The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-03-19
-THE-
Story Of Francis Cludde
A Romance of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN.

a personag than the bailiff of st. AL
bans, and his manner, befitted such q
man, for II seemed to indicate that he
thought himself heir to all the powers
OF the old abbots under whose broad
thumb his father and grandfather had
groaned. " .
MY conscience pricking me, I felt
some misgiving when / saw him, after
staring at me and whispering to two
or three Of his neighbors, beckon the
landlord aside. His big round face and
burly figure gave him a general like
ness to bluff King Hal, and he ap-
peared to be aware OF this himself and
to be inclined to p the stout kings
ways. which, I have heard my uncle
say. were ever ways heavy for others
toes. For awhile, however, seeing my
supper come in, 1 forgot him. The bare
armed girl who brought 1t to me and
In whom my draggled condition seemed
to provoke feelings Of a different ma
ture lugged up a round table to the
fire. On this she laid my meal, not
Fcruplfng to set aside some OF the snug
dry townsfolk. Then she set O chair for
me well In the blaze. and folding her
arms In her apron stood to watch me
fall to. I did so with a will, and with
each mouthful- Of beef and draft of ale
spirit and strength came back to me.
The cits round me might sneer and
shake their heads and the travellers
smile al my appetite. In five minutes
I cared not q whit. ! could give them
back joke for joke and laugh with the
best Of them.
Indeed l had clean forgotten the bail
IN when he stalked pack to his place.
But the moment III eyes met / guessed
there was trouble afoot. n landlord
came with him and stood looking at
me-. sending OFF the wench with a flea
In her ear, ana / felt under his eye an
uncomfortable consciousness that my
purse was empty. Two OF three late
bailifr had confided his suspicious, took
their stand also in a half circle and
scanned me queerly. Altogether it
struck me suddenly that / vas I'm q
tight place n had need Of my wits.
"Ahem!" said the bailiff abruptly.
taking skillfA advantage OF a lull in
the talk. Where from last, young
MANI" He spoke in a deep, choky
voice, and IL / were not mistaken he
winked one If his small eyes In the di-
rection Of his friends, as though to say,
Now see me pose him!"
But I only put another morselt in my
mouth. For the moment indeed the
temptation to reply 'Towcester," see
ing that such a journey over a middling
road was something to brag Of before
the highway law came in, almost over
came me. But In time ! b~ethought Of
Stephen Gardeners maxim, BE slow to
speak," n ! put another morsel in
my mouth.
The bailiff's face grew red, or rather
redder. Come young man, did you
hear me speak?" he said pompously.
Where from last?"
From the road, SIR" I replied, turn
ing to him as II / had not heard him
before. And a very wet road It was"
A man who sat next me chuckled.
being apparently a stranger like my
self. But the bailin puffed himself into
a still more striking likeness to King
Henry, and including him in his scowl
shouted at me: "Sirrah, don't handy
words with me. Which way did you
come along the road" I asked.
1t was on the tip of my tongue to
answer saucily. THE right way!" But
and to be stopped might mean to be
hanged at worst, and something very
unpleasant at best. So I controlled my
self n answered, though the mans
arrogance was provoking enough: 1T
have come from Stratford, ard I am
going TO London. Now you know as
much as I do"
do II" he said with a sheer and a
wink at the landlord.
Yes, I think So" I answered patient
We'll, I DON'T" he retorted In vulgar
triumph. IT don't. 1t Is my opinion
that you have come from London"
/ went on with my supper.
do you hear?" he asked pompouslv.
sticking his arms akimbo ana looking
round for sympathy. You will have
to give an account Of yourself, young
man. We will have no penniless roEues
n sturdy vagabonds wandering about
st. Adams"
"Penniless rogues do not go a horse
| hnNI " III onavNyn-nI p-A
derful how my spirits sank under that
word "'penniless." It hit me hard.
Wait a Bit" he said, raising his
hnger to command attention for for his
next question. What is our religion
young man?"
Oh" I replied, putting down my
knlfe and looking. open scorn at him,
which words of mine there was q kind
OF stir. "You would burn me as I hear
they burned Master Sandars at Gov
entry last week, would you? They
were talking about 1t down the road"
You will come to a bad end, young
mani" he retorted ~viciously, his out
stretched finger shaking as If the palsy
had seized him, for this time my taunt
had gene home. and more than one
or the listeners standing on the outer
edge Ct the group, and so beyond his
ken, hid muttered shame" More than
one Ease had grown dark. You will
come o a bad end" he repeated. "If
It be not here, then somewhere else.
1t Is my opinion that you have just
come from London and that you have
been In trouble. There is q hue and
cry for a young fellow Just your g
and a cock of your hackle, I Judge, who
Ia wanted for heresy. A Londoner. too.
You do not leave here until you have
given an account OF yourself, Master
Jack-a-Dandy!" The party had ali
risen round me, and some Of the hind
most had got on benches to see the
better. Among these, between two
bacon hitches, ] caught q glimpse of
the serving maids face as she peered
at me. pale n scared, and q queer
impulse led me to nod to her-a re-
assuring little nod. L found myself
growing cool and confident, seeing my
self SO cornered.
Easy, easy!" I said. Let a man
finish his supper and get warmed in
peace"
Bishop Bonner will warm you!"
cried the bailiff.
Il dare say-as they warm people in
Spain!" 1 sneered. ~
II will be Bishop Burner to YOU"
shrieked the bailiff, almost beside him
self with rage at being SO bearded by