Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-09-25

Then who is it," cried the steward
impatiently.
He Is shrewd, is Martin-when the
saints have not got their backs to
him." said the old fellow slyly.
Who is it?" Numbered the steward,
we'll used TO this rustic method of
evasion. Answer. you dolt!"
But no answer came, and Baldwin
never got one, for at this moment a
man who had been watching in front
OF the house ran In.
They are herei" he cried. "A good
hundred OF them. and torches enough
for st. A~nthony's eve. Get you to the
gate, porter. Sir Anthony is calling
for you. Do you hear"
There was a great uprising. a great
Gathering OF feet and barking OF dogs
and some wailing among the women.
As the messenger finished speaking a
harsh challenge which penetrated even
the court yard arose from many voices
without and was followed by the wind
ing OF a horn. This sufficed. All hur-
ried with one accord into the court,
where the porter looked to Baldwin for
Instructions.
Hold a minutel" cried the steward,
silencing the loudest hound by a sound
kick and dlsregarding Sir Anthony's
voice, which came from the direction
OF the gateway. Let US see II they
are at the DacK TOO.
He ran through the passage, and
emerging on the edge OF the moat was
at once saluted by a dozen voices
warning him back. There we're a
score OF dark figures standing In the
little close where the fight had taken
place. Right" said Baldwin to him
self. Needs must when the old gem
tleman drives! Only l thought / would
make sure"
Ha ron hooIy % anna NAo.s,x lr0AoIx
Ing down Martin, who. with a COM
panlon, was making. but at a slower
pace, for the front OF the house.
We'll, old comrade," cried the
steward. shifting the fool on the
back as he passed. you are
here, are you? l never thought
that you and | would be in at u own
deaths!'
He did not notice, In the wild humor
which had seized him, who Martins
companion was, though probably at an
other time IL would have struck him
that there was no one In the house
quite so tall. He sped on with scarcely
a glance, and In a moment was under
the gateway, where Sir Anthony was
soundly rating everybody, and partic-
ularly the porter. who, with his key
in the door, found, or affected to find,
the task of turning 1t a difficult one.
AS the steward came up. however. the
big doors at some sign from him
creaked on their hinges, and the knight.
mis- staff In his hand and the servants
clustering behind him with the lanterns,
walked forward a pace or two to the
end OF the bridge, bearing himself with
some dignity.
who disturbs us at this hour?" he
cried, peering across the moat and
signing to Baldwin to hold up his large
lantern, since the others uncertain OF
their reception, had put out their
torches. By its light he and those be-
him could make out a group of
half a dozen figures a score OF yards
appeared a bowshot off n still in the
open ground a clump OF. 1t might be,
a hundred men. Beyond all lay the
dark line Of trees, above which the
moon. new risen, was sailing through
a watery wrack of clouds. who are
YEP" the knight repeated.
Are you Sir Anthony Cludde?" came
the answer.
II am"
Then In the queens name. Sir An
thony," the leader of the troop cried
solemnly, II call on you TO surrender.
l hold a warrant for your arrest, and
also for the arrest OF James Carey, a
priest, n Baldwin Moor. who, i am
told. is your steward. l am backed
by forces which 1T will be vain to re-
Are you Sir Philip Clopton?" the
knight asked, for at hat distance and
In that light It was impossible to be
sure.
Il am" the sheriff answered earnest
ly, "and as a friend l beg you. Sir An
thony, to avoid useless bloodshed and
cause for offense. Sir Thoma
Greville, the governor of Warwick
and Colonel B~ridgewater are
with me. / implore you. my friend, to
surrender, and will do what good Of
fees / may"
The knight. as we know, had made up
his mind, and yet for a second he hest
There were stern, grim faces
him. changed by the stress of
moment into the semblance of dark
Raldwtn's-the faces OF men, who.
they numbered but a dozen.
his men, bound to him by every
tie OF instinct and breeding and Gus
and he had been a soldier and
the fierce Joy OF a desperate
against odds. Might II not be
after all?
But then he remembered his women
kind. and, after all, why endanger these
men? He raised his voice and
clearly: Il accept your good Of
fees, Sir Philip, and / take your advice.
| Will have the drawbridge lowered.
l beg you will keep your men we'll
In hand and do my poor house as lit
tie damage as may be-"
(ContiRued Next Wesk.l