The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-08-13
Storyof Francis Cludde
"A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY ]. wEYMAN.

~ oAAA - -
racked his w spirit.
Penruddocke came back, Master
BERTHE following him.
'It must not be done tonight" he an
nounced quietly, with q nod which
meant that he would explain the rea-
tomorrow at 4 in the afternoon, in
stead of at 8 in the evening. Until
then two must remain on guard with
him. 1t is right he should have some
time to repent, and he shall have It."
This did not at once find favor.
why not run him through now7"
said one bluntly, and meet tomorrow
at some place unknown to him2 IL we
come here again, we shall. likely
enough, walk straight into the trap"
We'll, have 1t that way, IL you
please" answered Sir Thomas. shrug-
ging his shoulder. But do not blame
me afterward IL you find we have let
slip a golden opportunity. Be fools IL
you like. / dare say 1t will not make
mitch difference In the endl'
He spoke at random, but he Knew
how to deal with his crew. 1t seemed,
for on this those who had objected as
scented reluctantly to the course he
proposed. Barnes and Walters are
here in hiding, so they had better be
the two to guard him." he continued
There Is no fear that they will be
inclined to let him gol" / looked at
tho men whom the glances OF their
to belong to the little Knot of fanatics
I had before remarked-dark, stern
men, worth, II the matter ever came
to fighting, all the rest of the band put
together.
"At 4, tomorrow, then. we meet"
Sir Thomas concluded lightly. Then
we will deal with him, never fear! Now
N Ia nnpr Ynfdnioht md we Yaucf hp 90
ing, but not all together, or we shall
attract attention"
Hall an hour later Master Berthe
and / rode softly out of the courtyard
and turned our faces toward the city.
The night wind came sweeping across
the valley of the Thames and met us
full I'm the face as we reached the
melancholy whispers. The wretched
enterprise, Ill conceived, Ill ordered.
and In Its very nature desperate, to
which we were In honor committed,
would have accounted of itself for any
degree OF foreboding. But the scene
through which we had just passed, and
on my part the knowledge that ! had
given up a fellow being to death, had
their depressing influences. For ON
distance we rode in silence, which /
was the first to break.
why did you put off his punish
ment?" I asked.
because I think ne will give us in
formation In the interval" BERTHE n
swered briefly. Information which
may help us. A spy Is generally ready
to betray his own side upon occasion"
And you win spare him II. he does?"
! asked 1t seemed to me neither
justice nor mercy.
NO he said, there is no fear OF
that. Those who go with ropes round
their necks know no mercy. But
drowning men will catch at straws, and
ten to one he will babble."
shivered. TT is bad business /
said.
He thought I referred to the con-
spiracy and he inveighed bitterly
against II, reproaching himself for
bringing me into 1t and for his folly
in believing the rosy accounts of men
who had all to win and nothing save
their worthless lives to lose. There Is
only one thing gained" he said. I'VE
we may think the more OF II. We have
been the means Of Furnishing a villain"
Yes" ] said, that Is true. 1t was
a strange meeting and a strange rec
ognition. Strangest Of all that / should
be called UP to swear with him"
Not strange" Master BERTHE an
swered gravely. II would rather call
1t providential. Let us think OF that
and be OF better courage, friend. We
have been used; we shall not be cast
away before our time"
I looked back. For some minutes ]
had-thought / heard behind us a light
footstep more like the pattering Of a
dog than anything else. could see
nothing, but that was not wonderful,
for the moo was young and the sky
overcast. do you hear some one fol-
lowing us 2" I said.
Master Berthe drew rein suddenly, and
turning in the saddle we listened. For
a second I thought I still heard the
sound. The next 1t ceased and only
the wind toying with the November
leaves and signing away In the distance
came to u ears. mo- he said, II
think It must have been your fancy, ]
hear nothing"
But when we rode on the sound. be-
gan again, though at first more family,
as IL u follower had learned prudence
and fallen farther behind. do not stop,
but listenr' / said softly. Cannot you
hear the pattering Of a naked foot
now2"
II hear something" he answered. 81
am afraid you are right and that we
are followed"
What is to be done?" I said, my
Thoughts busy.
There is caen wood In front" he an.
SWGTeu, Will u llllle open ground or
this side of 1t. We VIII ride under the
trees and then stop suddenly. Perhaps
we shall be able to distinguish him az
he crosses the open behind u.s." We
made the experiment, but as IL our fol,
lower had OWNED the plan his footster
ceased to sound before we had stopped
our horses. He had fallen farther be.
hind. I'VE might ride quickly back
1 suggested, land surprise him."
ut would be useless" BERTHE an,
swered. There Is too much cover
close to the road. Let US rather trot
on and outstrip him."
We did trot on, and what with the
tramp OF u horses as they swung
along the road and the sharp passage
of the wind by our ears we heard ne
more Of the footstep behind. But wher
we presently pulled up to breathe oul
horses--or rather within a few minutes
of u doing so-there II was behind III
nearer and louder than before. I shiv
cred as / listened, and presently, actinl
on a sudden impulse. / wheeled M
horse round and spurred him back
dozen PAGES along the road.
/ pulled UP.
There was a movement In the shadow
of the trees on my right, and I leaned
4