The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-10-19
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY|
BY Francis Lynda.

word would a been spoken; but now
the iron of resolution cooled in spite
of me.
Twas not that I was less willing to
a the price Of expiration; that must
be done in any case. But l had seen
the enemy, and all the soldier in me re-
belled at the thought of dying like a
noosed bullock in the shambles. Could
L blu strike that one good blow
The old court house of our greater
Meckneburg was such as some of o
may remember; a stout wooden build
ing raised upon brick pillars to leave a
story underneath. In the time of the
British occupation this lower story
served as a market house, and the pub
lie entrance to the court room above
was reached by steps on the outside.
In my boyhood days this outer stair
was the only one: but now in Wander
ing aimlessly through the market-place
beneath, I found another fight
in a corner; the jury STAIR
they called 1t, since it pro-
vided the means of egress from the
jury box above
The sight of this inner stair set me
plotting. Could I make use of it to
come unseen into the council chamber
of Lord CORVALLIS and his officers?
The market place was we'll thronged
with vendors and soldier buyers; the
patriotic Mecklenburgers were not
~ - ~ ~ Mn ~ VI Ia
penny upon the needs Of their OPP
pressors, as it seemed. I watched my
chance, and when there We're no prying
eyes to mark it, made the dash up the
steps.
Happily for the success OF the adj
venture there was an angle in the mar
row stair to tic me whilst l lifted the
trap door In the court room floor a
scant half inch and got my bearings.
AS l had hoped, the trap opened behind
the jury box, and I washable to raise 1t
cautiously and so to draw myself up
into the room above, unseen and I'M
heard.
A peep around the corner of the high
; jury stalls showed me my lord and his
suite gathered abo the lawyers table
in front of the bar. OF the staff I rec
! ognized only Stedman, the commissary
general, Tarleton, looking something
! the worse for his late illness; Major
Hanger, his second in command, and
: the young Irishman, Lord Rawdon.
At the moment of my espial, Corn
: wallis was speaking, and 1 drew back to
listen, we'll enough content to be in
earshot. Fcr if my good angel had
!. timed my coming 1 could not have ar
{ rived at a more opportune moment
What we have to consider now is
how best to reach Ferguson with an
e express instantly" his lordship was
: saying. This rising of the over-moun-
I tain men is likely to prove a serious
u matter-not only for the major, but
| for the kings cause in the two prov
y inces. Lacking positive orders to the
t contrary, Ferguson will fght-we all
l feated twill hopelessly undo his work
among the border loyalists and set us
r back another twelvemonth."
l Then YOU lordship will order him
to come in with what he has 2" said a
voice which I knew for Colonel Tar
leton's.
"~Instanter, had I a sure man to
d send"
"Pshaw! I can find you a hundred
amongst the late royalist recruits. y
Twas young Lord Rawdon who said
this.
g Damn them!" said his lordship
lie shortly; II would sooner trust this
1t new aide of mine. He comes straight
= from the major and can find his way
back again."
g Tarleton laughed. 81 fear we shall
,e never agree upon him, my lord. ]
know not how he has made his peace
ID with you, but I do assure you he Is as
le great a rascal as ever went unnung
IT'S true, as you say, 1 did not go into
the particulars; but were Captain Stu
IS art or Sir Francis F%alconnet here
< either of them would convince your
l. lordship in a twinkling."
e There was silence for a !:!tle space
ar following the coloners denunciation OF
is / me. ana then nv lOrd broke II TO saw,
T "I nav nor ba 90 crad,1lons &C W,
AZ +hinL colona, Rebe1 snv or trua- hin,
Ia lovaiist he is ca 70 eno,eS for The mes.
ont In The n,a.ntime in this NATE,
re of reach1np Ferpuson We nav mak,
ID eood usa Of him"
@Tn wbat manner vo,,r lordsh,n .,
IN asSad one whose voice 7 did MT rec.
e. oeniza 1
h .Ha has come straight from Naio
ne Ferguson. as 7 saw: and %lovalist q
a rehelS he can find his way hack to Oil
We bert Town"
1'Rut you'll never be trusting hin
N, with dispatches!' said Lord Rawdon.
nd There is no need to trust him.. H
lis can be given the dispatches with som
he hint OF their purport, and Of how niue
on the kings cause Will profit by thel
safe delivery"
I'd Again a silence Tell upon the Srou
around the, y table, and the
he some one-tWas Major Hanger, as
Y. thought-said: Us an unread r1ddl
e FOR me as yet, my Ord:
ler CornWallis laughed. ,Where are you
ut, wits this morning, gentleman! II ne c