The evening world., 1916-08-29
CHAPTER Y.

Because there's the stable loft AZ
yeur service. As ye hear land In
fast the singing s,iii vent on. only
aov I heard a mans voice Joining In
the catch) our houss 10 fun % COM
paay. But straw Is clean bedding.
and the mare I'll help TO put In stall"
agreed" I said. ION one oondi-
tton-that you send out q maid to
me with . cup Of mulled sack: for
this cold eats mo alive"
To this he consented and. stepping
back into a side room with the other
fellow. returned In q minute alone.
and carrying q lantern which. In spite
OF the moon. was needed to guide n
stranger across that ruinous yard. In
the stable that stood at the far end OF
the court | was surprised TO find half
a dozen horses standing, ready sad
died. and munching their MI OF oats.
They were ungroomed and one or two
In a lather OF sweat that on such a
night was hard to account Tor. hut
asked no questions, u my conpan-
ION ~vouchsafcd no talk. though twice
l caught him regarding me curiously
as I unbridled the mare in the only
vacant stall. Not n word passed as
no TOOK the lantern off the p<g again
and led the way up "A r~amshackle lad
der to the loft above. Al the top he
set down the light and pointed to a
heap Of straw ! n the corner
"Yonder's your bed" he growled.
and before l could answer was pick
ing his way down the ladder again.
looked about and shivored. The
caves of my bed chamber were scarce
ON speaking terms with the walls, II
through a score of crannies, at least,
the wind poured and whistled. so mat
after shifting my truss OF straw a
dozen es | found myself still the
, centre whirl OF draught. ! was
J losing .,ience when / heard FOOT.
!, steps below, the ladder creaked. n
the red hair and broad shoulders of a
chambermaid rose into view. h car
ried a steaminC mug In her hand, and
, muttered all the while In no very
choice talk.
The wench had a kind face,
though, and n pair OF eyes that did
her more credit than her tongue.
/. ''Tell me- / asked, whom your
/, master entertains tonight that l
must be content with this crib
"Well, to begin, there's the gentle
folk that come this afternoon with
their own carriage and heathenlsh
French servant: a cranky old grandee
and n daughter with more airs than
n peacock; Sir Somethlng-or-oth
Kniigrew-Lord bless the boz! y .
, For | had dropped the mug n
spilled the hot sack all about the
straw, where II trickled away with a
fragrance reproachfully delicious, =,
Nov ] beg your Paruon muuau
, times. but Inc chlil ~ 10 ~ pou's
worse than the asue, nv, "uuN.Lns
shoulders up. l couhterlei'ea a shis-
ering Mt WITH a truthl.'"cs' '''' su-
prised myself,
"Poor lad" an
And It's hrst not ana linen coio MI
down my spine
Dear heart-and 10 PASS the h'sh'
In this grave OF a place..
And ny morning i shhl' " u "a
high fever; ana on! 1 reel shai'
s die of IT. ,
"Don't-dont!' The honest FIT
eyes were fun OF tears, wonae
now-she began ana "aiu'o'
eager for her next words. sure mas
ter's At cards in the parlor' andh be
drunk by midnight Shalt pass lIe
night by the kitchen fire' II onIy th0u
make no noise 90 Di"" ou' INV "e"'
Still feigning 10 shrVer, ! ioato"S
her down the laduer ana tnIousn '"Y
stable Into the open. Just d
seemed to be walking INTO d slont wa
she put out her mana nearu tme
click OF a latch' ana stoou IL a"4N
narrow passage.
The passage led 10 a second uooi
that opened on a wide. s'one,paN"u
kitchen. lit by u cheerful fire' "hereon
"a kettle Kissed II puDD'eu as .he
vapor lifted tho cover close py the
chimney corner was n sort OF Trap.
OF buttery-batch. for pushlhs lhe hoI
dishes conveniently INTO tho parlor OF
toe other side OF the wall,
sit" WHISPERED " b ahe sir'' rana max
for the men folk in the parlor' STE
terked her thumb toward the buttery.
hatch, where | had already caugh'
the murmur of voices. :.
I took up a chair softly and set II