Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-23
By
Jeffrey
Farnol

Richard moved toward ner.
"Ay. Truffenl," said he, fastening to
ward her, now bless thee, good mother,
right trusty friend"
still nv chavo. should ha' kissed
her She tnlplores Gods care on thee"
Women be strange creatures, Tr1f-
fent."
And men be such children"
WHITTIER 60 we. good dame?"
where you shall sleep safe, for by
your look sleeps your need"
In faith, and that's true enough!"
he signed. ALSO this hath proved
night O. disappointments.
Though have cousin Julian's hidden
message, it is nothing to my purpose"
Sir Richard bowed and, IN silence,
followed the strange old gypsy whittier
she led ever deeper into the wilderness
until at last they came TO a row OF
tents, before which glistened cheerful
FIRE,
Here they halted and the man
WentzeIov advanced. spoke with Truf-
FEM in the strange, soft gypsy tongue.
Then she turned to Sir Richard to
speak:
we O. the poor folks has eyes and
uses EN-. This afternoon, the Viscount
sets out for Lonnon, but doubles back
to Scaford and there he's seen a-talkin'
with Jonas Skag and two other rogtles.
Wot's more. these same rcgues is now
q laying at the Black 'O5s in the village.
And for why, Richard?"
Mischief" nodded Sir Richard. ~S
must stir: I must to worE"
"Av, my chavo. ye must Sleep
The little shadowy tent looked cosy
and inviting. but Sir Richard, shaking
resollIte head, seated himself beside old
TrIffeni and drew a crUmpled paper
from his pocket.
MY thanks, kind friend" sighed he
YEARLY. but though yearn for sleep,
I could not until you have heard this.
So Truffeni. hearken and counsel me-"
And bending to the freight he read
aloud as follows:
MY Dear Richard:
"I have been killed by three or one
Of three, of the following rea5ons, to
wit:
a. BY Tom Pitt (possibiD because
know him for convict returned from
transportation.
70. Capt. Despard possibly because
7 hold proofs that he vas once ths
notorious hghwaylnan and malefactor
Capt. Archer sometimes called Capt.
"3. Viscount Brocklehurst (probably)
because I have his signed confession
to the killing of young Allison, whose
CntmeIy decease was put of on you,
Dick, The proofs of all this I have MD
in the third volume of Montaigne'S
ESSAYS In the library at Weare. Use
them, and you Will to avenge thy for
Iorn and remorsefl cousin.
JULIAN"
go there it is" sighed Sir Richard
despondently. And doth advantage
my case no whit. for though I prove
the viscount guilty of killing Mr. Ali
son. here is no proof that cid not kill
my cousin Julian"
Then" said the old gypsy, "then
must We force proof. Why doth dead
man walk"
All" he exclaimed. you mean"
THAT We must bait a trap, set a
snare to wiring the truth from tongue
unwillinglv. TIE dead shall not walk
in vain--ah, no. We must spread
net"
TrufIeni. rising, brought him into
tent somewhat apart and larger than
the others: here she set pens, ink and
paper before him.
'Nox write as I bid ye. and as much
like your cousin Mr.. Julians hand as
may be- and he wrote this at her
dictation:
Dear Rhhard:
You STALL find the sealed package of
nv secret papers relating to Brooke
hurst behind the nidmost toist in the
Moat Hor-$e Gardens. JULIAN"
Nay, bit" said Sir Richard, think
ye this shall draw hin?"
I'll warrant me- And he shall there
find that he Goth not eXpect-Aaa, that
which shall open his lips ere he know 1t
and drag thence the truth despite him
sejf.'
Trufreni he'd up a finger for silence
and they heard voice afar that chant
ed snatches of psalms, as they stepped
out of the tent. For long moment
they stood. then the underbrush was
burst asunder and a Wild figure leaped
into the firelight--hatless, wigless, with
out coat or Waistcoat.
Instantly the camp was all asttr,
faces peered, voices whispered, knives
cleaned. Truffeni clapped her hands,
spoke three or four words, gestured I'M
periously and the whispers were hushed,
the faces glinmered and vanished.
Sir Richard, blinking at the awful
figure beyond the fire, saw a small:
haggard face topped by stubb!e OF
white hair, saw arms tossed, one
swatf1ed in bloody clout.
"Vengeance!" cried a shril voice.
Brethren, it's writ 'inasmuch as ye did
1t unto one o. the least O. these but,
sirs, he was my father, a man gulltlesS
and innocent. and they hanged him by
perjury. Titus Oldcraft took him and
swore his life away. Jonathan Wild
pouched the blood money. Titus first,
and when he lieth dead I'll mark him !
the brow like Cain. Vengeance!
Blood"
And then Black Nick sprang into
the fire glow to clasp his distraught hg-
Two in rom fnttiI1C arms.
Nay, now. Nay. Rob: easy lad. COM
fort ye-theres none but friends and
good pals here"
But Oldcraft lives-lives-and killed
SOHO, Fob, Soho" nurmured Nick,
patting the others tear-wet cheek.
Easy, lad Lord, Mrs. Camlo, ma am,
poor Rob's been q wild man all night
and me a-watchin' of zee, but no sooner
away. ma'am. 'Tis beyond me, he
Old Truffeni. approaching the sick
man, caught his restless hands, looking
Its the fever. Nick" said she.
Bring him hither." Muttering and
weeping, this small. gray-Eaired man
tottered abiectly into the tent.
Brother" said WentzeloW, leaning
upon his long musket, Its a SICK man
he looks. and It's sick man e be, and
yet I wouldn't be in Titus Oldcraft's
shoes for n FORUM"
Sir Richard shivered and, drawing
stool to the fire. sat down and crouched
in the warmth.
"Ah!' cuoth Wentzelow, also ap-
preaching the genial fire. IT'S the
death laour-I smells the dawn, brother,
and there be many a one as lays a.
dying at this moment"
well. but death, friend Wentzelow.
is none so Ill If 1t be quick and sure"
"Mebbe. brother, nebbe, butt
wouldn't be in Titus Oldcrafts SHOES
no, not for three fortun's!"