Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-12-17

IuC ACul III, dl1A DCAOlC ~ OIooA q AoOA
ant young woman arranging tn
brands to their better burning with tn
tip of her boot. On high stool wa
spread her steaming cloak. In a fa
corner sat the old forester and hi:
wife. The moment the dripping horse
man showed in the door the old woman
rose and began to set out meal OF
dark bread and swine's flesh, boile(
and cold.
"Ah, here you are at last!' cried the
girl. 81 was beginning to fear should
have to go back to the camp for you
Did you find my token?
eyes"
"Give it to me-"
"Not so. Findings are keepings. YOU
cannot prove your right to the proper
ty."
"Alas, honest travellers are few, as
these good people seem to think. Throw
off your cloak. Here is wooden hook
by the fire that 1 have kept for it.
Draw up your stool and eat l was
30 hungry that didn't wait. You see
what it is to possess a good conscience
once more"
"What news have you?
"Hush! Great news, for I am the
very princess Of scouts. One thing at
time, however, and the one thing now
Is this black bread. We can get moth
ing for our horses at this place, so
must set out again as soon as possible,
| in SDite Of the rain"
Once on the road again she gave him
her budget of news.
"You are hero, William Arm
strong. England Is ringing with your
| exploits, and l never dreamed with
what a valorous knight Of old l tray
eled. 1t seems you stormed Warwick
castle and took it. You passed unseen
suspected you have dealings with the
devil, who travels beside you in the
guise Of a female, as is right and prop
er, and who appears and disappears
at her will. You attacked Lichfeld
cathedral and captured it. and there is
much disapproval among the peasantry
that Cromwell had formerly disman-
tied it, for they think that if this had
not been done the holy belongings Of
the place would have baffleG you.,:~,
"You think then that my fenSlsh
character will protect me?"
"Not so. But you have nothing to
fear between here and Carlisle.
thought you said De Courcy had been
killedr
"He went down, and supposed him
shot, but was in too much of a hurry
to inquire"
"He and others rode to the north last
night and they are now between US
and Carlisle"
"He has as many lives as cat. If
that is the case why do you say the
road to Carlisle is clear?"
Because from Carlisle to Newcastle,
right across England, the Gordon is to
be stretched, and from Carlisle west to
a line Of men, almost within touching
distance of each other, will extend from
sea to sea, and all traffic north will be
stopped. A thousand pounds is on
your head. The general himself is on his
way north to see that you are trapped,
or to be ready for any outbreak Of the
Scots should you win through"
II fear 1 have been unable to con-
vince Oliver that am the devil, since
he takes such excellent human means
of frustrating me. A thousand pounds!
And yet you held that first day l was
Of slight value!'
"What do you propose to do?"
"You are the plan maker Of this
foray. What do you propose to do or
have you thought Of that YETI"
II have not only thought Of it, but
have received instructions on it. I
have heard the officers discuss what
should be done, but l want to hear
your conclusions first"
Every we'll. The line runs from the
west coast to Newcastle. At Newcas-
tie am more than forty miles from
Scotland at the nearest point, while at
Carlisle / am less than ten. Every step
east I 60 l am placing myself more
and more at a disadvantage, yet l
might go east simply because Of this
and because they know that l know
that they know l am on the road to
Carlisle. Having fallen into one am
bush they will imagine me on the con-
slant outlook for another Going free
for so long, they might even count on ,
my increasing carelessness, but shrewd I
men would not lippen to that. Know |
ing l am single handed and can make
no stand, they will expect me to creep
through at night either east or west Of /
Carlisle and as near as may be to that
place, trusting to the short distance /
and the fieetness Of my horse in race
FOR, the Scottish border. am hills
man, accustomed to threading my way
through wild country, with a keen
eye for an enemy. have avoided all
the big towns, Birmingham. Manches-
ter and the like, 80 they will not ex-
pect me to risk either Newcastle or
Carlisle. Night will be the time when
they are greatly on the alert, especial
ly If this storm continues. Very well .
again. Who am if questioned? :,