The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-08

show him that the general had given
orders which would block any back
ward move and reveal his determine
ton to hang the Scot should he entan-
gle himself further with English poll
tics. Yet she had the gravest doubts
that these dangers would influence him
These reflections troubled her until
the time they were on their horses once
more, when Armstrong interrupted
them by crying out:
"Where's old JohnT
IT sent him on ahead long since" re-
piled Frances.
"Good! We shall soon overtake him.
Goodbye he cried to the hostler. the
one who had set him on the way In the
attack on De Courcy.
Good luck to you and your fair lady,
sir" replied the old man. raising bis
cap in salute.
"Why are you 50 friendly with the
manY asked Frances.
"Oh, the hostler knows much about
me-" said Armstrong. HE sees secret
comings and goings and draws his sage
conclusions. Banbury! o Lord, l shall
never forget Banbury! 1t is place OF
mystery, the keeper of dark secrets
and sudden rides, Of midnight THEFT
and of treachery. Ask the Broughton
road, where Cromwell lies. to reveal
what it knows. Things happen along
that track which the king knows moth
ing Of, and his royal signature takes
Journeys that he never counted upon.
Heavens pity! What do you
meanY' moaned the girl, whitening to
the lips. He laughed joyously. but
checked himself when he saw the ter
rifying effect Of his words on his CON-
panion. They were now clear of Ban
bury and trotting along the Coventry
road. Their departure had met with
no opposition, and they had seen not
even q single soldier. The open coun-
try lay before them, the turrets OF the
town sinking in the rear.
my foolish words have frightened
you. Forget them! I am accumulat-
ing experiences that will interest you
to hear when the time comes for the
telling of them, but Of one thing l
am assured, the good Lord stands by
his own, and he has shielded me since
yesterday morning broke, Come, Fran
ces, let us gallop. That and a trust
In the Lord will remedy all the ills Of
man or woman"
She was glad Of the respite; and they
set of at full speed. Nevertheless her
mind was sorely troubled. What did
he know, what did he known beat
through her brain in unison with the
clatter Of the horses hOofs. It was not
possible that chance had brought him
thus to the very center Of her guilty
stealth, the Broughton road-these
words and phrases tortured her. Was
this, then, the line of his revenge? Did
he know all. and did he purpose to
keep her thus in suspense. limiting.
soothing her fears. then reviving them,
making her black crime the subject Of
Jest and laughter? She cast glance
over her shoulder. Banbury had dis
appeared; they were alone, flying over
the land. The doubt was unbearable;
she would endure it no longer. I'm
petuously she refined her horse to a
stand. "Stop!" she cried, and at the
word her own horse and Bruce halted
and stood. The young man turned with
alarm to her agitated face.
what do you mean by your talk of
Rrou0h<Cp oud CpOmwol12V
"Oh, that is a secret! did not in
tend to tell you until our journey was
ended, when we could laugh over 1t to-
gether."
ut is no laughing matter. I must
know what you mean"
"All dangers are laughable once they
are past. An unknown, unsupported
danger threatened me at Banbury. 1t
is now past and done with. and the
person who plotted against me can
harm me no more. There are reasons
why do not wish to mention this per-
sons name. Barring that, l may tell
you now as well as another time, II you
care to listen"
Tell me the story. and will tell
you the name Of the thief" said
Frances.
You slept badly last night. Did you
hear anythingT
I'LL heard the clock strike the
hours"
Il heard 1t strike three. but lay so
locked In drowsiness that I knew not
the Lord was calling to me. If the
Seven Sleepers were melted into one, I
would outsleep that one. Well, to get
on, I was robbed in the night 1t must
have been at that hour, for remember
dimly some sort Of disturbance. But
Providence stood my friend. By the
merest chance. 1t might seem, but not
BY chance, as believe, saw the crea-
ture make for Broughton. so. here's
for Broughton.' cried I. on the back
Of Bruce, and see If my good pistols
would win back what had been stolen
from me- The Broughton road it was,
and the pistols did the business" Say
Ing this, he whisked from his pocket
the kings commission, waving 1t tri-
umphantly alOft. Her wide eyes drank
In the amazing sight Of 1t, slowly brim-
ming with superstitious fear, and then
she asked q duplicate of the question