The Glenwood post., 1905-03-18
"But why should the constable both

buL why SuOulu tue COHSldDlc uotu'
er him?' l asked. 81 think instead
something should be done to relieve
you-your husband put away in an
asylum
In Bedlam, My God! MOI" she
cried. Hare you ever seen those
poor creatures huddled together like
beasts, manacled and chained to the
floor, shrieking and wringing their
hands? Never while | live. Why the
constable hounds us is because of the
grudge he thinks he owes me. When
| was pretty Alice Lynson' l knew
the mamie wished himself my lover
-he,' her voice vlbrated with scorn,
''to think l would be dishonest for
such as he"
Il see," l said. "Is there any place
where you can go and stay in hiding
for a time?"
Yes. sir" she answered. IL have
an aunt living in Shief, two shires
from here; she will take us in. 'Tis
place where even the constable and
his men care not to come oftener than
necessary; the men are rough lot,
and will protect kin to the death
The mare being ready we placed the
ill-sorted pair upon her broad back,
protecting them as well as we could
from the rain. The woman bowed her
head and sobs convulsed her form.
Jock Swan and / watched the old
horss ambe out OF sight. Gil was
elsewhere employed. Pity and indig-
nation stirred me; pity for the poor
woman's plight, indignation at the con-
stabie's persecution.
was undecided what to do with
the constable-he certainly merited
some punishment. | found that Gil
had settled the question for me. He
came out of the inn carrying on his
back one Of the fellows bound with
ropes.
What are you doing with them,
Gil?" | asked.
You'll find them down the road a
bit, wallering in the mud, trussed for
all the world like fowls ready for
market" he answered with grim
look. Il think they will hesitate be-
fore prosecuting poor woman again" +"
he added.
Good enough" laughed. But may
not our host, good Jock Swan, suffer
from the constable's anger?"
The fat one will take to his bed,
I'm thinking, and perhaps it will teach
him that he's too old to be running
| after women, the BEAST" he said. "As
| for Jock he's no innocent; he will be
| able to make them think that he had
naught to do with their plight After
| they have sobered up bit which will
not be long | take it in this rain, he
can release them with fitting tale of
our being highwaymen, and anything
| else that comes to his lips"
Jock having an equal confidence in
his ability to convince the men of his
| innocence, satisfied me that he was
| glad of this opportunity to pay off old
| scores. Some of that ribaldry which
had fallen from the mans indecent
tongue was not to be overlooked by
| Jock.
Our horses saddled, we bade him
| goodbye, and went on our way salts,
fed that we were leaving them in such
| judicial hands, and that he was cap
able of playing his part to our liking.
We cautioned him above all things
| to put the constable and his men of
the track of the escaped prisoner.
And Gil added this; Send them af,
| ter us, if they're able to travel; well
| take care of them
We decided to ride steadily through,
| out the night, as the horses were fresh
and we desirous of reaching London
also hopeful of o"ertaking the coach
containing the redheaded maid of Mis-.
| tress Rosemary Allyn. There was a
| branch where the two roads, the river
| AMI the main road merged into one,
and over this she nust pass to reach
| London.
We rode along at jog trot for a
time, being sparing of our horses,
when presently the weather changed.
The sun peeped out now and again
from behind tieecy clouds like pretty
woman coquetting
CTo be continued.)