off his hat.
MADAM said Roger, bowling polite
ly, where got you that mare you ride
oar"
Pray, why do you stop our road?"
asked Enid.
For sheer wonder" replied Roger.
IT see the creature that has never car
ried but one "a in all her life, and
that mar my dear young master, in the
company of strangers, and / must know
how YOU got her.
How came you to be SO sure of her??'
I demanded in a false voice, pushing
my pony forward. Roger dropped his
napd into a pocket where he had a
pistol.
Madam" he urged, bid your MAJ
keep back. He looks a strong rogue
and a masterful. / would do him no
harm, but know the truth of this mat
ter I will and must. You are a lady and
kind, my eyes are 4Warrant&eneugh
for that. Tell me, L pray of yoa-and,
you, she knows me. Whitesock! good
lass. Whitesocl1 then, where is he
who rode her from these parts2 From
whom had you the mare, madam"
From her husband ] croaked.
A lovely, rosy flush shone all over
Ends face, and her eyes, frightened
by Rogers appeal, We're turned slyly
upon me. Roger stared from one to
the other with parted lips. A l. dy and
her serving man upon these terms had
he never seen before.
And tell me, good fellow, the name
Of your mistress husband?"
"Geoffry Heathcote of Butley Croft"
I have never seen and never shall see
again such a picture as Rogers face
presented upon hearing these familiar
yet totally unexpected words.
my young master" he gasped.
"oh, Geoffry," pleaded Enid.
I drew my hat right down pom my
face, then lower and lower, till my fore
head and laughing eyes We're to be
seen, and Roger Thorne," said ], in my
own voice. T.
from his horse, ran to the side of my
pony, andsfairly held me in his arms.
ooh, Master Geoffry," he cried,
praise God I see you safe and well
cnce more. And praise God I never
knewEyou, for your enemies will be in
like case. But keep Your hat we'll pulled
down. I knew you without it at once
I shook his honest hand and pre-
scented him to Enid.
Here, Roger said I, lis your mis-
tress. Not even you must question her
right to ride Whitesock."
All, sir, you now what i meant"
said he, and, with as much ceremony
as IL Enid and I were arriving at the
house Of my fathers in a coach and six,
l. LIE -doNallCGuA " Day III I6SpCClS aIlu
kiss her hand.
Then Roger unfolded his budget Of
news, which, in short, came to this:
Sir John Postgate, attended by a
stronger posse, had descended on But
ley Croft within six hours of my flight,
but the secret Of my going had been
well kept, and he discovered nothing
to my disadvantage. Since then there
had been much riding to n fro, and,
for a while, troops had been quartered
on the place. These We're now gone
luckily, and the house was under the
authority of the Independent magis-
trate. He had largely removed my ser
wants, and garrisoned the place with
some Of his own people, and a sharp
watch was kept on all who came and
went.
W. have but one weak place." said I.
E"Whitesock. 1t is for her sake that I
am skulking across the common here
instead Of riding up Butley street as
would be the safer way Of approach"
'HThat it would" replied Roger; ito
come secretly Is to set tongues wag-
ging with a will. and there is no need
for you to do SO now. I will take
Whltesock to Ralph's cottage in the
chase, where she can be safely hidden,
and do you, sir and your party take a
cast round and ride III the street bold
w."
"Ay, ay, Roger" said I, "a good plan
and the meeting with you has been
lucky, indeed"
The cottage Of Ralph, the keeper,
lay in a secluded spot on the side 5furth-
crest from the village and avenue, and
far from any other house. No one
lived there but himself and his wife,
and their fidelity was assured.
old Ranger is there, too," remarked
NThorne. "and that will help to keep peo-
pie who might carry tales, for he flew
out at Sir Johns folk tim and again,
as If he well knew they were enemies,
n I had to Danish him, or else suffer
him to be killed, and that 1 was unwill-
ing to see" Ranger was a staunch
bloodhound who had watched the house
by night, and / knew well his keen dis
like of strangers.
While Roger was talking we had been
busy shifting the saddles, and / now
put him in possession of the part !
intended to play.
In a few minutes all was ready and
we parted. Roger riding northward to-
Ward Ralph's cottage, while we struck
across the common to the south to
reach the main road, well out Of sight
of the village. Enid was now mounted