The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-30

less held as strongly as it could be. He
was convinced that success must de-
pend ultimately on the speed Of his
test with an exhausted animal Bruce
was never 50 carefully tended as on the
day before the crisis. and as his intelli-
gent head turned toward his master
he seemed to know that something un-
usual was afoot.
On the second day Armstrong thought
ii best not to enter Carlisle too early
in the morning. He wished to mingle
with crowd and not to ride the streets
alone. The second night in the barn,
with the rest of the day and the night
before, had left both himself and his
horse fit to face anything that might
ensue. The day was fine. The clouds
had cleared away, and the sun was
shining on the sodden ground. When
he came in sight of the main road he
saw what appeared to be an army
marching north. Far on toward the
gates of Carlisle rode a group of horse
men, aud at the rear another squad of
mounted men encouraged the laggards
strong sat on his horse until the latter
company was abreast of him.
No one asked Armstrong who he was,
and the elaborate fiction he had pre-
pared to account for himself was not
called for. The troopers were worn
out by their contest with the elements
and the roads, and all curiosity was
dead in them. There stood Carlisle in
front, and that was enough. The foot
soldiers struggled on, in no definite or
der of formation. each doing the best
he could. The officers rode silent be-
hind them. Thus they all marched
into Carlisle without question, and in
their company the man the army was
seeking After slight delay and pause
in the streets the new troops moved on
to the castle.
Armstrong found no difficulty in fall.
ing behind, being thus free of the
town. He knew every turn of every
street and lane in the nlace as wall as
He resolved to ride leisurely to the
bridge, cut through the guard, if it did
not prove too strong, and then trust to
the spur. The town was thronged
with military, but no one paid the
slightest attention to him. AS he jog
ged along very nonchalantly. more con-
tented with the prospect than a few
days before he would have thought
possible Bruce awoke the echoes by
neighing loudly.
Cow, old man, what did you do
<hat x.yI;
He looked ahead and was stricken
speechless for the moment by seeing
Frances Wentworth on her horse, with
out doubt prisoner, two troopers rid
ing on either side of her and a young
officer in front. She had unquestiona-
bly, seen him. for her brow was wrin-
Killed. with anxiety, but her eyes gaZed
steadily past him into the distance.
AS he made toward the party they
flashed one look of appeal upon him,
which said as plainly as words, For
heavens sake, ride on and do not rec
ognize me"' But the young man was
oblivious to everything except the fact
that she was in some trouble.
where are you going with this la
dy?' he demanded of the officer.
You may well ask" said the man in
no accent of pleasure. I'VE have come
across country to Carlisle under or
ders from one in authority, and now
we must hale her back to Durham,
where General Cromwell is stationed,
and those are the orders of some one
else
But it is all mistaken cried Will
liam
That's what I'm telling you," said
the man. with short laugh.
This lady is the sister of Captain
Wentworth of our army"
80 she says. Others say she is the
woman who was with the Scotch rene
gade. 1 know nothing of it and care
less. l obey ORDERS
Sir said Frances coldly, 'I beg
you not to interfere 1t is a mistake
that will be explained in due time, but
these men must do as they are told.
That much you should know"
Although her words were spoken
harshly enough, her eloquent eyes
were bringing him TO his senses and a
realization of the unwisdom and fulfil
ity of his behavior. Before he could
speak again, sharp voice behind him
rang out:
"Why are you lettering there? Get
on with your'
Without turning he knew who the
speaker was, and if he had not, the
CLEAN of fear in the girls eyes might
have warned him of peril.
This man questions my ORDERS"
said the officer.
NO man has a right to question
your orders. Who is he?"
Armstrong was edging away, but De
Courcy spurred the horse he rode in
a semicircle to cut off his retreat In
stantly the Frenchman raised a shout
that echoed through the streets of the
town and arrested every foot within
hearing.
The Scot. The Scott" he roared.
stop that man; never mind the wom-
an. After him. Sound the signal and
close the bridge. The thousand pounds
are miner'
Now Bruce was doing his best down
the main street of Carlisle. A dozen
shots spattered fire harmlessly, and a
big bell began to toll. Armstrong
was well ahead of the troopers who
followed him, and he gained ground