The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-06
OVER the
BORDER
a
CHAPTER XI.

notes - COO rcely daylight when he raced
IL was ,oor and ripping Esk, and after
'ne .sing the stream to "fei Ehsiisn
crO'' ad7 he halted his horse on the
grOu horr shore and cast long look at
sou',- .l1 Of his native country as one
the n ,nisbt be taking farewell OF them.
WV Iii 18th 4 sigh he turned to his task
lnsr on+ no further glance behind. 70
ANU living at a forking of the ROAD,
tronches tending south, he paused
pO." nondered. Which should he take!
hnu now them equally well. The main
~ ID led TO Carlisle and in time OF
lOac would have been preferable. The
pe%o loss direct. would probably car
VI Him farther in these uncertain
:. The country showed no sign OF
.,l1V dovastation of civil war unless 1t
w the absence of a population and
deserted condition of the thorough
saros That he could avoid contact
with the parliamentary forces was I'M
.oosibIp whichever road he took, ana
tho ouestion now demanding solution
roS NOT so much his direction as
ubothpr it were we'll to bring on MS
,aoritoble encounter with the Crom-
waIlites sooner or later.
The Carlisle route promised the
snoodier run into the arms OF the enc
nv but by the other route he would
have more chance Of bargaining about
eottle and thereby giving color. OF
trutb TO his statement that he was an
innocent Scots drover, anxious to turn
an honest penny. When questioned by
on officer he could then say he had en-
dpavored to deal with SO-and-so, and
later Investigation would prove the
foot But to an observer he bore the
attitude of a stranger who had lost
his way. This was evidently the con-
clusion arrived at by an object hid
don in the hedge which had proved
bis nights lodging. The object sprang
ont across the ditch with a suddenness
that made the horse start and snort in
alarm, to be soothed by the gentle pat
Of its riders hand. for the lmperturb-
able Armstrong seemed surprised at
nothing that took place. The object
had the wild, unkempt appearance of
one who habitually slept out of doors.
His long and matted hair, emaciated
face and ragged beard, no less than
his tattered clothing, or covering rath-
er, made up of odds and ends of vari-
Gus costumes, formed a combination
by no means attractive He held in his
hand, grasped by the middle, a long
stick, somewhat taller than himself.
my gay gentleman" he cried cheer
fully, will you pay the price of FOOLS
advice"
"YOu haven't given me any,"
"The advice all depends on what you
pay for it. Let me see the coin, then
III show you my wares. We differ in
this, that I'll take whatever you give
me, but you can take my advice or not,
as you please"
The hOrSeman threw him a coin,
which the object clutched in midair
with great experiences and examined
eagerly.
Thank you, gay gentleman. The ad-
Vice is to turn your fine horse end for
end and get back among the fools Of
your own kidney. We are always safer
among our own kind
Are there any cattle for sale here
ABOUT! | see none in the fields"
4 sometimes sell cattle myself" said
the object, with a cunning look.
IT does not seem very prosperous
business, then. Where do you get your
stock"
''Oh, | pick it up on the roads. You'll
lnd no cattle on the way to Carlisle.
Inc country is swept bare in that di-
,ecnon. But l can lead you to a fine
uera II you make it worth my while"
In which direction?"
Do"h ms way. Come along. Are
'ou AFTER any particular breed?"
NO. Anything there's money in"
You're just like me-" said the va
grant with laugh, as he strobe off
uo"h the unfrequented road. The OBJ
'ec' walked with incredible speed,
'aushlhS TO himself now and then. and
armstrong was forced to trot his horse
" keep up with him. On arriving at
snght eminence the guide waved his
,Ous arm toward a stealing in the val
-e's which looked like a deserted
Sup sut ol farm buildings, and said:
1neFeS fine lot of cattle down
yonder." Wv =
can see no signs of them"
NO, no! They're well stabbed. Moth
NJ lasts in the fields nowadays.
nes re not such fools as that. This
hoa usnian knows when to keep his
',S III shelter" And with this the
-, s'oond raised a shrill shout that
eNnueu from the opposite hills.
wat are you crying like that for?''
s,a Aeu Armstrong, without showing any
on' Just to let the farmer know
- coming. Always give friendly
man mig IN these parts, and then you
tha,, n0' get something in your inside
I'D @s ) hard to digest. That's a fools
ay and costs you nothing"
so;a I0ur cry meets with no response. >
low. armstrong, laughing at the shall
forh;r, lniiig OF his treacherous guide
mal MS Keen eyes noted crouching figures
~ way along the other side of ?