Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-07-31

toft, having made the passage from
Hamburg in 81 trading vessel of thai
place. We stopped only to sleep one
night, and then, dressed as travelling
merchants, we set put on the road &c
London, entering the city without acct
dent or hindrance on the third day
after landing.
CHAPTER XVIII.
One minute!" I said. THAT is the
place.
Master BERTHE turned in his saddle
and looked at ii. The light was fading
into h early dusk of a November
evening, but the main features of four
cross streets. the angle between two OF
them filled by the tall belfry OF q
church, were still to be made out. The
east wind had driven loiterers indoors,
and there was scarcely any one abroad
to notice us. / pointed to q dead wall
~ PAGES down the street. Opposite
that they stopped" / said. There was
q pile or boards leaning against it
then"
You have had many a worse bed
chamber since, lad" he said, smiling.
Many" answered. And then by a
common Impulse we shook UP the
horses, and trotting gently on were
soon clear OF London and making for
Islington. Passing through the latter,
we began to breast the steep slope
which leads to Highgate, and coming,
when We had reached the summit
plump upon the lights Of the village
pulled up in front of a building which
doomed darkly cross the road.
This is the Gatehouse tavern" Mas
ter BERTHE said In a low voice. I'VE
shall o know whether we have come
on a fools errand-or worse,"
We rode under the archway into a
great courtyard, from which the road
issued again on the other side through
another gate. IN one corner two men
were littering down a line of pack
horses by the light of the lanterns.
which brought their tanned and rugged
faces into relief. In another, where the
light poured ruddily from an open
doorway, a hostler was serving out fod-
der and doing so, if we might Judge
from the travellers remonstrances, with
q niggardly hand. From the windows
of the house a dozen rays Of light shot
athWart the darkness and disclosed as
many pigs wallowing asleep in the mid
die of the yard. In all we saw a coarse
coInfort and welcome. Master BERTHE
the way across the yard and ac-
costed the hostler. Can we have
stalls n beds?" he asked.
The man stayed his chasfering and
looked up at us. Every man to his
business he replied grufiy. Stalls.
yes. but of beds / know nothing. For
work go TO the women"
Right" said /. $50 we will. With
better luck than you would go, / ex-
pect, my man."
Bursting into a hoarse laugh at this
he was lame and one eyed and not
very well favored-he led MS into a
long, many stalled stable, feebly lit my
lanterns which here and there glirn-
mered against the walls. Suit YOUR
selves" he said. First come is first
served here"
He seemed an Ill conditioned fellow.
but the businesslike way I'm which we
went about our work. watering, feeding
and littering down in old campaigners'
fashion, drew from him a grunt of COM
mendation. Have you come from afar,
masters?" he asked.
No; from London" / answered curt
~. w come as linen diapers from
Westcheap, If you want to know.
Aye, ] see that" he said, chucRling.
Never were atop OF a horse before nor
handled anything hut a clothyard. Oh.
moi"
We want a merchant reputed to sell
French lace" l continued, looking hard
az ihi. 40 you tldpptH 10 KNOW III
there Is a dealer here with any?"
He nodded rather to himself than TO
me. as II he had expected the question.
Then in the same tone, but with a
quick glance of intelligence. he an
swered, Il will show you into the
house presently, and you can see for
yourselves. A stable Isl no place FOR.
French lace He pointed with a wink
over his shoulder toward a stall in
which q man. apparently drunk. lay
snoring. THAT Is a fine toy" he ran
on carelessly as / removed my dagger
from the holster and concealed ii un-
der my cioak-"a fine pIaything-for a
linen draper!'
Peace, peace. man. and show us In. y
said Master Berthe. im~patiently.
with a shrug OF his shoulders the
man obeyed. Crossing the courtyard
behind him. we entered the great
kitchen, which. full OF light and
warmth and noise. presented Just such
a scene Of comfort and hustle, OF loud
talking. red faced guests and hurrying
bare armed serving maids as / remam-
bered lighting upon at st. Adams three
years back. But l had changed much
since then and seen much. The bailiff
himself would hardly have recognized
his old antagonist In the tall, heavily
C100hSN SttNti8cl WnOct assured 1lT,
acquired amid wild surroundings in q
foreign land, gave him a look of age
to which / could not fairly lay claim.
Master BERTHE had assigned the lead to
me as being in less danger of recogni-
ton, and 1 followed the hostler toward
the hearth without hesitation. Master
Jenkin," the man cried. with the same
rough bluntness he had shown without
here are two travellers want the lace
seller who was here today. Has he
gomez"
"who gomez" retorted the host a.
loudly.
The lace merchant who came thi,
morning."
mo: he Is In No. e. returned III,
landlord. WIN YOU sup first. gentle
menu
We declined and followed the hostler
who made no secret Of our destination
telling those In bur road to make wa,
~ the gentlemen were for No. 80. On
OF the crowd. however. who seemed I,
be crossing from the lower end az IN,
room, failed apparently TO understand
and interposing between us and on
/ guide brought me perforce to q halt.