Evening star., 1924-10-17
SYNOPSIS.


the excitement of civil strife over the snc-
ess;ion to Charles h. X He f. :mu.ed at ti,s
Water lane in Rridsswster.
The armies clash near the town. with the
sleeps through fhe cosdiet. bot is called fr,ss
his bed to attend Lord Giidoy. who has been
see the patient. snd hax hsrdly srffved therr
when dragons invade the homestead. Jeremy
Pitt. the messenger, hides in a ciothes press
why what's to fear?" he said. IT'S
Christian country. this. and Chris
tian men do not make war upon the
wounded, nor upon. those who harbor
them" He still had, you see, illu-
sions about Christians. He held
glass OF cordial. prepared under his
directions. to his lordship's lips Give
your mind peace, my lord. The worst
is done
And then they came rafting and
claHking into the stone-hagged hall
round dozen jack booted, lobster
coated troopers OF the Tangier Regf-
Hent, led by a sturdy, black browed
fellow with a deal of gold lace about
the breast of his coat.
Baynes stood his ground, his atti-
tude half-defiant, whilst his wife and
daughter shrank away in renewed
fear. Mr.. Blood, at the head Of the
day-bed. looked over his shoulder to
take stock Of the invaders
The offlcer barked an order which
brought his men to an attentive h"lt,
then swaggered forward, his gloyed
hand bearing down the pumrnel of
his sword, his spurs UnglinE musical
ly as he moved. He announced his
authority to the yeoman.
Il am Capt. Hobart of Col. Kirke's
dragons. What rebels do you har-
bor?"
The yeoman took alarm at that
ferocious turbulence. 1t expressed it.
self in his trembling voice
L am no harborer of rebels,
sir: This wounded gentlemtn -
II can see for myself" The cap
tain sta mped forward to the day-bed
ana scowled down upon the gray
faced sufferer.
No need to ask how he came In
this state and by his wounds A
damned rebel and that's enough for
me- He flung command at his dra-
goons out with him. my lads"
MI. Blood got between the day-bed
ana the troopers.
In the name of humanity, sir" said
ne, in a note of anger. This is Eng
land. not Tangiers. The gentleman
is in sore case. He may not be moved
without peril to his life"
Capt. Hobart was amused.
On, L am to be tender of the lives
OF these rebels. Odds blood, Do you
think it's too benefit his health we.,.
taking him? There's gallows being
planted along the road from Weston
10 Bridgewater, and he'll serve for
one OF them as well as another Col.
hlrkell learn these nonconforminR
oafs something they'll not FORGET In
generations"
You're hanging men without trialo
raith. then. It's mistaken I am.
were In Tangiers, after all, it seems.
where your regiment belonEA"
ihe captain considered him with a
kindIfng eye. He looked him over
from the soles Of his riding boots to
the crowd Of his periwig. He noted
the spare. active frame, the arrogant
poise Of the head. the air of au-
thof1ty that invested Mr.. Blood, and
soldier recognized soldier. The
captains eyes narrowed. Recoenition
went further
Who the hell may you ber' he
exploded
MY name is Blood, sir-Peter
Blood, at your service"
"Aye-aye! Codso! That's the
name. You were in French service
once, were you not?
II Mr.. Blood was surprised, he did
not betray ii.
Il was"
ago, or more. you were in Tangiera"
That is 30. knew your colonel"
. Faith. you may be renewing the
acquaintance" The captain laughed
unpleasantly. What brings you
here. sirr'
This wounded gentleman. was
fetched to attend him. 1 am a med.
icus."
A doctor-your" scorn of that lie
as he conceived it-rane in the
heavy. hectoring voice.
Blood.
Don't fling your French at me,
man" snapped Hobart Speak Eng
lish-
Mr.. Blood's smile annoyed him.
Il am a physician practicing my
calling in the town Of Bridgewater."
The captain sneered. which you
reached by way of Lyme Regis in
the following of your bastard Duke"
1t was Mr.. Blood's turn to sneer.
IF your wit we're as big as your
voice, my dear, it's the great man
you'd be by this"
speechiess. The color deepened in
his face.
"You may find me great enough
to hang you"
Faith. yes. Ye've the look and the
manners of a hangman. But if you
practice your trade on my patient
here. you may be putting rope
round your own neck. He's not the
kind you may string up and no ques-
-1r
trial, and the right to trial by his
peers"
BY his peers?"
The captain was taken aback by
these three words, which Mr.. Blood
had stressed.
Sure. now, any but a fool or
savage would have asked his name
before ordering him to the gallows.
The gentleman is my Lord Gildoy."
And then his lordship spoke for
himself. in a weak voice.
Il make no concealment Of my as
sociation with the Duke of Mon
mouth. I'll take the consequences.
But. if you please. I'll take them
after trial--by my peers, as the doc
tor has said..'
The feeble voise ceased, and was
followed by a moments silence. AS
is common in many clustering men,
there was a deal of timidity deep
down in Hobart The announcement
of his lorlship's rank had touched
those depths. A. service upstart, he
stood in awe of titles. And he stood
in awe of his colonel. Percy Kirke
was not lenient with blunderers.
By a gesture he checked his men.
He must consider. Mr.. Blood, observ-
ing his pause. added further matter
for hia conAideratiOn
"Ye'll be remembering. captain, that
Lord Gildoy will have friends and
relatives on the Tory side, who'll
have something to say to Col. Kirke
If his lordship should be handled