The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-09-25

~ AZ III w. AZ tA"h NiAt
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
got one, for at his a
man who had been watching in front
of the house ran in.
They are here..' he cried. "A good
hundred of them, and torches enough
gate, porter. Sir Anthony is calling
for You. Do You hear"'
There WAS q great uprising, Il great
Gathering OF feet and barking of dogs
n some wailing among the women.
AS h messenger finished speaking a
harsh challenge which penetrated ven
the court yard arose from many voices
without and was followed by the wind
Ing of u horn. This suf1iced. All hur-
ried with one accord into the court.
where the porter looked to Baldwin for
instructions.
Hold a minute!" cried the steward.
silencing the loudest hound by a sound
kick and disregardlng Sir Anthony's
voice. which came from the direction
OF the gateway. Let us see If they
are at the back too"
He ran through the passage and
emerging on the edge of the moat was
at once saluted by a dozen voices
warming him back. There were 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 1 thought l would
make sure"
He ran back at once. nearly knock
ing down Martin, who, with a COM
panion, 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, ale you? l never thought
that o and l would be in at our own
dearhs!"
He did not notice, in the wild humor
which had seized him, who Martins
companion was, though probably at an
other time it would have struck him
that there was no one in the mouse
quite so tall. He sped on with scarcely
a glance. and in n moment was under
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
ereaked on their hinges, and knight,
ilis 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 QlSlllCS.
WHO disturbs US at this hour??" he
cried. peerins 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-
hind him could make out q group of
half a dozen figures a score OF yards
away. while in support of these there
appeared a bowsho off IND still in the
open ground 4 clulmp of, it might be,
a hundred men. Beyond all lay the
dark line of trees, above which the
moon, new risen, was sailing through
Il Watery wracil 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
solelnnly. II call on you to surrender.
L hold Il warrant for your arrest, and
also for the arrest of James Carey, q
priest, and Baldwin Moor. who. 1 am
told, is your steward. l am backed
by forces which it will be vain to re-
| sist."
Are you Sir Philip Clopton?" the
knight asked, for at that distance and
in that light 1t was impossible to be
| sure.
~ am" the sheriff answered earnest
ly, and as a friend I beg you, Sir An
thony, to void useless bloodshed and
further cause for offense. Sir Thomas
Greville. the governor of Warwick
castle. and Colonel Bridgewater are
With me. I implore you. my friend, to
surrender, and l Will do what good Of
fees 1 may"
The knight, as we know. had made up
his mind, and yet for a second he hest
tated. There were stern, grim faces
round him, changed by the stress of
the momen INTO the semblance of dark
Raldwin's-the faces of men, who.
though they numbered but a dozen,
We're his men, bound to him by every
tie of instinct and breeding and Gus
tom. and he had been a soldier and
knew the fierce joy Of a desperate
struggle against odds. Might it not be
better, after all?
But then he remembered his women
kind, and. after all. why endanger these
faithful men? He raised his voice and
cried clearly: II accept your good Of
fees, Sir Philip, M I take your advice.
1 will have the d~rawbridge lowered,
only I beg you will keep your men we'll
In hand and do my poor house as lit
tie damage as may be-"
(Contiaued Next Weekly