Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-08-15

was we'll awake. AIS I entered the stable
man lying curled up in the straw
rolled lazily over, and shading his eyes
glanced UP. Apparently he recognized
me- for he got slowly to his feet. Morn-
ing!" he said gruffiy.
/ stood staring at him, wondering II
had made mistake.
What are you doing here my man?'
I said sharply when ! had made certain
knew him, and that he was really the
surly hostler from the Gatehouse tavern
at Highgate. why did you come heref
Why have you followed us?"
Come about your business" he an
swered. ITO give you that"
/ took the note he held out to me-
From whom?" I said. Who sent r.
by you?"
head.
Cannot or will not?" 1 retorted.
Both" he said doggedly. But
there! If you want to know what sort
OF a kernel is in a nut. you don't shake
the tree. master-you crack the nut"
looked at the note he had given
me. II was but a slip of paper folded
thrice. The sender had not addressed
or sealed or fastened 1t in any way,
had taken no care either to insure It's
| reaching its destination or to prevent
prying eyes seeing the contents. If
one OF our associates had sent it, he
| lessness. You are sure 1t is for me?"
| / said.
"As sure as mortal can be-" he an
| swered. only that 1t was given me
\ for man, and not mouse! You are
| not afraid master?"
was not but he edged away as ho
| spoke and looked with so much alarm
| at the scrap Of paper that 1t was
| abundantly clear he was very much
| afraid himself, even while he dertded
me. l saw that II I had offered to re-
| turn the note he would have backed
out Of the stable and gone off there ana
| then as fast as his lame foot would let
| him. This puzzled me. However, I
read the note. There was nothing In
! IL TO frighten me. Yet, as l read the
color came into my face for IT con-
| tained one name to which l had long
| been a stranger.
| ITO Francis Cludde,' It ran. IF you
would not do thing of which you will
miserably repent all your life, and
which will stain you in the eyes of all
| Christian men, meet me two hours De-
fore noon at the cross street OF st.
| Botolph's. where you first saw Mistress
| Bertram And tell no one. Fail not
to come. In heavens name, fail not!'
The note had nothing to do with the
conspiracy then, on the face of it, mys-
| tcrious as II was and mysteriously as It
came. Look here!" I said to the man.
Tell me who sent it. and 1 will give
| you a crown"
II would not tell you" he answered
stubbornly, "if you could make me king
of England No. nor king of Spain
too You might rack me and you would
not get it from mel"
His one eye glowed with so OBJ
stinate a resolve that / gave
up the attempt to persuade and
| turned to examine the message
itself But here / Jared no better.
did not know the handwriting, and
there was no popularity in the paper.
| was no wiser than before. Are you
to take back any answer" 1 said.
NO" he replied, "the saints be
thanked for the same! But you will
bear me Witness" he went on anxious
ly. that l gave you the letter. You
will not forget that or say that you
have not had It? But there!" he added
to himself as he turned away, speaking
in a low voice, SO that l barely caught
the sense OF the words, what is the
use? She will know!"
(Continued Next Weekly