The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-03-13
Francis C1udde
ARomance of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY J.. EYMAN
BY STANLEY ]. wEYMAN.

and my tankard. Here" cried.
speaking suddenly and loudly. here is
bad luck to purveyors, Master Host!"
There We're a couple of stablemen
within hearing, lounging In the door
way. besides the landlord and his wife
and the farmers.
"A village1 or two also mad dropped
IN, and there We're two peddlers lying
half asleep In the corner. All these
pricked Ut their ears more or less at
they were slow to take in anything
new OF unexpected. and | had to drink
afresh and say again, Here Is bad luck
to p~urVeyors!" before any one took 1t
up.
Than the landlord showed he under
stood.
Aye, so say II" he cried. with an
oath. "Purveyors, indeed! 1t is such
as they give the queen a bad name"
God bless her!" quoth the monk
And drown the ~purveyors!" a farm
or exclaimed.
They were here a year ago and left
us as bare as a shorn sheep" struck In
a strapping. villager. speaking at a
white heat. blu telling me no news. for
ter the night before. The queen should
lie warm If she uses all the wool they
took. And the pack horses they pur-
veyed to carry Off the plunder-why.
the packmen avoid Stratford ever since
as though we had the black death. Oh,
first that comes this way I will show
the bottom of the Ouse. Aye, that 1
Will. though l hang for TT"
Easy, easy, Tom Miller!" the host
in~terposed. affecting an air Of assur-
ance. even while he cast an eye OF trou-
BILE at his flltches. at will be mother
ten years, before they harry US again.
There Is Potter's Pury! They never
took a testers worth from Potter's
Pury! No, nor from Preston Gobion!
upon it!"
Il hope they will" said. with a
words. But I doubt it,"
And this time my hint was not vast
ed. The landlord changed color. What
mildly. while the others looked at me
in silence and waited for more.
What If there be one across the road
now?" 1 said, giving way to the temp
tation end speaking fa,sely-for which
or he tells lies. He has come straight
from the chancellor, white wand, war
rant and all. He is taking his dinner
now. but he has sent for the hundred
man, so | guess he means business"
For the hundredman?" repeated the
landlord. his brows meeting.
Yes. unless | an mistaken"
Ihere was silence for a moment. Then
the man they called Ton Miller dashed
his cap on the floor. and folding his
n%eighbors. Tile has come. has he!" he
roared. bis face swollen, his eyes blood
shot. "Then I will be as good as nv
word! Who will help? Shall we sit
down and be shorn like sheep, as we
were before. so that our children lay on
| fNn HOy va Cfnrrc ,y,1 r,,~ ~. e.
ourselves? Or shall! we show that we
are free Englishman and not slaves of
FreEchmen? Shall we teach Master
Purveyor not TO trouble us again2 New,
what say you ~nei-hbors?"
So fierce a growl OF impatience indian
ger rose round Wetas ut once answered
the question. A dozen red faces glared
at me and ut ore another, and from the
very motion and passion Of the men as
they snaTled and threatened the room
seemed twice rs full as it was. Their
oaths and cries Of encouragement, not
loud. but the more dangerous for that,
the fresh bursi of fury which rose as
the village smith and another came
In and learned the news. the menacing
gestures of n score of brandished fists
these sights. tough they told Of the
very effect at which I had aimed,
scared as we'll as pleased me. I turned
red and white AMI hesitated, fearing
that l had gone too far.
The thing was done. however. and.
what was more. I had soon to AXE care
the hubbub Nus ut its loudest l felt a
chill run down my back as l met the
monks eye, and. reading In 1t whim-
steal admiration, e in 1t something
besides. and That was IN unmistakable
menace. "CNever LADY, the eye said.
II will expos YOU" 1t threatened.
I had forgotten him-or, at any rate.
that nv acting would no tropcpo wont
enough to him hulding the clew in his
hand-and his iook was like the shock
of cold water 20 me. But it Is wonder
full how keen the wits grow on the
grindstone OF necessity. With scarcely
Il second hesitation l drew out my
long piece of gold. and unnoticed by
the other men, who were busy swear
Ing at and encouraging n another. I
disclosed a nlorsei of it. The months
crafty eyes glistened. l laid my finger
on my lips.
He held ny Two fingers.
l shook NY head and showed an
empty palm. \ lad no more. He nodded.
and the relief thai nod gave me was
great. Before l had time. however,
to consider the of NV es-
cape a movement of the crowd-for the
news had spread with great swiftness,
II there Was bow u crowd assembled
which more tifiss filed the room-pro-
J claimed the p1rHeyor had come out and
WAS III Lle street.
The room was nearly emptied at a
rush. Though l p%rudently remained
behind, l could, through the open WIN
do. hear as Well AS see what passed.
The leading spirits had naturally strug-
gled out frs; and were gathered, sullen
and full of dangerous possibilities,
about the porch.
l suppose the bishops messenger saw
IN them nothing but a crowd of coun-
try clowns. for he came hectorins
toward the door. smith g his boo. with
his whip and putting Out his red cheeks
nightly. He felt brave enough. 10
that he had dined and had at his back
three stout ~constables sworn to keep
the queens peace.
Make way! Make way there! Do
you hear?" he cried in a husky. pomp-
Gus voice. Make way!" he repeated,
lightly touching the nearest MAJ with
his switch. II am on the queens ser
vice. boobies. and must not be him
dered."
The mar swore at him. but did MOI
bulge, and the bully. brought up thus
sharply. awoke to the lowering faces
and threatening looks which confronted
him. He changed color a little. But
IN ale was still in him, and forgetting
his natural discretion he thought to
carry matters with a ii.gh hand.
\ Come, come" he esrflaiued angelic