New Britain herald., 1924-02-05
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

l. / "Randal HolleS. He spoke softly with a certain inward dread
 suddenly aware that such a nam could be no passward in Whitehall | for it had been his fathers name be | fore him--the name of regicide, am something more.
 There was an abundance of foolish sensational, and mythical storie | which the popular imagination ha' woven about the execution of Kim Charles |. Of these was the ground 1 less story that the official headsmal
 was missing on the day of the execu tion because he dared not strike of 1 the head Of Gods anointed, and tha 1 the headsman's mask had covered tn | face of one who at the last momen had offered himself 10 act as hi deputy. The identity Of this deput.
 had been fastened upon many mor' or less well-known men, but mos
 persistently upon Randall Holes, fo
 no better reason than because hi
 stern and outspokon repubicanisn
 had been loosely interpreted by tn,
 populace as personal rancour toward
 King Charles.
 It produced. however. no fearfu
 effect upon the usher. Calmly. me
 chanically repeating it, the fellow
 consulted sheet Of paper Then at last. his manner changed. II be- came invested by certain obsequi- ousness. Clearly he had found the name upon his list. He opened the studded door Of which he was the guardian.
 If you will be pleased to enter, sir 5" he murmured,
 Colonel Holes swaggered in, the usher following.
 "ff you will be pleased to wait, sir ." The usher left him, and crossed the room. presumably 10 com municate his name to yet another who kept another farther door.
 The Colonel disposed himself to wait, sufficiently uplifted to practice great lengths Of patience. He found himself in lofty, sparsley furnished anteehamber. ono Of dozen or more clients, all Of them men of conse- quenee if their dress and carriage were to be taken al surface value.
 some turned 10 look askance at this down-at-heel intruder: but not for long. There was that in the gray eyes Of Colonel Holes when return ing such looks as these which could put down the haughtiost stare.
 Having met their insolence by looking al them as they might look st pot-boys, he sirode across to an empty bench that was rainged against the carved wainscoting, and sat himself down with chatter.
 The noise he made drew the attcn- ton of two gentlemen who stood near the bench in conversation. One Of these. whose back was toward Hoiles. glanced round upon him. He was tall. and elderly, with q genial ruddy countenancn. The other. a man of about Holes own age. was short and sturdily built with swarthy face set in heavy black pcriwig, dressed with a certain foppish care. and Of manner that blended ami ability with a degree Of self-suffi- cteney. He flashed upon Holles q rair Of bright blue eyes that were. however. without hostility or disdain, and. although unknown to the he slightly inclined his hnad to him in formal, dignified saiutation. almost as if asking leave to resume his voiuble conversation within this hearing.
 Scraps of that conversation foatcd to the Colonnl's ears.
 %. . and l tell you. Sir George, that his grace is nightly off the hooks at all this delay. That is why he hurried away to Portsmouth. that Lhings The pleasant voice grew inaudible to rise aga'n presently. The need is for officers, men trained In war ."
 The Colonel prickcd up his cars at hat. l3ut the voice had dropped gain. and he could not listen with put making it obvious that he did so. lntii the speakers tones scared once nore.
 "These ardent young gentlemen are seil enough. and do themselves great ,redit by their cagcrncsa. but in var ."
 itl@cfettfN 10 iHf As0lbiHtS 2 NEs1@ ion. the gentleman again lowered his oicr. He was inaudibir answered " his companion. and if was some imt before Holles heard another ord of what passed between them. sy then tho conVsrsation had veered
 point.
 '' and there thc talk vas all f the Dutch that the fleet is nut The sturdy. swarthy gentle nan was speaking. That and these urnors of the plague growing upon IS in the ToH-n-frOm which may sod preserve ns.-are now almost the nIy topics"
 "Almost But not gmte, the lder man broke in. laughing. There's something else I'd not have xpeeted you to forget. this Far uharson girl at tbe Dukes Ho1se.s
 sir George, I confess the need Tor our correction. ] should not have orgotten. That she shares the pub Ic tongue with such topics as tho Tar and tho piagus best shows the aep impression she has made"
 -DeefrrediT 9t Sir George asked he question as Of one who eas an minority in sueh matters.
 "Uh. most 9estrted1g, be assured