Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-01-02
CHAPTER XXXV.

I anu
of consequences.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE ALE HOUSE ON THE MOOR
1t was quite dark when 1 moved on
! again, and within half a mile l saw a
twinkle Of light straight before me. |
! reflected and remembered that a small
ale house should be somewhere near at
hand, and that must be 1t. / ad-
vanced warily and soon stood within
; q dozen yards of the lighted
If all was quiet, surely l might venture
to get some food here. Now that L had
O hat my appearance was in no way
| beyond ordinary for a country tellow.
I slipped my quarter-staff under a
bush, carefully marking the place that
l might find it again, and edged UP TO
the uncurtained window.
The first peep l took cheered my
heart like a cordial and brought the
water of desire into my mouth. Be
side a cheerful fire stood a table and on
either side of It sat Ieuan GWyllt and
Dafydd.
There they were at ease in their inn,
a dish of smoking rashers OF bacon ana
a big brown loaf between them. Inc
| good, hearty smell of the fried bacon
crept through the crevices Of the ILL
! fitting lattice and tickled my nostriis
richly with it's SAVIOR. i had been very
hungry before, and now my appetite
became clamorous for a share of this
toothsome banquet. The room was
empty but for them, and L stepped
forward and lifted the latch of the
door. / went in and found myself in
n passage which ran through the house.
The landlord was coming along 1t in
the opposite direction with a great jug
Of ale, and / followed him into the
room where the Red Men of the Dusk
were feasting. Ieuan looked up and
saw my face over the landlords Shout
der.
"Well indeed" said he with his ready
smile, as for an expected guest, "yo
have come at last. Yes, that ISIS better
than not to come at all. Take a drink
Of the ale"
My hand was on the jug with less
delay, 1 fear, thar was polite, and
took a hearty %draught, which could
not have given my parched throat more
| delight had 1t been fresh brewed nee
tar.
And you will have some supper with
me-" went on Ieuan, amiably. Come,
landlord some more bacon and a few
eggs again. Here ISIS a loa big enough
for a dozen. We will finish the supper
before we begin business. Then we can
talk about the prices of things while
we sit by the fire with another jug Of
ale
Ieuan purred smoothly along, and l
nodded a clownish agreement as be-
| came my character, and the landlord
hustled about and set out a fresh
trencher and a chair before 1t. / seat
ed myself and began to maxi havoc
Of the slices still left on the dish, and
the food tasted as sweetly as 1t had
smelled. Ieuan had come pretty well
to an end of his meal, n he leaned
his elbows on the table, took his face
between his hands, and watched me
with a smile.
Yes" said he, when the landlord had
left the room. Il have a good eye to
tell when a man ISIS hungry. You nave
run many miles on your feet since you
last tool some food"
II have, ~Ieuan," / replied, and ]
thank you for this, l can assure you"
Ieuan waved his hand, as bidding me
be asy
You have taken to the road again,
that ISIS, plain to see" he remarked.
How did they find you out?"
II quarreled with the fellow you saw
at the inn yesterday"
'sYes, yes" agreed Ieuan; 1T would
be about Owain's sister. l could see
that coming very clearly. But he wass
not much Of a man; his eye wass
poor. You took a sword and killed
him easy"
NO" said I; Il did not go so far
as that, but l handled him pretty
roughly"
HIM" said Ieuan. rather dissatis-
fled. ITO kill ISIS the best. You are
sparing yourself many enemies by
that"
Our conversation q nowinterrupted
by the entrance of fresh customers. Il
couple Of yokels Of the neighborhood
who called for ale, and sat in a corner
| m DRINK tnpathap ThaU sra we'd phnl1t
an hour, and in this time l finished my
meal and sat in the warmest nook OF
the chimney corner, drying the last
moisture out Of my clothes. Ieuan took
q seat near me and we conYersed upon
the price Of cattle, dropping our voices
as we came apparently to the pitch Of
the bargain, until we had reached q
point where we could talk Of what we
pleased. 1 told him of the line 1 had
taken, and he, a past master in such
arts, approved.
How far ISIS this now from your
house?" he asked.
mo more thar twelve miles" l re-
piled; II have doubled about SO. 1 was
surprised to see you had not got farth-
er yourself"
MY pony went very lame" replied
Ieuan. He ISIS only a little one, and
my weight has been too much for him
on so long a journey. So / stopped here
to give him a good rest till tomorrow"
He bit his lip, and stared thoughtfully
into the fire.
Now" said he, here ISIS the plan.
Tomorrow morning, before the daylight
comes, you must go from this place
in my clothes. 1t ISIS lucky we are about
the same size. Have you some mon
ey?"
mot a penny" l replied.
"Never mind" rejoined IGIan, you
have a good right to a few pounds out
of the little bag here" and ne touched
his breast, where the gold lay hidden;
enough to carry you to a place where
you will be safe again. Are you
thinking to go far?"
within a dozen miles OF Hereford"
"a little journey that" said Ieuan.
We'll, you take these clothes, when
you will look very respectable, and by
daylight you must be two or three
miles away Walk to the next town
and hire a horse, and off you go.
Dafydd and I will slip away with you.
or change in clothes. will be SEEN"
I gratefully consented to Ieuan's
safety; and as the landlord now Games
to give us his company, it was not pos
sible to discuss the subject further. For
a couple Of hours he sat with us Ind
prosed about country affairs and local
gossip. Ieuan, who had his own rea-
sons for doing so. ordered liberal sup
plies of ale, n urged the host to
drink. He needed but little encourage
ment and disposed cheerfully OF almost
all that he bought, Seasoned topper as