Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-08-08

been his! 1t was falling back ruined
him."
Master Berthe shook his head. IF
you have no secure base, you run the
risk of being crushed in the first half
hour" he said. When a fire is first
lighted, the breeze puts it out which
afterward but fans it."
You will not say that when you
hear our plans. There are to be three
risings at once. Lord Delaware will
rise in the west"
But will hep" said Master Bertie
pointedly. disregarding the threatening
looks which were cast at him by more
than one. THE late rebellion there
was put down very summarily. and l
should have thought that countryside
would not be prone to rise again. VIII
Lord Delaware rise?'
'Oh yes. he will rise fast enough"
Penruddocke replied carelessly. Il Will
while we do the London business, Sir
Richard Bray will gather his men in
Kent"
do not count on him." said Master
BERTHE. "A prisoner, muffied and
hoodwinked, was taken to the tower
by water this afternoon, and rumor
says 1t was Sir Richard Bray"
There was a pause of CONSERVATION,
during which one looked at another
and swarthy faces grew pale. Pen
ruddocke was the first to recover him
self. Bah" he exclaimed, "a fig for
rumor! She is ever a lying jade! !
will bet a noble Richard Bray is sup
ping in his own house at this min
ute"
Then you would lose" Master Ber-
tie rejoined sadly and with no show
of triumph. "On hearing the report
/ sent a messenger to Sir Richards s
house. He brought word back that
Sir Richard Bray had been fetched
away unexpectedly by four men, and
that the house was In confusion
A murmur of dismay broke out at the
lower end of the table. But the Cor
nishman rose to the situation. What
natter" he cried boisterously. What
we have lost in Bray we have gained In
Master BERTHE. He will raise Lincoln
shire for us and the duchess tenants.
There should be 500 stout men of the
latter and two-thirds of them Protest
ants at heart. If Bray has been seized,
there is the more call for haste that we
may release him"
This appeal was answered by an out
burst of cries. One or two even rose,
and waving their weapons swore n
speedy vengeance. But Master BERTHE
sat silent till the noise had subsided.
Then ne spoke. You must not count
Of them. either. Sir Thomas" he said
firmly. II cannot find it in my con-
science to bring my wife's tenants into
a plan so desperate as this appears to
be. Ia appeal to the people generally
bound to us, and who cannot in honor
refuse, is another. And / will not risk
in a hopeless struggle the lives Of men
whose fathers looked for guidance to
me and mine"
A silence. the silence Of utter aston
ishment, fell upon the plotters round
the table. In every face-and they were
all turned upon my companion-I read
rage and distrust and dismay. They
had chafed under his cold criticism and
his calm reasonings. But this went
beyond ALL and there were hands which
stole instinctively to daggers and eyes
which waited scowling for a signal.
But Penruddocke. sanguine of nature
and rendered reckless by circum-
stances, had still the feelings of a gen.
tleman, and something in him respond
ed to the appeal which underlay Master
Berties words. He remained silent,
gazing gloomily at the table, his eyes
perhaps opened at this late hour to
the hopelessness of the, attempt he
meditated.
II was Walter Kingston who came to
the fore and put into words the
thoughts of the Coarser and more selfish
spirits round him. Leaping from his
seat, he dashed his slender hand on the
table. What does this mean?" he
sneered, a dangerous light in his dark
eyes. Those only are here or should
be here who are willing to stake all
all, mind you-on the cause. Let us
have no sneaks! Let us have no men
with a foot on either bank! Let us
have no Countenays nor cowards Such
men ruined Wyatt and hanged my
brother! A curse on them!" he cried,
his voice rising almost to scream.
Master Kingston, do you refer to
me?" BERTHE rejoined in naughty sur
prise.
AYE, do" cried the young man,
hotly.
Then I must beg leave of these gen.
tlemen to explain my position"
Your position? So! More words?''
quoth the other mockingly.
Aye, as many words as / please,
retorted Master BERTHE. his color rising.
"Afterward / will be as ready with
deeds, l dare swear, as any other! My
tenants and my wife's l will not draw
into an almost hopeless struggle. But
my own life and my friends, since we
have obtained your secrets, l must risk,
and l will do so in honor to the death,
For the rest. who doubts my courage
may test it below ground or above"
The young man laughed rudely. You
will risk your life. but not your lands,
Master BERTHE? That is the position
is !t?"
My companion was about to utter a
rejoinder, fierce for him. when l. who
had hitherto sat silent. interposed. THE
old witch told the truth" / cried bit
terly. she said II we came hither we
should perish, and perish we shall
through being linked to a dozen men as
brave as l could wish, but the biggest
fools under heaven"
"Fools?" shouted Kingston.
AYE, FOOLS" / repeated. For who
but fools, being at sea in a boat In
which all must sink or swim, would fall
a-quarreling? Tell me that" l cried
slapping the table.
You are about right" Penruddocke
said, and half dozen voices muttered
assent.
About right, is hep" shrieked King
ston. But who knows we are in boat
together? Who knows that, I'd like to
hear?"
IT do" 1 said, standing up and over
topping him by eight inches. land II
any man hints that Master Bertie is
here for any other purpose or with any
other intent than to honestly risk his
life in this endeavor as becomes gen
tleman let him stand out, let him stand
out, and / will break his neck! Fie
gentlemen, fie!" I continued, after 9
short pause, which l did not make toe
long lest Master Kingston's passion
should get the better of his prudence
Though am young, 1 have seen serv'
ice. But / never saw battle won ye,
with dissension in the camp. Fol
shame! Let us to business and make
the best dispositions we may"
"You talk sense, Master Carey!" Pen
ruddocke cried, with a great oath
"Give me your hand. and do you, King
ston, hold your peace. If Master Bertit
will not raise his men to save his OWL
skin, he will hardly do 1t for ours. Now
Sir Richard Bray being taken, what !!
to be done, my lads? Come, let us lool
to that"
So the storm blew over. But 1t wa!
with heavy hearts that two of us fel
to the discussion which followed, count