The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-31

room which he remembered so well,
and found Cromwell sitting alone at
the table, as if he had never left it.
Even the two candles stood where they
had been placed before, but the face
of the seated man seemed more inscru-
table. more stern than he recollected it.
Armstrong swept off his feathered
hat most courteously as he approached
the table, bowed and, standing at ease
on the spot he had formerly occupied,
said:
Good evening, general" The gen
eral lifted his heavy eyes and, al
mobile, the slightest suspicion of
twinkle scintillatad for one brief mo-
ment in his searching glance.
Good evening. You wished to see
me?"
YES, general, and have come from
Scotland this very day for Do other
purpose
You are out of employment, per-
haps, and are looking for re-engage-
ment?'
well. general, if l was, you are the
man l should come to for recommen-
dation. In a manner of speaking, you
are in the right. l have been riding hard
this while back for other folk, and
now l have taken a bit Of journey on
my own account. You see my case is
Il will state the case" interrupted
Cromwell menacingly. You stood
here and lied to me-
.Iyon cot tboro and did tho Same Inv
me-
You stood here and lied to me.
You came as a spy, mixing with affairs
that did not concern you"
Pardon me, general. l took service
for my king, and you will be good
enough to remember that Charles Is
king Of Scotland, even if 1t pleases you
to forget that he is king of England,
and that he will be- until he dies, your
king as well as mine"
You delivered the kings message to
Traquair?"
Yes That's what I went for
"And you have the impudence to
come to me, thinking I will allow you
to return?''
Say SOuuueuSt, IdtueI. all very
sure you will allow me to return"
"Yes, confidence is the word, but with
a mixture of impudence as well-the
malt and the hops. 1t never crossed
your mind that it was a dungeon you
were ,approa chingT'
II thought if you did anything it
would be hanging"
And why not?
Because my death by rope would be
at the present moment. I'd like to see
We hang me! There's poor Traquair
at his wits end for encouragement
through dissension among the people
and their leaders. You hang me and
you've done the trick for him.
For some moments the general kept
silence, then he said abruptly:
will you take a commission in my
army?'
Il will not"
Il thought you were a fighter"
Il am, but l prefer to engage under
Traquair's banner if he raises it."
Against me"
"Just that"
"And you think will let you goT
"I'll take my oath on it."
you are right. The way Is clear to
Scotland, to Oxford, or where you
please. What have you come to me
for?"
For Frances Wentworth"
81 thought as much. In this cannot
oblige you. With you l have nothing
to do, and you are at liberty. That
wench of Wentworth's stands on diff
ferent footing, inasmuch as she has
proved traitor to her own. shall do
nothing TO injure. her, but she shall
taste captivity until she confesses her
error"
"She is no traitor, but did well the
work you set for, her.
81 set no wor& for her. Twas given
20 her brother and his folly brought
aer into the business"
'Tou gsve your consent at North
ampton; thus I say you set her to the
task, and well she performed it. II
your men had done your bidding as
faithfully, l had never crossed the
Esk."
You are quibbling. She is a traitor
and more honest than you; she admits
it,
II say she is a true woman" cried
Armstrong, red anger flushing his
brow. The hot border blood sprane
into mastery for the first time during
their controversy, and he failed to note
that Cromwell remained cold as at the
beginning, and might be negotiated
with, if he had remembered the com
manders resolve to enlist the Scot in
his service. But before the general
could give hint of a bargain, the i'm
petuousity of the younger man left
him only the choice of killing the Scot
where he stood, or apparently succumb
ing TO him, a most dangerous alterna
tive had Armstrong to deal with one
less schooled in the repression of his
feelings than Cromwell. The i'll ad
vised borderer dropped his hat silently
to the floor, flashed forth his sword
and presented it at his opponents
throat.
They tell me you wear concealed
armor'-his voice was quiet in its
intensity, almost a whisper-"but that
will not help you. No human power
can avail you at this moment, for If
you cry out my blade advances, and a