The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-01-07

ne KNOW, what Qlu Qe kuOW pedt
through her brain In unison with the
clatter of the horses hoofs. 1t was not
possible that chance had brought him
thus to the very center of her guilty
secret Cromwell, treachery, midnight
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 a glance
over her shoulder. Banbury had dis
appeared; they were alone, flying over
the land. The doubt was unbearable;
she would endure 1t no longer. I'M
petuously she refined her horse to
stand. "Stopv' 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
Broughton and Cromwell?'
"Oh, that is secret l did not in
tend to tell you until our Journey was
ended, when we could laugh over it to-
gether."
at 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, If 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 anything"
I'LL heard the clock strike the
nours.-
II heard it strike three, but lay So
locked in drowsiness that I knew not
the Lord was calling to me. II the
Seven Sleepers were melted into one,
would outsleep that one. Well, to gel
on, 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 MOI
by chance, as believe, 1 saw the crea
ture make for Broughton. 80, here's
for Broughton,' cried I. on the bacl
Of Bruce, and see If my good pistol
would win back what had been stolei
from me- The Broughton road 1t was
, and the pistols did the business" Say
. ing this he whisked from his poke
the kings commission, waving It tri
umphantly aloft. Her wide eyes dranl
In the amazing sight of 1t, slowly brim
ming with superstitious fear, and the
she asked a duplicate of the questioI
that had been asked of her few hour
before.
Ibid you kill CromwellT
CROMWELL 1 never saw him."
. ooh, 1 am going mad! Who is th
thief? Who is the thiefr'
o de Courcy, If you must know. VIII
= does this trivial matter so disturb you
De Courcy followed us from Oxfor
last night and was lodged at our I'M
2 BY some means he penetrated into m
e room, stole this from me, and 1 nevt
= missed it until 1 saw him ride *
- Broughton, and not even then, to tie
= the exact truth. But remembered thu
- he hid seen me place this paper In IL
= inside pocket of my vest, In the king
:. own presence, and then the whole pl'
came to me. Before he saw Broughto
= Bruce and were down upon him Ill
q highland storm on the lowland."
This is not the kings commission
". she said.
,nI "Oh, but 1t isv'
"It is not. Have you read tit"
"No, but that's soon DONE"
He united the cord and unfolded L
a sheepskin. She leaned eagerly forwa
&c and scanned the writing. while Arr
m strong read it aloud.
an You sce." he cried gleefully. ~
90 course 1t is the commission. There a
cd the names of Traquair and all the re
just as gave them to the secretal
and there is Charles Rex in the kint
-e- own hand"
at is duplicate. Cromwell has
m original. You never left De Cour
he alive within a mile Of Broughton CT
he tle?"
81 did that very thing. Not as live
ly, as have seen him, yet alive nevertl
his less"
"Then ride, ride for the north.
he have stood too long chattering here
"All in good time, Frances. TIT
,ut is no more hurry than ever there w
ret less, indeed, for it seems to me Il
Ige Cromwell, for some reason, wants
all come at this by fraud and not by for
of But now that De Courcy's name
cts mentioned between us, l ask you WI
eft you know against him more than
ton have told you"
cal Against him? I know everyth'
lngl aoalnat him Wnuld that Won had K