The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-07-30
CHAPTER xyIII.

dent OF h~indrance on the third day
after landing.
CHAPTER XVIII.
"one minute." I said. That Is the
place"
Master Berthe turned in his saddle
and looked at Ii. The light was fading
into the early dusk of a November
evening, but the main features OF four
cross streets. the angle between two OF
them lille by the tall belfry OF a
church, were still to be made out. The
east wind had driven loiterers indoors,
and there was scarcely any one abroad
to notice us. I pointed to a dead wall
10 PAGES down the street. Opposite
that they stopped. " I said. There was
q pile of boards leaning against 1t
then"
You have had many a worse bed
chamber since. lad" he said, smiling.
Many" / answered. And then by a
common impulse we shook up the
horses, and trotting gently on were
soon clear of London and making for
Islington. Passing through the latter,
we began to breast the steep slope
which leads to Highgate, and coming.
when we had reached the summit,
plump upon the lights of the Village
pulled up In front Of a building which
loomed darkly across the road.
This is the Gatehouse tavern" Mas
ter BERTHE said in a low voice. we
shall soon know whether we have come
on a fools errand-or worse!"
We rode under the archway into a
great courtyard, from which the road
issued again on the other side through
another gate. In one corner two men
were littering down q line Of pack
horses by the light OF the lanterns,
which brought their tanned and rugged
faces into relief. In another, where the
light poured ruddily from an open
doorway, a hostler was serving out fod-
der n doing so, IL we might Judge
from the travellers remonstrances, with
a niggardly hand. From the windows
OF the house a dozen ray OF light shot
athwart the darkness and disclosed as
many pigs wallowing asleep in the mid
die OF the yard. In all we saw a coarse
comfort and welcome. Master Berthe
led the way across the yard and ac-
costed the hostler. Can we have
stalls and beds?'' he asked.
The man stayed his chaffering and
looked up at US. Every man to his
business" he replied grufly. stalls,
yes, but of beds l know nothing. For
women's work go to the women"
Right" said L $50 we will. with
better luck than you would GO, I ex-
pect, mySman."
Bursting into a hoarse laugh at this
he was lame and one eyed and not
very well favored-he led US into a
long, many stalled stable, feebly lit by
lanterns which here and there glim-
mered against the walls. suit your
selves" he said. First come Is first
served here"
He seemed an I'll conditioned fellow.
but the businesslike way in which we
went about our work, watering, feeding
and lfttering down In old cam2atgners'
fashion. drew from him a grunt of COM
mendation. Have you come from afar.
masters?" he asked. Z
No; from London,".I answered curt
ly. I'VE come as linen diapers from
Westcheap, IL you a to know"
Aye. l see that" he said, chuckling.
Never were atop OF a horse before nor
handled anything but a clothyard. Oh,
not" -
I'VE want q merchant reputed to sell
French lace" I continued, looking hard
at him. do you happen to know II
there is a dealer here with any?"
He nodded rather to himself than TO
me, as IL he had expected the question.
Then in the same tone, but with a
quick glance OF intelligence, he an
swered, II will show you into the
house presently. and you can see for
yourselves. A stable is no place for
French lace" He pointed with a wink
over his shoulder toward a stall In
which a man, apparently drunk, lay
snoring. That Is a fine toy" he ran
on carelessiy As / removed my dagger
from the holster n concealed II UNI
der my cloak--"a fine plaything-for a
linen draper!"
Peace. peace. man. and show us in"
said Master Berties impatiently.
With a shrug OF his shoulders the
nan obeyed. Crossing the courtyard
behind him. we entered the great
kitchen, which. full of light and
warmth n noise. presented Just such
a scene OF comfort and hustle, OF loud
talking, red faced guests and hurrying
bare armed serving maids as / remem
bered lighting upon at st. Adams three
years back. But ! had changed much
since then and seen much. The bailiff
himself would hardly have recognized
his old antagonist in the tall. heavily
cloaked stranger, whose assured air,
acquired amid wild surroundings In q
foreign land. gave him a look OF age
to which I could not fairly lay claim.
Master BERTHE had assigned the lead to
me as being In less danger OF recogni-
ton. and I followed the hostler toward
the hearth without hesitation. Master
Jenkin," the man cried. with the same
rough bluntness he had shown without,
there are two travellers want the lace
seller who was here today. Has he
gone?"
Who goner" retorted the host as
loudly.
The lace merchant who came this
morning"
NO; he 10 In No. &c." returned the
landlord. "WIl o sup first, gentle
men?"
We declined and followed the hostler.
who made no secret OF our destination.
telling those In our road to make way
as the gentlemen were for No. so. One
Of the crowd, however, who seemed to
be crossipgAfrQm the lower end Of the
room, failed apparently to understand.
and f~nterpgstns between US and u