The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-02-01
CHAPTER w.

ground beyond South Hincksey, with a
6hrewd northeast wind at my back. could
j spare time for a second backward look.
i pulled out the letter that Anthony had
given me. In the moonlight the brown
smear OF his blood was plain to see run
ming across the superscription:
'"ro our trusty and well-beloved Sir
Ralph Hopton at our Army in Cornwall
these"
Twas no more than l looked for, yet
the sight Of it and the Kings red seal
~quickened my step as | set off again.
Aud j cared not a straw for DIR. Kettles
wrath on the morrow.
Having no desire to fall in with any
OF the royal outposts that lay around
Abingdon, l fetched well away TO the
west. meaning to shape my course for
Faringdon, and so into the great Bath
road. IT'S not my purpose TO describe
mt any length my itinerary, but rather
10 reserve my pen for those more moving
events that overlook me later.
Twas about 5 in the evening. and |
still laboring along, when. over the low
hedge to my right, a man on a sorrel
mare lesped easily as a swallow, and
alighted some ten PAGES or less in front
OF me; where he dismounted and stood
barring my path. The muzzle or his pis-
toll. was in my face before l could lay
hand to my own
Good evening"" said /.
you have money about you, doubt
less" growled the man CURLY, and in a
Veice that made me start. For by his
voice and figure in the dusk | knew him
for Captain Settle; and in the sorrel
with the high white stocking / recog-
nized the mare, Molly, that poor An
thony Killigrew had given me almost
with his last breath.
The bully did not know me, having but
seen me for an instant at THE Crown"
and then in very different attire.
II have but a few poor coins, / an
swered.
Then hand 'em over"
"Be shot if | do!'' said ! in a passion;
and pulling out a handful from my
pocket, / dashed them down in the road.
For a moment the Captain took his
pistol from my face, and stopped to
clutch at the golden coins as they trickled
and ran to right and left. The next,
had struck out with my right fist, and
down he went staggering. His pistol
dropped out OF his hand and exploded
between my feet. | rushed to Molly,
caught her bride, and leaped on her
back. 1t was a near thing, for the cap
tain was rushing toward us. But at the
call of my voice the mare gave n bound
and turned; and down the road / was
borne, light as a feather.
A bullet whizzed past my ear; ! heard
the Captains rageful shout mingle with
the report; and then was out of range,
and ~galloping through the dusk.
Secure of pursuit, and full of delight
in the mares easy motion, l must have
travelled a good six miles before the
moon rose. In the frosty sky her rays
sparkled c%heerfully, and by them | saw
on the holsters the silver demi-bear that
I knew to 5e the crest Of the Killigrews,
having the fellow to 1t engraved on my
sword hilt. So now i was certain it was
Molly that l bestrode, and took oeca-
sion OF the light to explore the holsters
saddle flap.
Poor Anthony's pistols were gone
hlched, no doubt, by the Captain; but
you may guess my satisfaction when on
thrusting my hand deeper, touched a
heap of coins and found them to be gold.
1t was certainly a rare bargain | had
driven with Captain Settle. For the five
or six gold pieces | scattered on the road
4 had won close on thirty g~uineas, as ]
counted In the moonlight; not to speak OF
this incompatible Molly. And l began
to whistle gleefully, and taste the joke
over again and laugh to myself, as we
cantered along with the north wind mt
our backs.
All the same, 1 ha0 no relish for riding
aR..a tel aA.u. INA. thz ps.hN xun.
chill enough to search my very bones,
and, moreover. l knew nothing of the
road, which at this hour was quite de-
serted. So that, coming mt length to q
tall hill with a black ridge of pine wood
standing up against the moon like a ish's
fin, | was glad enough to note below It,
and ait some distance from the trees, a
window brightly lit, and pushed for
ward in hope of entertainment.
The building was an inn, though n
sorry one. Nor, save for the lighted win
dow, did it wear any grace of hospi-
tally. Round the house, and into the
main yard the wind howlcd like a beast
In pain. / climbed off Molly, and press
ing my hat down on my head, struck a
loud rat-tat on the door.
Curiously. IL opened at once, and I
saw a couple of men in the lighted pas
sage.
Heard the mares heels on the road,
Cap Hillo! What in the fend's name
Is this?"
Said L: "If you are he that keeps this
house. / want two things OF you-frst,
a civil tongue, and next a bed"
"Yell get neither, then"
"You keep an inn?"
"Aye-the Three Cups; but we're
full"
"Your manner Of speech proves that
70 be a lie."
L liked the fellows voice so little that
stis odds I would have remounted Molly
and ridden away; but at this instant