The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-23
CHAPTER XII
Buckingham's HerOics
ut TIT , 1ItRHHA . OECS
ISIS SYLVIA FARQUHARSC

occupied very pleasant lodgings
in Salisbury Court, procured
for her by Betterton, who himself
lived in a house opposite. And it
was in the doorway Of Betterton's
house that she first beheld the wolfish
face Of Bates.
This happened on that same morn,
ing Of Colonel Holes disappointment
at the hands of Albemarle.
Miss Farquharson was in need OF
certain dress materials which, she
| had been informed. were to be pro.
| cured at a certain MERGERS in Cheap
side. On this errand she came forth
| in the early afternoon of that day,
and entC red the sedan-chair that
awaited ner at her door. AS the
was that.-looking from the unglazed
window on, her left across toward
the house Of her friend Betterton, she
| beheld that sly, evil face protruded
from the shadows of the doorway
as if to spy upon her.
! It took her a full half-hour to
reach her MERGERS at the sign of the
Silver Angel in Cheapside. for the
chairman moved slowly.
When at last her chair was set
down at the door of the Silver Angel,
she stepped out and passed in upon
business over which no woman
hurrries.
It may be we'll that Master Bates
who had come Sinking after that
chair with three tough DULLES follow
ing at a still greater distance-was
something of judge Of feminine ma
ture, and so came to the conclusion
that it would perhaps be best part Of
an hour before Miss Farquharson
emerged again. He had noted the
little crowd about the steps of Paul's,
he had heard the burden of the
preachers message, and those wicked
wits of his had perceived here a stage
very opportunity set for the nasty
little comedy which he was to con.
rtrive on His Grace CT Buckingham s
behalf. 1t remained to bring the
chief actor-the Duke, himself--at
once within reasonable distance Of
| the scene.
/
| into porch, produced a pencil and
tablets, and set himself laboriously
to scrawl three or four lines. He
folded his note, as one Of the DULLES,
summoned by an transformations sig
nal, Joined him there in that door.
way.
With the note Bates Slipped crown
into the mans hand
''This at speed to his grace" he
snapped. Take coach, man, and
make haste. Haste!'
Miss Farquarson made no haste.
IN hour raised. and the half of a
second, before she came forth at last.
followed by the mercer, laden with
parcels. which. together with herself,
were packed into the chair. The
chairmen took up, and, whilst the
mercer bowed himself double in OBJ.
sequious gratitude to the famous ac-
tress, they swung along westward by
the way they had come.
Providence. it would almost seem.
was on the Dukes side that morning
to assist the subtle Bates in the stage.
management of the affair. For 1t was
not more than half an hour since the
removal of that citizen who had been
smitten with the pestilence at the very
foot Of Paufs steps when Miss Far
| quarson's chair came past the spot,
making its way through. a fear-ridden
crowd fallen into volub1e groups to
| discuss the event.
Suddenly dominating all other
sounds, a harsh. croaking voice arose
| somewhere behind but very close to
the chair:
There goes one of those who have
drawn the judgment Of the Lord upon
this unfortunate city?'
She heard the cry repeated with
little variation. again and yet again.
Again the voice beat upward, shril-
ly. f1ercely.
There sits a playhouse wanton in
her silks and velvets, while the Cod
fearing go in rags, and the wrath of
Heaven smftes us with a sword of
pestilence for the sin she brings
among usl'
Her chair rocked little, as II her
bearers were being hustled, for in
truth some three or four of the sour
vier sort, those scourings of the streets
who are ever on watch for fruitful
opportunities Of turbulence, had joined
that raving fanatic who followed her
with. his denunciations, and were
pressing now upon the chair.
But her chairmen, stolid, massive
fellows, who held her in the esteem
she commanded in all who knew her
closely, plodded steadily onward de.
spite this jostling.
The leader of the mob was along
side the chair now, brandishing
short cudgel, and Miss Farquharson's
scared eyes had a glimpse of his male
violent face. To her anazement she
recognized it for the face that had
peered at her two hours ago from the
shadows of Betterton's house in Sails
bury Square.
You have seen one of yourselves
smitten down with the plague under,
your very eyes," he was ranting.
And 80 shall others be- snitten to