The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-01-14

men going northward They VIII carry
the news Of your capture, but not of
your escape. Until they boat In the
door Of the cathedral and search the
place thoroughly no messenger will be
sent north. We are ahead of them
once more with the news of your cap
ture travelling in front of us. We will
keep ahead so long as we ride fast and
until we stop somewhere for the night.
Then they, having relays of horses,
while we have only our own, will pass
us. We cannot ride all night or we
shall kill our horses. But we can GOV
er a good deal of the ground between
here and Manchester Once north of
Manchester think you are fairly safe.
So propose we ride now for the main
road and keep going as long as our
horses are able to travel"
Agreed But, following your own
instructions, what are we to say when
we are stopped? We have no pass, SO
how am l to account for myself?"
"You are Roundhead soldier, sent
on to Manchester by the colonel at
Lichfield."
II look like a Roundhead soldierw
cried William, with laugh.
'You will. 1t is always well to have
SOME one in travelling party who can
think Have you not noticed the load
you carry behind your saddleT
Armstrong turned. The rising moon
displayed a steel cap that looked like
an overturned pot and bundle of
cloth, all neatly strapped on.
1.-THE cathedral Is q storehouse for
uniforms and accorterments enough to
fit out regiment. l selected the lar
gest suit l could find, with cloak and
cap, and belted them to your saddle.
Now l shall hold your horse while you
to into the thicket and change your raj
ment. Conceal your cavalier costume
. as we'll as you can, so that If they trace
us over this fog sodden turf, which is
likely, they will get no hint of your
) new appearance. 1t might be well to
climb a tree and tie your discarded
: shell among the leaves with the straps
/ that bind the bundle to your horse, and
e be careful to leave neither the king s
e message nor your purse with your fin
o cry"
0 1t was a happy omen for future do
t nestle peace that the huge man did al
e once and without question what the
: comparatively fragile young woman
Il babe him, she holding his horse while
e he made the rapid change. When be
d emerged the horse plunged, and she
!. had some ado to hold him until ht
d heard his masters voice and laugh.
l. They speedily came upon the mali
n road and cantered on through the beau
tiful night, determined to put fft
4, miles or thereabout between them
Is selves and Lichfield, but before the,
had accomplished half that distanc
e. Armstrong saw that the girl was com
It pietely exhausted in spite of her dis
is Chalmers, for aside from the tiresom
ii DAYS travel she had had little sleep tn
:" night before. 1t was most tempting {
push on, for the night was perfect am
ST the road was good. Even though the
passed through several villages the
were not questioned. Soldiers in dra
g. cloaks and steel caps were too commo
er on the road to cause comment, an
" they were as yet in advance of an
le news of escape.
ly At last they came to a farmhous
ne near the roadside, and Armstrong bes
up the inmates, bringing a woman
IT. bead to an opened window. At mrs
he she would admit no one at that hour
We the night, but the moon shining on IL
elk steel cap and the long cloak apparent
1t gave her confidence. Her husband wi
as in the south with Cromwell, she sal
ps She could make a place in the nous
vn for the lady, but the soldier would M
nd better accommodation than he was
lc- customed to in an clubhouse
us With this Armstrong expressed DILL
M self as amply satisfied. They dismoun
RS. ed and he led away the horses.
of found a place for them in shed, e
Sc. aniined them and rubbed them dow
is. with care. Having satisfied himse
hit that they were none the worse
to their long journey, he attended to the
he wants and flung down some pundi
ge of straw for his own nights lodgin
ge. He began to think he must go suppe
ng less or run the risk of foraging In
he unknown pantry, If he could ma
al. trance. when he saw Frances approa
hit from the house with loaf OF pre-
lfe and lump Of cheese on trencher a.
a measure of ale.
lid