Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-10-08

asked Armstrong, without showing any
alarm.
ooh, just to let the farmer 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 a fools
advice and costs you nothing"
"Your cry meets with no response, -
said Armstrong, laughing at the shall
low cunning 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 re-
pressed eagerness. he would find him
self surrounded. Nevertheless he fol-
lowed without betraying any know
edge of the trap he was entering.
AS they neared the farmhouse q
voice cried sharply "Haltv and an
armed man sprang up from behind the
hedge, cutting off retreat, if such had
been attempted. While the others
made through the hedge to the lane,
the tattered man as nimbly put the
hedge between himself and his vic
tim, as if fearing reprisal, laughing
boisterously, but rather nervously.
Brave captain, I've brought you
fine horse and gay gentleman, and
the two are for SALE"
The man who had cried "Haltw
stepped forth from the shelter Of the
nearest outbuilding, drawn sword
in his hand, followed by two others
with primed matchlocks, stolidly ready
for any emergency. Four others closed
up the rear coming down the lane.
There was no mistaking the fact that
officer, even if the object had not adj
dressed him as captain, salutation to
which he paid no attention, for, al
though his uniform showed little diff
ference from that of his men, he had
in his stern face the look Of one &C
customed 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 con-
Germ to himself.
"Who are you? asked the captain.
"My name is William Armstrong"
replied the rider simply. In spite Of
himself, the stolid face of the leader
showed some surprise at this announce
ment, as if he knew the name and had
not expected to hear it so frankly &C.
knowledged.
'Where are you from?'
Il came across the border this morn
Ing. | am a Scotsman"
''Why are you here?
81 am q cattle dealer, and as there is
little doing in my own country
thought l would just see if business
was better on this side of the line.
This amusing lunatic said there was
cattle for sale in tie valley and led
me hither. for which service l paid
him a trife"
''And so there is, and so there u.s.
cried the lunatic. but the price we<
for my advice not for the leading
hither. l must get my pay for tina: |
yet. Aye, there's cattle for sale here
and I'm the marketman."
''Peace to your folly" said the cap
tain, scowling, then CURLY to the |
horseman, "Dismount"
Armstrong sprang to the ground
"Your swotd," demanded the officer.
The weapt'a was handed to him.
"po cattle dealers in your country
AIRY arms2"
ITO tell you the truth" said the
'oung man, with laugh, 'if they did
lot they would carry little money
ome with them. 1 not only carry
rms, but know how to use them on oc-
asion"
81 ask to see your papers giving you
emission to travel in England"
II have none. Scotland is at peace
nth England, and a citizen of my
ountry should not require papers in
listing England any more than an
Inglishman would need the same to go
:om one end of Scotland to the other"
''Humph," growled the captain, "you
re we'll versed in the law. 1 hope you
re engaged in no enterprise that is
ontrary to it,"
81 hope not, captain. If you are
lng's men you maintain that you are
pholding the law. If you are parlia-
entary you swear the same thing"
eve swear not at ALL"
'Then I surmise you are no kings
en-. But in any case. until one or
her Of you have declared war against {
,otland or until Scotland has declared
ar against either Of you. or both, you
eddie with free citizen of Scotland
your peril"
''It is perhaps wisest to indulge in no !
reats."
II am not INDUCING in any. am
ating a plain, uncontrovertible fact
at would be held by none SO stoutly
by General Cromwell himself"
'eThen keep your dissertations on law {
It'll you see the general. which is like
/. happen before we: are done with
W."
Nothing would give me greater {
easure than to have discourse with i
at distinguished man. He is fight g
after nv own haart and I under | {