New Britain herald., 1924-02-22
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

Have care, sir! have a care! H,
 may be stricken with the plague" 1 The Colonel checked, involuntaril,
 arrested by the horror that the yer! word inspired. And then he behelt wig. plainly but scrupulously dressed
 in black, whose round countenanct
 gathered a singularly owlish expres.
 sion from a pair of horn trimmed
 spectacles, walk calmly forward to
 the stricken citizen. A moment he
 stood beside him looking down; then
 he turned to beckon a couple of burly fellows who had the appearance and
 carried the slaves of billmen. From
 his pocket the sturdy gentleman fir
 black produced kerchief upon which
 he sprinkled something from phial
 Holding the former to his nostris
 with his left hand, he knelt down be-
 side the sufferer, and quietly set him.
 self to unfasten the mans doublet.
 Observing him, the Colonel admired
 his quiet courage, and thence took shame at his own fear for his utterly worthless life. Resolutely putting it
 from him, he went forward to join that little group.
 One of the billmen was pointing out to the other purple tumid patch at the base of the sufferers throat. His eyes were round, his face grave, and bis voice came hushed and startled.
 See! The tokens!" he said to his companion.
 And now the doctor spoke, address ing Holes.
 You would do well not 10 ap. proach more closely, sir"
 Tt it the plague?" quoth Holles in q quiet voice.
 The doctor nodded, pointing to the purple patch. "The tokens are very plain to sec" he said. T beg, sir, that you will go." And on that he once more held the handkerchief to his mouth and nostrils, and turned his shoulder upon the Colonel.
 Holes withdrew as he was bidden. moving slowly and thoughtfully, by the first sight of the plague aework upon a fellow crea- ture. As he approached the edges of the crowd, which, keeping its dis tance, yet stood at gaze us crowds will, he observed that men shrank back from him as if he were himself already tainted.
 A single thing beheld impresses us more deeply than twenty such things described to us by others. Hitherto these London citizens had treated lightly this matter of the plague. Not ten nf1nutes ago they had been deriding and pelting one who had preached repentance and warned them of the anger of Heaven launched upon them. And then sud denly, like bolt from the blue. had come the stroke that laid one of them low. to freeze their derision and fll their Hearts with terror by giving them a sight Of this thing which they had but heard reported. I
 The Coonel stalked on, refecting | that this event fir Paul's Yard had 1 ione more proselytizing for the cause 1f the Commonwealth than a score | of advocates could have accomplished. | 1t was very well, he thought. Itl was a sign. And if anything had | Jeen wanting to clinch his decision to | .hrow in his lot with Tucker, this supplied it.
 But first to quench the prodigious hirst engendered by his long walk through that sweltering heat, and hen to Cheapside and Tucker to offer lis sword to the revolutionaries.
 As he entered the common room, Hrs. Quinn turned from a group of itizens with whom she was standing o talk to follow him with her eyes, fer lips compressed. as he passed on | nto his own little parlor. at the back. \ moment later she went after him.
 What may be your pleasure. ,olonel?" she demanded forbiddingly.
 "A draught of ale if I deserve your harity." quoth he.
 She went off in silence, and re- turned with a tankard, which she 'laced upon the table before him.
 "YeIl have made your plans to cave my house today as we settled last night?" said she between oues- ion and assertion.
 He nodded, pursing his lips a little. I'll remove myself 10 the Bird in [ land across the Yard ihis afternoon" 1 aid hc.
 ''The Bird in Hand!" 4 slight up- ard infection of her voice marked 1: CT dis9ain Of that hoste1ry. which. 1 ldeed. was but 6 poor sort of tavern. 1 There was something portentous in [ CT Htterance. She came forward to | le table, and leaned heavily forward { pon it. Her expression and attitude ( ere calculated to leave him in no oubt that this woman. who had beer, f , tender 10 him hitherto. was now ( Is declared enemy. My house" I ie said, lis reputable house, and Iean to keep 1t so. want no ' aitors here, no gallows' birds and t ie ike" | we're mad, he said wiih con- c rfion. T
 No. I'm not mad. nor a fool sither, master rebel. 4 mans to be nown by the company he keeps. irds Of a feather flock together. as Ie saying goes. And how should ,u be other than a traitor that was t tends with tr1ffOrsZ'' f He crashed the tanksrd down upon 1 2 board. and came to his feet. L -.'sdHath. woman. Will you tell !