Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-11-18
CHAPTER II
Before the Lords,Sf rad

not. but the palIid sun that strove tc
pierce the fog-reek proclaimed high
noon when Master Juggins walked me
He would not listen to my protesta.
fions OF regret. but directed my atten-
ton TO the pile Of clothes he carried
over his arm.
"See, we shall make a prentice lad
of you" he said. Il have a youth
downstairs Of about your build. and
these are his Sunday clothes"
"And must in truth wear these p
] demanded with some disgust as
felt their coarseness Of texture.
aye. Indeed. Master Harry"
His tone sohered.
II have been ABROAD since rising"
he continued. "and fVfgive me If say
twas well for you've met last night
Your cousin is come up to London.
frantic with fear lest you should sue
coed IN replacing him, and he hath
pulled wires right and left. so that all
are convinced you are here for no less
purpose than the murder Of the
king"
I cursed with a nuency conferred
by two languages
There is-no hope Of pardon now"
proceeded Juggins. Il am not alto
gether without influence, and I had
hoped But tits doubly hopeless If
you were Scots or Irish. II might be
done. But few OF the English gentry
besides you and Master Charles rose
in the 10. You are a marked man.
and with your cousins interest against
you twill be impossible even TO gain
q hearing for you"
There Is naaght to do, then save
20 back to France and the friends
who now dIstrust me-" ! said bitterly.
Never say SO" demonstrated Mas
ter JHggins with energy I have an
idea of another course which may
commend itself to you. Come, don
these poor garments, which will none
the less cloak you with safety, and
Join me in granny's morning room"
The coffee which. the old lady poured
Us in blue-bordered china bowls put
new life and hope in me. settled
back in my chair and puffed at the |
long clay pipe which Juggins had tilled
for me.
Granny Juggins gave me an approx
ing pat on the shoulder.
THAT is well. Master Harry. WOr /
~ never solved any difficulty. And
now I must be going about my duties /
put remember that what Robert tells
you hath my Endorsement.
sAnd what is that7" I inquired In
some curiosity as the door closed be-
hind her.
He smoked in silence for several
moments.
Il am resolved to take you fully into
my confidence, Master Harry he be-
gan at last "and should not do so
II l doubted your discretion"
He fell silent again.
sDid It not seem strange TO you that
such an assault as you saw last night
Bhonld have been made upon an or
binary merchant" he asked suddenly.
II thought they meant robbery"
-Rebberxa They never made de-
mand upon me- They meant murder.
The truth Is. lad. am at grips with
deadly enemy. IT'S a curious story,
concerned with high politics. great
spells of trade, intrigues OF church and
state-nayhap the future Of a con-
tinenE And as It happens Robert jug
gins is at the hub OF Il.
do you think you would like to
play hand--on England's behalf and
to checkmate the very foreign lnfiu-
ences which sickened you Of the ia
cobite eause7 ] need strong arm !
combined with an agile mind, mind !
used to French ways and the French
tongue" '
would have answered. but he i
checked me.
'If you accept you must be prepared
70 fight your old friends. for the enc
ny I have spoken OF is Jacoblte at r
heart and works under cover for the
.eturn Of the Pretender through the 4
Of England and the para
Mount influence OF France. Remem- a
yer that before you commit yourself
Even as told you last night, Mas
er Iuggins l am for England now"
III such . plot as you
peak OF is under way. then surely
Dis for loyal Englishmen to thwart H. 81
,0unt me with you. pray Il
Il viii" he said quietly. Now bark -
o these facts. AT the instance OF my d.
elf and my associates In the Company A
4 Merchant Traders TO the Western "
Plantations. the provincial govern III
1ent 81 New Fork several years ago n
ecured the royal assent to 8 Law pro 81
hitting the sale Of Indian trading n
Gods to the French In Canada. Al
Our object was twofoid Tbs best
nd cheapest trading goods are manu- 4
aefnred IN Engfand II We can keep "a
aem 70 yourselves and compel the u
eemeh ~ uee nsoFe costly and Lees az
urable goods maae on the ConriDenf q
. ahmgl be able - usderiad shan With a