Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-11-18
The DOOM TRAIL

I WIZ nave tGCcult CoaAG AA0tA 81 O@N'
main. had never heard OF him. More
over, he Is hand In glove with the
Pelhams and all the corrupt officials IL
Whitehall. he hath buttered many 3
gFaspiRg hand. and II he can secure
mis- operations a few years longer he
will have laid she groundwork for Eng.
lands overthrow tn the New world.
i leave to your imagination the eff
feet upon our people at home OF q
disastrous war with France at this
juncture. King George Is scarce set
tied on his throne. and 50 good an ex-
cuse would pave the way for the
Stuarts' return
Yes. that is true assented. - lis
q dangerous plot"
Juggins looked at me keenly.
you are still deslrous TO join In
thwarting ltr.
More so than ever. But I see not
how can be Of service to you"
IF the lords OF trade have received
the orders l expect. then you can be of
great service TO me and to your coun.
try. Come. you shall have your Grst
lesson. You may attend me to the
hearing before the lords OF trade.
wish you to observe what passes at the
hearing. and to study Murray. For II
he wins bis stay. as fear he Will. then
II Is my purpose to send you to New
York for such evidence as will wreck
his conspiracy"
~And ! will go gladly said.
thrill OF exultation In my heart at the
bare thought Of a mans part to play.
He collected some documents and
maps. placed them in a green string
bag and gave It to me to carry.
And remember" he cautioned me
at the door. "do you keep at least two
PAGES behind me. Speak only when
| speak to you and hold your head low
and your shoulders stopped. SLOUGH.
II you can. II any address you look
stupidity at them and humble an an
swer. will explain that you are slow
witted."
But none OF the men who stopped
Master Jugglns during our walk
delgned to notice the humble prentice
lad who followed him. avoIde8 all
scrutiny and reached whitehall with |
more self-c0nhdence than
/ had started with.
The lords Of trade sat in a lofty
chamber OF dirty gray stone building
over against the river. At one end
WAS a daIs with a long. clOsed-in desk
across II. Behind this nodded my
lords in periwigged majesty. FIVE Of
them, two fat aud p0mpOus, one small
and birdlike. one tail and cadaverous
and one who looked like nothing at
all.
THAT is Tom Pelham" whispered
Master Juggins. pointing at the last rs
we took our seats.
But | had already transferred my
gaze TO an extraordinary creature who
stood by a window on the opposite side
of the room. II was a black man,
squat and enormously broad, whose
Ong, powerful arms reached almost to
he floor.
AS / watched him. fascinated. his
yes found my face and he surveyed
ne. apparently without any human In I
crest whatsoever. but as a wild beast I
night consider fat stag when too
NIL TO care about a kill. He was Z
Iressed In q bright-red livery coat with
,old lace. and the cooked hat which he
Ield was covered with silver EN-
'roidery.
] felt Juggins Juggling at my arm
do you see him7" he whispered G
Il never saw anything 30 hIdeous In
ny Hfe." answered.
Juggins laughed. as his eyes fol- '
owed mine.
mo. meant not the negro. Twas
turray ] spoke Of he sits several z
eats farther on .
| looked as directed and picked out
man who lounged back comfortably
J chair. talking with a group Of n
lerchants who seemed 10 hang on hfs N
ieFds he was elegantly clad. JET
cry quietly. rather In the fashion OF
fine gentleman than a rich trader. 81
Though sitting, he showed himself a
be a large man Of massive frame
e wore an immense periwig In the
REVEALING mode. and there was about a
ID an air OF pride and self-conndence. v
hough he must have been middle
ged. he carried himself like a young
an or a soldier. 10