The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-03-13

A srowl as of a dozen BULLDOGS an.
sWered him, and he drew back as q
hnd might who has trodden on an
adder. You fools!" he spluttered,
Y giaring at them viciously. Are YOU
mad? Do you know what you are do
ing? Do you see this? ?" He whipped out
and brandished It. II come direct from
the lord chancellor and upon his bust
ness. Do you hear? And IL you resist
me 1t is treason. Treason. you dops,"
ne cried. his rage getting the better OF
MIN. and like dogs you will hang for
~. master H~undredrnan. I order you
to take In your c%onstables and arrest
that mani"
What man? quoth Tom Miller. eve
Ing him ixedly.
"The stranger who came In an hour.
ago and Is inside the house."
Him. he means. who told about he
purveyor across the road" exnIa ined
the monk, with a wink.
That wink sufficed. There was a roar
or e~Xecratton. and in the twinklinp If nm
W the Jack in office. tripped up this
way and showed that. was struggling
helplessly In the grasp of half n dozen
men VINO tought savageiy for his body
Win the h~undredman and tho con-
stables. "e Gull
the river! To the Ouse with
mimi" yelled the mob. "In the queens
name!" shouted the officers. But these
We're to those as three to a score and
taken by surprise besides and doubtful
an instant. as the crowd went reeling
n hghting down the road. they pre-.
vailed, the c~onstables managed to drag
their leader free. n I u e a
glimpse OF him. wild eyed and frantic
with fear. his clothes torn from his
pacH. standing at bay like some anil
ma and brandishing his STAFF in one
hand. n packet of letters In the other.
u have letters. letters of state!" he
screamed shrilly. Let me alone. i tell
you! Let me go. you curs!"
Blu in vain. The next instant the
OF letters vent one way. the starr was
dashed another. He was thrown down
and pluckcd up again and hurried
bruised and struggling. toward the
river. his screams for mercy and furious
threats rising shrilly above the oaths
and laughter. N''
Felt myself growing pale as scream
followed scream. They win kin him."
! exclaimed. trembling. and prepared
to follow. II cannot see this done"
But the monk. who had returned to
my side. grasped my arm. Don't be a
,ool,. he said sharply: 1T will answer
Ter is not a fool. though he is angry
ne VIII duck him and let him go. But
l VIII trouble you for that bit OF pold
young gentleman" ~
gave 1t to him.
Now" he continued with a leeer. .r
Will give o a him In return. IF Won
are wise. you will be out Of this COIN STu
try In IL hours. Tethered to the gate
over there is a good horse, which be-
longs to a certain %purveyor now in the
river. Take 1t! There is no one to saw
you nay. And %begone!"
looked hard at him for n minute.
my heart beating fast. This was horse
stealing. and horse stealing was a hane-
ing matter. But I had done so much
already 1 felt I might as well be hanged
Tor a sheep as for a lamb. I was mo-
sure that I had not melted to treason
ana what was stealing a horse beside
ately. oespe'-
Don't lose time. then" quoth nv
mentor. ~ 9o "S
went out then and there and found
ne had told the truth. Every soul IN
.ne Place had gone to see the ducking.
aside in the roadway lay the bundle
of letters. soiled. but not torn. and IN
the gutter was the staff. I STONED
and picked up n and the otherIin
Tor a lamb. in for a sheep. and
they might be useful some day. Then
~ lux Sdutlle ana tWltched
the relns off the hook.
But before l could drive in the sp,rs
a hand fell on the bride. and the
monks face appeared at nv knee,
""Well7" I said. glazing down at him
l WAS burning to be away.
THAT is a good cloak you have got
there" he muttered hurriedly. There.
strapped to the saddle. Won foo,i W" w:
do not want that. Give II me. no
you hear? Quick. give 1t mel" he cried,
raising his voice and clutching at II
fercely. his face dark with greed and
fear. 1 ""o
"I see." I replied as I %nnea q
I am to steal the horse that Won NAV
get the cloak. And then you win Law
the lot on my shoulders Wen take
~" I cried. 'and go -FOUR way as fast
as you cam" -"'s
Throwing 1t at him es hard as 7
could I shook up the reins and went
Off down the road at a gallon. TIL
wind whistled pleasantly past nv ears
The sounds OF the town grew faint ana
distant. Each bound of the good hack
carried me farther and farther from
present danger, farther and farther
from the old life. In the exhtlarafion
and excitement of the moment for
got my condition, forgot that I had not
q penny piece in my pocket, and maj
! had left an unpaid bill behind me.
forgot even that I rode a-welI- q hor'
rowed horse.
(ccnt;nued Nex% M.u