Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-25

k4A times in the last fortnight he hath pre-
hXeWsgI sented himself He is Puritan, Tor
he pays no heed to saints days, ana
a Cavalier, for he makes reckoning OF the
Sabbath; yet withal he is divertng' Let MN
come in. William"
Colonel VALENTINE at last moved the red
knight. "Mate, my Lord"
"The game grows tedious" yawned Lord Her
bury, dropping back in his elbow-chalr. "Happi-
ly my friend Fenwicke cometh to amuse us. l
wonder to myself what he will have pawned
since yesterday. His shoes first walked away,
and he made himself at home in his ridingboots;
he may have pawned his stockings, but l can
not be sure, for he keeps his boot-tops up. But
know his cloak blew away, and he nath donned
shabbier doublet and breeches. Methinks twill
be the coat goes next. Indeed, 1 will wager you
a guinea, VALENTINE, that he appear in his shirt
sleeves"
"Softly my Lord" spoke Valentyue. "He is
here"
The door of the morningroom ratified open
beneath untimid hand, and young man,
with the wide, staggering step of a horse-sol-
dier, strode in half-dozen PAGES and stood at
salute.
Il have won my guinea" Herbury breathed
low to Valentyne.
1nueeuJ IHe Inan wore no COdV, DuC d SLEEVE
less buff jacket; his shirt-sleeves pitilessy ex-
posed in the morning light that beat through the
windows, were grimy and frayed about the cuffs.
But, for all that he held his head hgh-a we'll
shaped head with dark hair close clipped after
the Swedish fashion, and alert dark eyes, that
relieved the dogged heaviness of mouth and
chin.
"Yet again, Master Fenwicke" my Lord
smiled to his salute.
'How long ere it can be Lieutenant Fenwicke
my Lord?" the man answered eagerly. 81 have
waited here in Feversham for days, because of
your promise"
My Lord Herbury's brows moved delicately
nearer; this was a new tone, and one not TO be
encouraged.
II crave your pardon, my Lord" Fenwicke
checked himself. "But when matters fare des
perately, man doth not choose his words And
matters are at that pass with me. l am penni-
less; 1 cannot maintain myself volunteer
And I'm loath to private trooper
There in Germany held commission. / know
the trade of war better than many men who
are preferred. L would serve you ioyally-"
My Lord gazed absently at the chess-board,
where VALENTINE once more had ranged the men
in ranks. "Yes yes, Master Fenwiclse,' he re-
piled gently, you valuable man, l doubt
not. But I-stay, VALENTINE, I'll play the reds
this game-as I said sir, | know no vacant com
missions in the troops. Perchance later, and
there be. III summon you"
He had the kings pawn between his fingers,
when, singing like whip-stroke, came Fem
wicke's answer: can had stood on conditions
thus at Newbury, my Lord, when your leg was
pinned beneath your dead horse, you might not
have sat there now to deny me-"
"Say you SOP" questioned Herbury, gancng
up with slight smile. "Then, on my soul, /
owe you somewhat, Kellam Fenwcke. Fetch
me hither paper and ink from the table there"
He pushed the chessboard little to one side
and after moments deliberate scrutiny Of
Fenwicke's hopeful face wrote neatly
"Ad praeclarissimum Praefectum, Johannem
Shuckburgh. Salve.
"Pro bono pubco ct mea pace mite nunc
damnabem juvenem in periculum ex quo non
redeat. HERBURY."
"Take you this to Colonel shuckburgh," he
directed. go about the task he will give you,
and when you come back you shall receive com
mission, | promise you."
Fenwicke's hand closed upon the proffered pa
per- II your servant, my Lord" he blurted
out. ''You shall never regret this. I thank
YOU"
"Trouble not yourself to thank me, my friend:
twas merely qualification to myself" drawled
my Lord, and then, even ere his client bowed
himself out, turned again to his chess-men.
"Your move, if 1 mistake not, Colonel Valen-
tyne"
In a small chamber above the north gate of
Feversham John Shuckburgh, colonel of dragons
who that day guarded the town, sat poring over
his troop-rolls. He knit his brows impatiently
when his orderly brought word that stranger
would speak with him, but, since the man bore
a message from the Governor OF Feversham,
there was no refusing him.
Not a stranger, though, the colonel perceived
at first sight of Kelam Fenwicke; more than
once he had noted the shabby young man loiter
ing about stables or on tavern benches. Some
how to-day the fellow looked less impudent than
usual; his expression sullen despondenU
as you pleased and, Shuckburgh could have
sworn, he carried his head less iauntiy erect
Grumbling bit, for he was little of a Latinist,
Shuckburgh read my Lords letter twice over,
then glanced up at the bearers dogged face. 'fI
am minded to send you about desperate work,