Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-11-03
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY|
BY Francis Lynde. ---}
BY Francis Lynde.
CHAPTER xxxvu.-continued.

look closely TO make out the little
brown dot of humanity clad in russell
homespun crouching in the path, its
childish eyes wide with fear and its
lips parted TO shrill again: God save
the king"
threw a stiff leg over the cantle
and swung down to go on one knee
to my stout challenger. l can never
make you understand. my dears, how
the sight Of this helpless waif appear
ing thus unaccountably in the heart of
the great forest mellowed n softened
me. Twas a little maid, not above
3 or 4 years old, and with a face that
Master Raphael might have axe as q
pattern for one of his seraphs.
What know you Of the king, little
one?" / asked.
"Gran'dad told me-" she lisped. IF
l was to see a soldier-man / must say,
quick, God save the king or 'haps he'd
eat me. Isis you hungry, Mister Sol
dier-man2"
Truly / am that, sweetheart; but I
don't eat little maids. Where Is your
grandfather"
Ain got n g~ran'farver; I said
'gran'dad.'"
We'll, your grand'dad, then; can o
take me 10 him?
Il don't know. 'Haps you'd eat
him"
NO fear of that, my dear. Do 1 look
as If l ate people?" =
She gave me a long scrutiny out OF
the innocent eyes and then put up two
little brown hands to be taken. II
tired" she said; and my sore heart
went warm within me when took her
In my arms and cuddled her. After a
long-drawn sigh of contentment, n
said: My name Polly; what's yours?"
You may call me Jack, II o
please-Captain Jack, if that comes the
easier. And now will you take me to
your grand'dad?"
She nodded, and I spoke to the bay
and mounted, still holding her closely
in my arms.
Tell me quickly which way to go,
Polly" ! said; for besides being, as l
would fear, far out of the way TO Gil
bert Town, the last hilltop to the rear
had given me another sight OF my
shadowing pursuers riding hard as IL
they meant to overtake me.
The little maid sat up straight on
the saddle horn and looked about her as
IL to get her bearings.
That way" she said, pointing hort
to the right; and l wheeled the horse
into a blind path that wound in and
out among the trees for a long half
mile, to end at a little clearing on the
banks of a small stream.
In the midst of the clearing was a
rude log cabin; and in the open door
way stood a man bent n aged, q pa
triarchal figure with white hair falling
TO his shoulders and a snowy beard
such as Aaron might have worn. At
sight of me the old watcher disap-
peared within the house, but a moment
later he was out again, lingering the
lock Of an ancient Queen's-arm.
I drew rein quickly, and the little
maid sat up and saw the musket.
Don't shoot, Gran'dad!" she cried.
He's Cappy Jack. and he doesn't eat
folkses."
At this the old man came to meet US,
though still with the clumsy musket
held at h ready.
These be parlous times, SIR" he
said, half III apology, 1 thought. And
then: You have made friends with
my little maid, and / owe you some
what for bringing her safe home."
Nay" said I, 1.-The debt is mine. mas
much as l nave the little n for my
friend. 'Tis long since I have held a
trusting child in my arms, l do assure
o sir"
He bowed as grandly as any cour-
tier. Il hope her trust is not mis-
placed, sir; though for the matter of
that, We have little enough now to a
or leave"
You have given it all to the king"
said l, feeling my way as / had need
to.
His eyes flashed and he drew himself
up proudly.
The king has taken all, sir, as you
see" this with a wave Of the hand to
point me to the forlorn homestead.
There is naught left me save this poor
hut and my little maid"
Taken you say? Then you are
not of the kings slider"
He came a step nearer and faced me
boldly. Listen, sir; two OF my sons
were left on the bloody field Of Cam
den, and the butcher Banastre Tarleton
slew the other two at Fishing Greek.
A month since a band OF rowing say
ages, armed with King Georges mus
kets, mind you, sir, came down upon
us at Northby, and this little maids
mother"
He stopped and choked; and the
child looked up into my face with her
blue eyes full of nameless terror. "Oh,
/ want my nanny" she said. Wont
you find her for me, Cappy Jack ?"
l slipped from the saddle, still clasp
ing the little one tightly in my arms.
Enough, sir" / said, when l could
trust myself to speak. This same
King Georges minions have made me
a homeless outcast, too. / live but to
give some ounter stroke. If l may"
Hal" said the old man, starting
back; then you are for our side? But
your Uniform"
lis that Of an Austrian officer, my
good sir, which I should right gladly
exchange for the buff n blue, but
that l can serve the cause better In
this
He dropped the Queen's-arm, took
the child from me and bade me well
come to his cabin and a. it held. But
l was not minded to make him a sharer
in my private peril.
No. said l.. Tell me how I may
find Gilbert Town and Major Fergu-
sons rendezvous, and / will ride whilst
/ can see the way"
He looked at me narrowly. "Fergu-
son left Gilbert Town some days since.
far out of your way; il tbs the man
"'Tis the man." I cut in hastily.
The patriarch shook his head.
IF you be Of u side, as you say, he
will hang you u of hand"
80 / can make my errand good, I
care little how soon he hangs me-"
And what may your errand be?
Mayhap I can help YOU"
1T is TO bring him to a stand till the
mountain men "a cvertake him.
The, old mar trembled with excite
ment like a boy going into his first bat
tie.
"Ah. If you could-if you could!' he
cried. But tits too late now. Listen:
his present camp is bat three miles to
the westward on Buffalo creek. ! was
there 10 longer ago than the Wednes-
day. IL made my submission to him
curse him-so tina / might mayhap