Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-04-02

- a ~ kkCSbA ~ khAOAAs -
bed and budding on my clothes and
thrusting my fest into III. boots like
n possessed. My heart was beating
as fast % AZ I had been running in q
race. and my hands We're shaking with
the shock OF the alarm. Tho inlpa-
tient voice without vas Master Prit-
chard's and 1t rang with all the vcnSe-
ful passion which I should have ex-
! pected that gentleman. duped, ducked
| md robbed, to be feeling. There would
be little mercy to be had at his hands.
Moreover. my ears, grown as / cen Tor
the moment as the hunted hGre's dis
tinE1ished the tramping OF at least
half 4 dozen horses. SO that 1t was
clear that he had NJ with a force
at his back. Resistance would be use
less. My sole chance lay In fight. II
flight should still be possible.
Even IN my haste I did not fOrsake
| the taliaman which had served me so
well. but staid aE instant to thrus 1t
into rny pocket. The Guides have, I
gencies, getting indeed the cooler the
greater the stress.
BY this time tho inn was thorough
ly aroused Doors were opening and
shutting or al! sides of me. and ques-
tions were being shouted I'm different
tones from room TO room, In the mids.
OF the hub-bub I heard the landlord
come ont. muttering. n go down
stairs to open the door Instantly I
Unattached mine, slipped through 1t
@~teaithily, sneaked a step or two down
the passage and then came plump up
In the dark against some n who was
moving us softly as myself. The sur
cried out at thu unexpected collision
had rot the unknown laid a cold hand
on my mou and gently pushed me
back into my room.
Hero there was now a faint glimmer
of dawn. and by this I saw that M
"IIist!' she said. speaking under her
hr.ath. us 1t you they want?"
1 nodded.
II thought co." shc muttered.
Then you must gee out through your
| window. You cannot pass them. They
are armed. Quicki Knot this about the
bars. 1t Is no great depth to the bot
tom. Inc tho ground Is soft from the
rain"
She tore, Ell she spoke. the coverlet
from the bed, and twisting 1t into q
kind OF rope helped me to secure n
corner OF it about the window bal.
When you arc down." h whispered.
yoM come to a haystaclk. Turn to the
left there--you will have to ford the
water-and you will soon be clear of
the town. Look about you then, and
you will see q horseback, which leads
to Klstreet. running; In a line with the
through the woods. AT Elstree any
path to the LETT Will take you to
Barnet and not two miles lost"
Heaven bless you!" l said. turning
from the gloom. the dark sky and
driving scud without to peel grateful
ly at her. Heaven bless you for O good
woman!"
And God keep you Tor a bonny boy
h whispered.
kissed her. forcing into her hands
"a thing the remembrance Of which
ls very pleasant to me to this day-my
last piece Q. gold.
A moment o and I stood un-
hurt. but almost up to my knees in
! mud, IN an alley bounded on both
walls. Stopping only to indicate by a
low whistle that i was safe. I turned
and sped away as fast as / could run
in the direction which she had pointed
out. There was no n abroad n In
g shorter time than I had expected, I
ing over q kind Of moorland tract
bounded in the distance by woods.
Here I picked up the horseback
easily enough, and without stopping,
save for q short breathing space. hur-
ried along It to gain the shelter Of the
trees. So Tar so good. I had reaso
to be thankful. But my case was still
an Indifferent one. More than once In
getting out OF the town I had slipped
and fallen. I was wet through and
plastered with dirt owing to these mis-
haps. and my clothes were In a woe
fui plight. For q time excitement kept
mo up. however. and I made good way,
again banned the great bishop. It was
only when the day had come and
grown on to moor. and I saw no sign
OF any pursuers. that thought got the
| upper hand.
Then 1 began to compare, with some
bitterness OF feeling. my present con
dition-wet, dirty and homeless-with
that which I had enjoyed only a week
before. and 1t needed all my courage
to support me. Skulking, half famished,
between Barnet and T0tterham, often
compelled to crouch in bitches or be-
hind walls while travellers went by, and
liable each instant to have to leave the
highway and take to my heels, I had
leisure to feel, and I did feel, more
keenly. I think. that afternoon than al
later time. the bitterness Of fort
une. l cursed Stephen Gardiner q
dozen times and dared not let my
THOUGHTS wander o my father. I had
said that I would build my house
e1resh. Well. truly / was building Il
from tho foundation.
Il added very much to my misery
that It rained al day q cold, half frozen
rain. The whole afternoon I spent n
hiding. shiverins and shaking. In a hole
under q ledge near Totterham. beina
afraid to 60 Into London before nirhf-
fail lest I should be waited for at the
cate and be captured. Chilled and he
draegied - ! was and weak. throueh
want Of food. which ! dared not =
out to beg, the terrors Of capture
got hold Of my mind ana presented
Of humiliation. the stocks, the pillorv
the z { tail-so that even Maste,
Prttchard, could he have seen mo. ~
nown my mind. might have pitied ma:
90 that I loathe to this day the hours