The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-05

"As best l may and as quickly. Is
your answer ready. Sir Andrew
"Ycs: it is here" And he handed
him the roll. which Nicholas hid away
in the folds of his great cloak. Then
Sir Andrew added. You say you know
nothing of ell the business in which
you play this part?''
Nothing, or. rather. only this The
officer who escorted me to Jaffa told
me that there was a stir among the
learned doctors and OWNERS at the
court because Of q certain dream
which the sultan had dreamed three
times. 1t had to do with lady w'no
was half of the blood Of Ayeub and
half English, and they ,ssid that my
mission was mixed. up with this mat
ter. Now. have eatean. well. and !
am weary. Is there any place. where
may sleep? l must be gone atday-
break, for those who do Saladin's busi-
ness dare not tarry. and l have your
letter."
''There is place." answered Sir An
drew. "Wulf, take him to it. and to-
morrow before he leaves we will speak
again. Till then farewell. holy Mich
olas"
With one more searching glance the
palmer bowed and went. When the
door closed behind him Sir Andrew
beckoned Goodwin to him and whis-
pered:
Tomorrow, Goodwin, you must take
some men and follow this Nicholas to
see where he goes and what he does.
for I tell you do not trust him-aye,
l fear him much! These embassies to
and from Saracens are strange traffic
for a Christian man; also, though he
says his life hangs on it, think that
were he honest. once safe in England
here he would stop, since the first
priest would absolve him of an oath
forced from him by the infidel."
"Were he dishonest would he not
have stolen those jewels?" asked God
win. "They are worth some risk.
Whal do you think. Rosamund?"
'T?' she answered. "Oh, / think
there Is more in this than any Of us
dream, think" she added in a voice
of distress and with an involuntary
wringing motion Of the hands, that for
this house and those who dwell in 1t
time is big with death, and that sharp
eyed palmer is it's midwife"
Then, with a woeful gesture, Rosa
mund turned and left them.
Her father watched her go and said:
"The maid is right. Great business is
afoot in which all of us must bear our
parts. For no little thing would Sala-
din stir thus-he who braces himself as
/ know well for the last struggle, in
which Christ or Mohammed must go
down. What. Wulf, does the man
sleep already?"
Like a dog, for he seems outworn
with travel"
Like dog, with one eye open, per-
haps. l 90 not wish that he should
give us the slip during the night, as
want more talk with him and other
things, OF which I have spoken to God
win"
"No fear of that, uncle. I have lock-
ed the stable door, and a sainted pal
mer will scarcely leave lis the present
Of such a mule"
An hour before the dawn next morn
ing Goodwin and Wulf were up and
with them certain trusted men who
had been warned that their services
would be needed. Presently Wulf,
bearing a lantern in his hand, came
to where his brother stood by the fire
in the hall.
where have you been" Goodwin
asked. 'To wake the palmer?"
mo. To place a man to watch the
road to Steeple hill and another at the
Creek path; also to feed his mule,
which is very fine beast-too good for
a palmer. Doubtless he will be stirring
soon, as he said that he must be up
early"
Goodwin nodded, and they sat to-
gether on the bench beside the fire, for
the weather was bitter. and dozed till
the dawn began to break. Then Wulf
rose and shook himself, saying:
"He will not think it uncourteous II
we rouse him now" and. walking to
the far end of the hall, he drew a cur
tain and called out, Awake. holy
Nicholas, Awake! 1t is time for you
to say your prayers, and breakfast will
soon be cooking" .....
But no Nicholas answered.
''Of a truth" grumbled Wulf as he
came back for his lantern. that palm
er sleeps as though Saladin had already
cut his throat" Then. having lit it, he
returned TO the guest place.
Goodwin" he called presently, "come
here. The man has gone-'
"Gone?" said Goodwin as he ran to the
curtain. "Gone whereY'
Back to his friend Saladin, I think"
answered Wulf. Look. that is-how he
went" And he pointed to the shutter
of the sleeping place that stood wide
open and to an oaken stool beneath, by
means of which the sainted Nicholas
had climbed up to and through the mar.
row window slit.
They ran to the stable and found II
locked and the mule safe enough with
in. Nor, though they looked, could they
find any trace Of the palmer, not even
a footstep. since the ground was fros,
bound.
cit seems that he was determined to
be gone" said Wulf. well, perhaps
we can catch him yet" and he called
to the men to saddle up and ride with
him to search the country.
For three hours they hunted far and
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