Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-04
CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XI.
gave a rapid glance around. The
lamps rays scarce illumin'd the far cor
ners: but in one of these stood great
leathern screen, and over the fireplace
near it a rack was hanging, full of
swords, pistols and walking canes. Step
ping toward it / caught sight OF An
thongs sword, suspended there among
the rest (they had taken it from me on
the day OF my examination1; which now
/ took down and strapp'd at my side. l
then chose out a pistol or two. slipp'd
them into my sash, and advanced - the
center table. Under the lamplight lay
His Majesty's letter, open.
My hand was stretched out to catch it
up when I heard across the hall door
open'd, and the sound Of mems voices.
They were coming toward the Office.
There was scarce time to slip back, aud
hide behind the screen, before the door
latch was lifted, an two men enterd,
laughing yet.
Business, my lord-business." said
the first Ctwas Colonel Essex; II have
much TO do tonight"
Sure" the other answered, Il Tough
we Hdu eELtieu H. Qu are ~ AE.A1A ilEE u
thousand out OF your garrison---''
Which. on my own part, | would will
ingly do. Only beg you to consider, my
lord, that my position here hangs on a
thread The extreme men are already
against me; they talk OF replacing me by
Fiennes-
Nat Fiennes Is no soldier"
No; but he's a bigot--a stronger rec
omulendatian. Should this plan miscar-
ry, and / lose a thousand men"
Heavens alive. man! 1t cannot mis-
carry Hark We, there's Ruthen of Ply
mouth will take the south road with all
his forces. A days march behind | shall
follow-along roads TO northumberland
lei for a way, but afterward converging.
The Cornishmen are all in Bodmin. We
shall come on them with double their
number, aye, almost treble. Can you
doubt the issueF'
Scarcely. with the Earl Of Stamford
for general"
Twill be swift and secret" he said
'as death himself-and as sure. Let
be the fact that Hopton IS all at skies
and sevens since the Marquis shipped for
Wales; and at daggers drawn with Mo
hun"
Said the Colonel slowly-"Aye, the no
ton is good enough. We're | not in this
corner | would not think twice Listen
now; only this morning they forced me
to order a young mans hanging. who
might il kept alive be forced in time to
give US news OF value. 1 dar'd not re-
fuse"
He that you caught with the kings
IetterP
"Aye-a trumpery missive, dealing
with nauga. Aut summoning Of the sher-
ifs posse and the like. There is more
behind. could we but wait to get at it,"
The gallows may loosen his tongue
And how Of the girl that was taken.
too?"
Il have her in safe keeping. This
/ very evening l shall visit her, and make
another trial to get some speech"
May 1 see the Iet5er?"
The Colonel handed it. and tinkled a
bell impatiently. At length steps were
heard in the hall, and servant opened
the door,
Order the coach around at the bar
bican in twenty minutes from now
without fail And say-'twiII save time
the fellows TO drive me 10 Mistress
/ Fiuch's house in St Thomas street
| sharp
/ As the man departed on his errand,
the Earl laid down His Majesty's letter
| Hang the fellow" he said, IF they
want il: the blame, IL any, win be theirs.
/ But. in the name Of heaven. Colonel.
/ don't fail in lending me this thousand
men! Twill finish the war out of
hand"
| "rn do it" answered the Colonel slow
( ly,
And III remember it. said the Earl.
| Tomorrow at & O'Clock I set out"
The two men shook hands on their bar
/ gain aud left the room. shutting the door
after them.
( crspt forth from behind the screen.
! THUS far it mad been all fear and trem-
bling with me: but now this was chang
/ 10 Il kind Of painting JOY. Twas not
/ that ! nad spied the prison keys hang
I ing car the fireplace, nor that behind
/ the reen lay heap of the colonel's
riding boots, whereof pair. ready
/ spur fitted ne choicely we'll; but that
my ears tinged with news that turn'd
my escape 10 a matter of public welfare.
Shod ii the colonies boots, advanced
again t. the table. With sealing wax
and the governors seal, that lay handy,
l closd up the kings letter. and sticking
it in my breast, caug.t down the bunch
OF keys and made for the door
The hall was void. snatch'd down a
cloak and heavy broad-brimmd hat from
one OF the pegs, and donning them.
Slpp'd back the bolts OF the heavy door.
Then / stepp'd forhi into the night shut
ting the door quietly on my heels
My feet were on the pavement of the
inner ward. Above, one star only broke
/ the hlackness OF the night, Across the
court was a sentry tramping As |
walk d boldly up. he stopp'd short by the
gate between the wards and regarded
/ me.
Now was my danger. l knew not the
right key for the wicket: and il | FUN
hled, the fellow would detect me for GER
tain. chose one and drew nearer; the
fellow look u. saluted, stepp'd TO the
wicket, and open'd it himself.
food night, Colonel. -
ID aot trust myself to answer: bit
passed rapidly through to the outer ward.
Here, to my JOY. in the arch'd passage
Of the haTbican gate, was the carriage