Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-08-28
Storyo Of Francis Cludde
"A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY STANLEY j. WEYMAN
BY STANLEY J. wEYMAN.
cHAPTER xx contlnued.

and take their advice. we seem g
he surrounded by pitfalls,
AT this the lame hostlei
came up, and grumbling at as as u
he had never seen us in his life be-
fore. and never wished to sec as again
took cur horses. We went into the
kitchen, and taking the FIRST chanc
OF slipping upstairs TO Mo- 10 we We're
admitted with the same precautions
as before, and descending the sharl
gained the cellar.
Here we were not, as we had ooked
TO be, the first on the scene. ] sup
pose 81 sense OF the insecurity OF our
meeting place had led every one to
come early, 70 as to be gone early
Penruddocke indeed was not here yet,
but Kingston and half a score OF
others were sitting about conyersing
IN low tones. II was PLAIN tnat me
distTust and suspicion which we had
remarked on the previous day had
q been allayed by the discovery oil
CIarence's treachery.
Indeed 1t was clear the distrust and
dependency had today become a panic.
Men Clared at one another and at the
door and talked In whispers and started
at the slightest sound. / glanced round.
The one ! sought for with eager yet
shrinking eyes was 10 TO be seen. l
turned To Master BERTHE, M face mute
~ calling on him to ask the question.
Where is the prisoner he said
sharply.
A moment / hung in suspense. Then
one OF the men said: He is In there.
He is safe enough!" He pointed as he
spoke TO a door which seemed TO lead
20 an inner cellar.
Right" said Master BERTHE, still
standing. II nave two pieces of bad
news for you nevertheless. Firstly, j
have Just been recognized by the Span
ish ambassador, whom / met In the
courtyard above Half Of the men
rose 70 their feet. What Is he doing
here ~ they cried. one boldly. the others
with the quaver very plain In their
voices.
II do not know, but he recognized me.
why he took no steps TO detain or ar
rest me ] cannot tell. He rode away
by the north road"
They gazed at one another II we at
them. The wolfsh look which fear
brings into some faces grew stronger In
theirs.
what is your other bad newsT' said
Kingston, with an oath.
"A person outside. a friend OF the
prisoner, has a list OF our names and
knows our meeting place and our plans.
She threatens to use the knowledge un-
less the man Clarence or Crewdhon be
set free,
ltCAG was q AOAA AhAAI AtAAi VI NAak
and dlssnay. amid which Kingston alone
preserved his conposure. I'VE might
have been prepared for that" he said
quietly. 1T lis an old ~precaution or
such folk. But how did you come TO
hear or it2"
MY friend here saw the messenger
and heard the terms. The man must
be set free by sunset"
SAlad what warranty have we that he
will not so straight with his plans and
his list to the council?"
Master BERTHE could not answer that.
neither could I. We had no surety, and
II we set him free could take none save
his word, Ills word! Could even I ask
them TO accept that? TO stake the life
OF the meanest OF them on it?
i saw The difficulties OF the position.
and when Master Kingston pronounced
eooliy that this was o waste OF time,
and that the only wise course was to
dispose OF tile principal witness, both In
the interests Of justice and our safety,
and then shift ourselves before the
storm broke. I acknowledged In my
heart the wisdom OF the course and felt
that yesterday II would have received
rny assent.
,s"rhe risk Is about the same either
way" Master BERTHE said.
sUt at ali Kingston objected. q
sparkle OF malice IN his eyes. Last
night we had thwarted him. Tonight 1t
WAS his turn, and the dark. lowering
looks Of those round him showed that
numbers were with him. This fellow
ran hang us an. His a~ccofnpllce who
escapes can know nothing save through
him ard could give only vague and un-
certain evidences. No. no Let us cast
Tote who shall do It, get 1t done quickly
and he gone"
We must wait at least" BERTHE
urged. until Sir Thomas comes"
MOI" rstorted Kingston, with heat
wye are all equal here. Besides thu
man was condemned yesterday with
III Gerry out the sentence. Surely this
gentisnnan.v he continued. turning sud
denly upon me, "who Was so ready tx
accuse him yesterday. does not wish
him spared today.
II do with it, / said In a low tone.
Hot hoi" he cried, folding his arms
and throwing back his head. aston
shed st the success OF his own Ques
fion. "Thcn ma we ask for your reas
IONS, sire Last night You could d Las
your tongue 10 words too bad for him
Tonight you wish to spare him and le
him CO.
II do I said. 7 scst that every ey,
was upon me al that, Master Bertii
excepted. not one there would feel sym
tf H#tnI Win tHt III NY NNiHttldttON. Inc,
we're driven TO the wall. They had n,
time for I'm feeling, for sympathy. foI
Appreciation OF the tragic, unless I
Touched themselves What chance hat
with them. though + was q son plead
ing for 4 father? Nay, what arsusnen
had 1 save thar I was his son. and tina
had brought him to this? No argu
inert. oniv the appeal TO them tina
fi.eq would NOT make me 4 parricide
Ard I xNIt that at this they woui,
nrpcx.
And &c. ri view Of those stern. curl
cue faces. rev temptation scfred m
-tf3r tefnpfstion to be silent. VIII.
aa6ula ! rot stnnd ~ and let thing
fakc thttf course? Why should I no
xpar& msHSIf tho Shame which I clread,
saw weufa Dc fruitsess? When Maste
Ei;4Nstcn. With a cynical bow. said
Hy,;9r rfffops eir. I stood mute an
frfsx ;su9. IL I kept silence, II I RE
f<lxf1 IL give }Sy rcasonS. &c 4 dId nj
az ,cv1ifafe The prisoner. hui merel
hef&ed rs iF;e. re would die, and IN
<~onnecstsa b<tWeen us would be anew
1ly 10 ore % two. should he free
4 from him and mj4ht 60 on my wa,
11e sins Of Ferdinand Gsudde we're we
fNxh forxofttn. Why take 10 myxe'
tho Sins 81 clareaos wh1cn won!
t4fr be ussociated with nv kather (
why. 'adse43 As as xSSat "