The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-07-13

jovial tones. Greetings, what's to do? Who ist ye bring, ma'm?"
 Sir Richard leaned forward, peer ing, for this was voice he knew we'll
 "Tis merely myself, Black Nick
 "Lord!" gasped the voice, then was sound of scrambling, and Black Nick himself stepped lightly into the moonbeams.
 Why Sir Richardl" he eX- claimed. Whats amiss, sir?"
 Murder, Nick! My cousin Julian l lies dead and I am running for my life"
 Murder, sir" repeated Nick. But sure 'tis killed in duel, ye mean?"
 Tt is murder, and, Nick, my ring was beside Julian's body, sufficient evidence to damn mel" l "Mebbe, sir, to them as don't know ye, but not to them as do.'
 Such faith, should hearten any man. Howbeit, a fugitive am I. So hither come I seeking sanctu- ary"
 And you're heartily welcome! Moreover, there ain't another such likely place as this, as mann Truf- feni knows"
 /; And faith" said Sir Richard Mrs. Camlo, honour me by ac- cepting this!' And he proffered her his purse.
 Nay" said she, shaking her head Though the Romanys be the poor folk, yet they are also the proud folk sometimes"
 "A thousand pardons, good dame" :" i answered Sir Richard. Pray, then, wilt call a blessing down upon my head?"
 "A blessing?" repeated Truffeni "A gypsy's blessing then, on ye, tn last O tn Guyffords, and may ye yet be proved a worthy leader of thy proud name" ] Then she nodded, wheeled her pony and presently was gone.
 "Swoundsl" exclaimed Nick "But tis queer old soul, yon, Sir Rich ard. This way, your honor, and look t your feet"
 "Tis strange place, this" said Sir Richard, as he followed.
 True enough, sir. Twas an old church or abbey ages ago, I've heer- ed And, what's more, sir, 'tis hounted!"
 And well might be, Nick" "Ay, tis marvellous well haunt ed by goblin. your honour, also a friar as goes moaning in bloody
 robe. right horrible to be heered."
 Have you heard it, Nick?"
 "Sir-I have-often Which be
 only nat'ral, seeing 'tis me does the moaning-when needful.'
 Aha, rogue! And 'tis only need lful when prying strangers chance
 this way?"
 "Ay, true sir We likewise have a apparition as roars--Rob's on- |, common good roarer-a bulls head
 skin, horns, dressed wi stuff called fross- fross,. as was contrived for us , by George Potter You know George . I think, sir?"
 7, "Ay, know the lovely rogue; he ? heads the smugglers hereabouts , But who is Rob?"
 Why, sir, Rob's in my line O s business-A High Tobyman, ano
 pretty well beknown; they calls him
 the 'Galloping Parson'-" Rounds, yes-Ive heard O the fellow, Nick! A desperate rascal, by all account, and with more than one death on his hands" Why, sir, I'll admit as Rob be a bit quick wi his trigger finger but then, he be soured- like! Ye see, they hanged his feyther for a act as he didn't commit, and like wise topped his best friends, which was poor Jimmy Ahearn, for the act which was commit by Rob him. self, so he's naturally bit remorse- ful, which takes the form of pow der and shot at the least oppor- toonity."
 Striking flint and steel, Black ! Nick lit a battered lantern whose flickering beam showed a wide paved floor whence sprang TOW upon row of squat stone column. supporting groined arches. "A Norman crypt" said Sir Rich ard, glancing about Our stables, your honour. Lool now, your Caesar will do well here plenty O bedding and fodderl" Hay. ing thus stabbed Caesar and litter. ing him down, Nick blew out tn, light and, grasping Sir Richard! arm, led him through a marrow passage that, trending ever up wards with many sharp turns showed A narrow oneninp whene,