Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-03-20
THE
Storyof Francis Cludde
A Romance Of Queen Mary's Reign.
BY TANLE j. EYMAN
BY N J. WEYMAN.

man, for it seemed to indicate that he
thought himself heir to all the powers
of the old abbots under whose broad
thumb his father and grandfather had
groaned.
My conscience pricking me, / felt
some misgiving when | saw him, after
staring at me and whispering TO two
or three Of his neighbors, beckon the
landlord aside. His big round face and
burly figure gave him a general like
ness to bluff King Hal, and he up
peared to be aware of this himself and
to be inclined to ape the stout kings
ways, which. l have heard my uncle
say, were ever ways heavy for others
toes. For awhile, however, seeing my
supper come in, | forgot him. The I
armed girl who brought IL to me and
in whom my draggled condition seemed
to provoke feelings of a different ma
ture logged up a round table to the
fire. On this she laid my meal, not
scrupling to set aside some of the snug
dry townsfolk. Then she set a chair for
me well in the blaze, and folding her
arms in her apron stood to watch me
fall to. / did SO with a will, and with
each mouthful of beef and draft OF ale
spirit and strength came Jack to me.
The cts round me might sneer and
shake their heads and the travellers
smile at my appetite. In Ave minutes
L CdIeu not al Will. Il COuIu give llcIll
back joke for joke and laugh with the
best of them.
Indeed | had clean forgotten the bail
if when he stalked back to his place.
But the u eyes met | guessed
there vas trouble afoot. The landlord
came with him and stood looking at
me. sending off the wench with a flea
in her ear, and / felt under his eye an
uncomfortable consciousness that my
nurse was annty Two Or thrpp late
arrivals, to whom l uppos master
bailiff had confided his suspicious, took
their stand also in a half circle and
scanned me queerly. Altogether 1T
struck me suddenly that l was in a
tight place and had need of my wits.
"Ahem!" said the bailiff abruptly,
taking skillful advantage of a lull in
the talk. Where from last, young
MANI" He spoke in a deep, choky
voice, and if L were not mistaken he
| winked one of his small eyes in the di-
rection OF his friends. as though to say,
Now see me pose him."
But | only put another morsel in my
mouth. For the moment indeed the
temptation to reply "TowceSter," see
ing that such a journey over a middling
road was something to brag of before
the highway law came in, almost over
came me. But In time | bethought of
Stephen Gardeners maxim, BE slow to
speak, and / put another morsel in
my Mouth
The bailiff's face grew red, or rather
redder. Come young man, did you
hear me speak," he said pompously.
Where from Iast?'
From the road, sir" / replied, turn
ing to him as if / had not heard him
before. And q very wet road it was
A man who sat LEI me chuckled,
being apparently a stranger like my
self. But the bailiT puffed himself into
Il still more striking likeness to King
Henry, and including him in his scowl
shouted at me: "Sirrah. don't handy
words with me. Which way did you
come along the road" | asked.
It was on the tip of my tongue to
answer saucily. The right way" But
| reflected that ! might be stopped,
and to be stopped might mean to be
hanged ut worst, and something very
unpleasant at best. SO | controlled my
self and answered. though the mans
arrogance was provoking enough: 81
have come from Stratford. and I am
going to London. Now you know as
much as | do"
do I?' he said with q sheer and a
wink 1T the landlord.
Yes. / think So / answered patient
ly.
We'll, / don't" he retorted in vulgar
triumph. II don't. 1t is my opinion
that you have come from London"
| went on with my supper.
DO you hear?" he asked pompousIy
sticking his arms akimbo n looking
round for sympathy. You will have
to give an accoun of yourself, young
and sturdy v~agabonds wandering about
st. Albans.'
"Penniless rogues do not go a horse,
back" / answered. But IL was won.
derful how my spirits sank under thai
word "penniless." 1t hit me hard.
Wait a bit" he said, raising hi:
finger to command attention for for hi:
next question. What is your religion
young MANI"
oh" I replied, putting down m!
knife and looking open scorn at him
you are an inquisitor. are your A
which words of mine there was a kint
of stir. You would burn me as / heaI
they burned Master Sandars at Gov
entry last week, would you? The.
were talking about 1T down the road.
You will come to a bad end, youn,
mani" he retorted vicfousTy. his out
stretched finger shaking as if the pals.
had seized him, for this time my taun
had gone home, and more han on
of the listeners standing on the cute
edge of the group, n so beyond hi
ken, had muttered shame" More thaI
1 one race ndu STOWu udTh. LOU WI
come to a bad end" he repeated. Il
1t be not here, then somewhere else
it is my opinion that you have jus
come from London n that you hav
been in trouble. There is a hue an
cry for a young fellow just your agt
and a cock of you hackle, / judge, VIII
, is wanted for heresy. A Londoner, toe
You dc not leave here until you hav
, given an account of yourself. Maste
, Jack-a-Dandy.' The party had a
, risen round me, and some of the hind
, most had got on benches to see tn
: better. Among these, between tw
: bacon hitches. 1 caught a glimpse
: the serving maids face as she peere
a at me. pale and scared, and a Quee
4 impulse led me to nod to her-a r,
assuring little nod. / found myse
growing cool and confident, seeing m,
q self so cornered.
Easy. easy" l said. let a ma
g finish his supper and get warmed
v peace"
a bishop Bonner will warm O
X cried the bailiff.
& Il dare say-as they warm people
o Spain!" l sneered.
& He will be Bishop Burner to YOU
shrieked the bailiff. almost beside hin
} self with rags at being so bearded I
4, a lad.
o Take oare!" l retorted. do n
y you speak evil of dignitaries, or Y,
Or viii be getting into %trouble!'
le He fairly writhed under this rejoin,
er.