The Taney County republican., 1920-09-02

Well, the summer and the autumn
and the best part Of the winter passed
away, and we were still all very happy
together. We got well into the year
1915, and the great emperor was still
eating his heart out at Elba. and all
the ambassadors were wrangling to.
gether at Vienna rs 10 what they
should do with the lions skin, now
that they had 50 fairly hunted him
down. We never thought that what
all these high and mighty people were
doing could have any bearing upon us,
and ns to war--why, everybody was
agreed that the great shadow was lift.
ed from us forever and that, unless
the allies quarreled among themselves
there would not he shot fired in Eu.
rope for another fifty years.
There was one incident, however
that stands out very clearly in my
memOry--1 think that 1t must have
happened about the February of this
year-and l will tell it to you before
| 20 any lurtncT'
You know what tie Border peel cas-.
ties are like, | have no doubt. They
were just square keeps, built every
here and there along the line, so that
the folk might have some place of
protection against raiders and moss
troopers When Percy and his mel
were over the Marches. then the peo
pie would drive some Of their cattle
into the yard of the tower, shut up the
hig gate, and light a fire In the brazier
a. the top, which would be answered
hy all the other peel towers, until the
lights would 90 twinklng up TO the
Lammcrmuir hills, and so carry the
news on to the PentlandS and to Edin-
burgh. But now, of course, all these
old keeps were warped and crum-
bling, and made fine nesting places fol
the wild birds.
One day had been on II very long
walk, away over TO leave a message
at the Laidlaw Armstrong;, who live
two miles on this side Of AytOn. About
five o'clock, just before the sunset, J
found myself on the brae path, with
the gable end of West Inch peeping ur
in front Of me, and the old peel tower
lying on my left. And as stared ]
suddenly saw the face of a man twin.
kle for moment in one of the holes
in the wall.
1t was so queer that was deter
mined TO come 10 the bottom Of It
so, tired as was, | turned my shoul
der on home, and walked swiftly to
ward the tower The grass stretches
right up to the very base of the wall
and my feet made little noise until
reached the crumbIing arch where tn,
old gate used TO be. peeped through
and there was Bonaventure de Lapp
standing inside the keep. and peepnI
out through the very hole at which
had seen his face. He was turned
half AWAY from me, and 1t was cleaI
that he had not seen me at all, for he
was staring with all his eyes over II
the direction Of West Inch. As ad
vanCed my foot ratified the rubble tha
lay in the gateway. and he turned
round with q start and faced me.
"HullOl" said I, what are you doini
herer
81 may ask you that" said he.
II came up because ! saw youi
face at the window"
"And | because, as you may vel
have observed, have very much In
terest for all that has to do with tn,
military, and Of course castles are
among them. You will excuse me 70
one moment, my dear Jack" and h,
stepped out suddenly through the hol
In the wall, so as to be out Of my sight
But I was very much too curious
to excuse him so easily. shifted
my ground swiftly. TO see what II was
that he was after. He was standlns
outside, und waving his hand franti,
cally, as In signal.
what are you dOlngT" / cried and
then, running out to his side, looked
across the moors to see whom he was
beckOning to.
You go too far, sir" said he an
grily; II didn't thought you would |
have gone so far. A gentleman has
the freedom to act as he choose. with.
out your being the spy upon him. If
we are to be friends, you must not |
Interfere in my affairs"
u don't like these secret dongs," |
said |, "and my father would NOT like |
them, either"
Your father Gun speak for himself. |
and there Is no secret said he curtly. |
ut Is you, with your imaginings, that
make secret. Ia, ia, tu! have
no patience with such fUUlishness."
And, without so much as a nod, he
turned his buck upon me and started
walking swiftly to West Inch.
Well, | followed him, and III the
worst Of tempers. for had d feeling
that there was some mischief IN the
wind. and yet | could not for the
life Of me think what Il all meant
What could there he to spy about IN
Berwickshlre. And besides, Major FL.
lIott knew all about him, and he
would not show him such respect If