The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-10-19
THE MASTER OF APPLEBY)
S-- By Francis Lynde. -=$
BY Francis Lynde. :


"OlN Nculu d pSCii SpShSN'
6 the iron Of resolution cooled in spite
of me.
> Twas not tina I was less willing to
> pay the price of expiration; that must
l be done in any case. But l had seen
n the enemy, and all the soldier in me re-
o belled at the thought of dying like a
s noosed bullock In the shambles. could
e 1 but strike tha one good blow
n The old court house Of our greater
| ~Meckneburg was such as some OF you
may remember; n stout wooden build
ing raised upon brick pillars to leave a
< story underneath. In the time of the
l 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 It, since it pro-
vided the means of egress from the
jury box above.
The sight of this inner stair set me
plotting. Could 1 make use of it to
come unseen into the council chamber
of Lord CORVALLIS and his officers?
The market place was well thronged
with vendors and soldier buyers; the
patriotic Mecklenburgers were not
aveTse to the turning OF an honest
penny upon the needs of their OPP
pressors, as it seemed. I watched my
chance, and when there were no prying
eyes TO mark it, made the dash UP the
steps.
Happily for the success Of the ad-
venture there was an angle in the mar
row stair to hide 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 1 was'able to raise it
cautlously and so to draw myself up
INTO the room above, unseen and un-
heard.
a peep around the corner of the high
jury stalls showed me my lord and his
suite gathered about the awvers' 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 momen of my espial, Corn
wallis was speaking, and 1 drew back to
listen, We'll enough content to be in
earshot. Fer II my good angel had
timed my coming 1 could not have ar
rived at a more opportune moment.
What we nave to consider now is
how best to reach Ferguson with an
express instantly" his lordship was
saying. This rising of the over-moun-
tain men is likely to prove a serious
matter-not only for the major, but
for the kings cause in the two prov
inces. Lacking positive orders to the
contrary, Ferguson will fght-we all
know that; and If he should be de-
feated twill hopelessly undo his work.
among the border loyalists and set us
back another twelvemonth."
Then your lordship will order him
to come In with what he has?" said a
voice which I knew for Colonel Tar
leton's.
"Instanter, had I a sure man to
send"
"Pshaw! I can find you a hundred
amongst the late royalist recruits"
Twas young Lord Rawdon who said
this.
Damn them!" said his lordship
shortly; Il would sooner trust this
new aide Of mine. He comes straight
from the major and can find his way
back again."
Tarleton laughed. "I fear we shall
never agree upon him, my lord. I
know not how he has made his peace
with you, but I do assure you he is as
great a rascal as ever went unnung.
lis true, as you say, I did not go INTO
the particulars; but were Captain Stu
art or Sir Francis Falconnet here.
either of them would convince your
lordship in a twinkling."
There was silence for a !:;tle space
NV AiiC tilc SOlOltl ) remuneration OF
me, and then my lore broke it to say:
L may not be 50 credulous as you
think, Colonel. Rebel spy or true-blue
loyalist, he is safe enough for the pres
ent. In the meantime in his matter
OF reaching Ferguson we may make
good use of him.
In what manner. your lordship?"
asked one whose voice I did not rec
ognize.
He has come straight from Major
Ferguson, as l say; and, loyalist or
rebel, he can find his way back to Gill
bert Town."
But you'll never be trusting him
with dispatches" said Lord Rawdon.
"Ihere is no need to trust him. He
can be given the dispatches with some
mint OF their purport, and Of how much
the kings cause will profit by their
safe delivery"
Again a silence fell upon the group
around he lawyers table, and then
some one-'twas Major Hanger as I
thought-said: "'Tis an unread riddle
for me as yet, my lord"
CORVALLIS laughed. Where are your
wits this morning, gentleman? If he be
loyal n true, the dispatches will go
safe enough. If, on the other hand, he
be a rebel and a spy. he will doubt
less tamper with them; but in that
case he will hone the less ride straight
enough to Major Ferguson's headquar-
ters in the west
Him, your lordship is still too deep
for me-" said T~ar1eton's second in com
mand. III he be a rebel and a spy,
why, in Gods name, should he carry
your lordship's letters to any but some
rag-tag colonel of his own kidney? 2"
My lord laughed again. Truly, Ma
jor, you should go to a DANES school
and learn diplomacy. II we tell him
beforehand what our OBJECT is, how
could any rebel of them all defeat it
more surely than by going to Ferguson
with a garbled message that would
make him stand and fight a losing bat
tie p"
But, my lor5-the risk!" cut in the
comlnissary general.
There need be none. An hour after
he sets out we shall send a mounted
detail after him with an Indian tracker
to nose out his trail. The lieutenant
in command will carry duplicate dis
patches. At the worst, Ireton will
guide these followers to Ferguson,s
rendezvous; and. SO far as we know, he
is the only man who knows exactly
where to find the major"
had heard enough. Under cover of
the chorus of bravos raised by Lord
NC ~ 49, rrr- A--- II - - - EA 90 80