The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-07-06
CHAPTER l.
The Fugitive.

The night was SO dark and the
road 50 bad. that in spite of my
desire 20 move swiftly 1 dare not
spur my horse. Many a discard
ed musket and saddle Uttered the
path. tt 4 the troops marching
: this route had been Austrian
koDigskegg devils-I knew
well, and | had no wish Co fall
into their hands. The uniform
of the Royal IrIandais would be
no passport TO their favor.
And IL was plain to see the
mood In which they marched, for
not living thing had been left
behind.
Yet 1t was not those who had
already passed / feared, but 9TH
ers to follow-Austrian. Han
oYerian, Duteh-alI sfraining for
the same goal, the investment of
Tourney. They would come this
way and soon it would be dawn.
1t MAS this knowledge which
spurred me to action. ] no
longer feared pursuit. for. even
IL my absence had been reported
SAKE would never venture to
send a small party so far afield.
It as the allies. through whose
lines | was seeking passage. that
! needed to avoid. And to escape
discovery l must find a safe hid
ing place before dawn.
Light was visible in the east,
when the road skirted the edge
of wood, and turned sharply to
the west. Just at the turn, seem
fngly.. deserted, appeared a ham
let of a half dozen small houses.
The one closest to the road was
larger, with a creaking sign in
front. Beyond doubt, and not
long since 1t had been an inn.
Now, not a figure moved about
the place, nor a light cleaned
from the windows. My horse
stood with dropping head while
explored the building and the
howell nearby. Apparently the
near approach of the armies had
caused the inhabitants to flee in
terror.
/. i tried the doors. finding them
locked. but finally located a win
dow shutter with a broken clasp
which assured entrance. | led my
horse to the shack. There was
light enough for me to uncover
an armfuI .of fodder with which
TO make him content in his new
quarters.
The leverage of a billet of
wood served to open the shutter,
and I elambered through the win
dow. The few dim objects near
at hand told me | was in the tap
room.
1t was an apartment of size,
containing homemade tables, and
a number of benches. A huge
fireplace occupied one end. Be-
yond, a door stood ajar leading
into the kitchen, while a ladder
led upward through a trap to the
floor above.
Forced by hunger l rummaged
the pantry, finding q black loaf
and a bit of cold roast, on which
I made a hearty meal, taking
stock as l did SO of my surround
fHgs, now more plainly revealed
as ths day dawned.
What had driven my host
away so suddenly, and depopula-
ted the village. / could only sur
mise. Little doubt however but
some threatening inroad of
Austrians had caused a panic dur
ing the night.
Well, l must hide and sleep. l
fastened the window by which |
had gained entrance and erept up
the ladder to the attic. The ill
matched roof admitted plenty of
air and light, and l saw the
body of a man lying outstretehed
beneath the caves. His clothes
were worn, but of good cut, and
I took him to have been an up
per servant to some house OF
quality | turned him over. find
ing what l expected. knife
thrust in the back.
sFive years of service had left
me careless of death. | had slept
on battlefields strewn~ with
corpses, forgetful of all but my
own need. Now I was In little bet
ter SO | drew a quilt over
him. used to the other side,
and lay down on a pile of clean
straw.
Yet, weary as l was, | lay for
some time awake, my mind busy
With events.
All that had Occurred to place
me this Predicament passed be-
fore ne in review. Up to this
meat | had had no time for