Morris tribune., 1904-12-03

ward move and reveal his determine
ton to hang the Scot should he entan
gle himself further with English poll
tics. Yet she had the gravest doubt
that these dangers would influence him
These reflections troubled her unit
the time they were on their horses once
more, when Armstrong interrupted
them by crying out:
"Where's old John|
III sent him on ahead long SINCE" re
piled Frances.
Good! We shall soon oyertake him
Goodby!" he cried to the hostler, the
one who had set him on the way in the
attack on De Courcy. A. 4
"Good luck to you and your fair lady
SIR" replied the old man, raising his
cap In salute.
why are you so friendly with the
manT' asked Frances.
''Oh, the hostler knows much about
me-" said Armstrong. HE sees secret
comings and goings and draws his sage
conclusions. Banbury! O Lord, shall
never forget Banbury! 1t tsia place Of
mystery. the keeper Of dark secrets
and sudden rides, of midnight theft
and Of treachery. / Ask the Rroughton
road, where Cromwell lies, to reveal
what it knows. Things happen along
that track which the king knows moth
ing Of, and his royal signature takes
Journeys that he never counted upon"
Heavens pity! What do you
mean" moaned the girl, whitening to
the lips. He laughed joyously, but
checked himself when he saw the ter
rifying effect Of bis words on his com.
panion. They were now clear Of Ban
bury and trotting along the Coventry
road. Their departure had met with
no opposition, and they had seen not
even single soldier. The open coun-
try lay before them, the turrets Of the
town sinking in the rear. -,
my foolish words have frightened
you. Forget them! I am accumulat-
ing experiences that will interest you
to hear when the time comes for the
telling of them, but Of one thing
am assured, the good Lord stands by
his own, and he has shielded me since
yesterday morning broke. Come, Fran
ces, let us gallop. That and trust
in the Lord will remedy all the ills Of
man or woman"
She was glad Of the respite, and they
set off at full speed. Nevertheless her
mind was sorely troubled. "What did
be know, what did he known beat
through her brain in Anison with the
,latter of the horses hoofs. 1t was not
possible that chance had brought him
thus to the very center Of her guilty
secret. Cromwell, treachery, midnight
stealth, the Broughton road-these
words and phrases tortured her. Was
his, then, the line Of his revenge? Did
le know all, and did he purpose to
Keep her thus in suspense, limiting,
,oothing her fears, then reviving them,
making her black crime the subject Of
est and laughter? She cast a glance
,ver her shoulder. Banbury had dis
Lppeared they were alone, flying over
he land. The doubt was unbearable; |
he would endure 1t no longer. I'm
'etuously she reined her horse to
tand. stop" she cried, and at the |
vord her own horse and Bruce halted
nd stood. The young man turned with
larm to her agitated face.
what do you mean by your talk Of
sroughton and Cromwellr'
"Oh, that is a secret! did not in
end to tell you until our journey was
nded, when we could laugh over it to-
ether"
ut is no laughing matter. must
now what you mean"
"All dangers are laughable once they |,
re past. An unknown, unsupported |
anger threatened me at Banbury. 1t
, now past and done with, and the
erson who plotted against me can
arm me no more. There are reasons
Thy do not wish to mention this per-
on's name. Barring that, may tell !
GU now as we'll as another time. if you
are to listen"
''Tell me the story, and will tell
on the name Of the thief" said
RANGES.
"You slept badly last night. Did you
ear anything?" ~
I'LL heard the clock strike the
ours"
II heard it strike three, but lay so
,cked in drowsiness that knew not
ne Lord was calling to me. If the
even Sleepers were melted into one,
vould outsleep that one. Well, to get
n, l was robbed in the night. 1t must
ave been at that hour. for remember
imly some sort of disturbance But
rovidence stood my friend. BY the
lerest chance, it might seem, but not
Y chance, as believe, l, saw the crea-
Ire make for Broughton. so. here's
" Broughton,' cried l, ON the back
Bruce, and see if my good pistols
ould win back what had been stolen
ON me- The Broughton road it was.
nd the pistols did the business" Say
g this, he whisked from his pocket /
le kings commission, waving it tri- +
nphantly aloft. Her wide eyes drank
the amazing sight Of it. slowly brlm-
ing with superstitious fear. and then .
a T. - 1