Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-05
For the Love
of a Lady
BY
Jeffrey
Farnol

! Nick watched him with eyes Of dog
! like devotion; and ever and anon rose
"Nick!" exclaimed Sir Richard sud-
denly. Who is it cries out yonder?"
"Only poor Jimmy in his gibbet."
"Ha, Nick. it's plaguey i'll to think
such miserable end may come TO my
| self one day"
WHO shall prove my innocence"
yourself. sir-your friends alibi!''
"All impossible, Nick circum-
stance doth Forbid"
May I ask-what?"
"You may. but I cannot tell-even
TO you" Sir Richard paused sud-
denly, for a large pewter plate In dis
tant corner appeared to leap in air and
on end. poised itself and feebly sub
sided. :,
That's two!" quoth Nick. Should
be three for a friend! There be some
body about us don't signal true? So
saying, he arose. took a pistol and
cooked it thoughtfully. "Sir. there be
something amiss and be a-going up to
see. Bide you here and have your guns
ready, but don't stir unless We hear
a shot" Black Nick leaped lightly up
the two steps and vanished.
Sir Richard drew his pistols, cooked
and laid them ready to hand then,
rising, crossed to where lay this strange,
pewter plate and saw 1t was attached to
a cord that led through hole in the
paneling. For some while he heard
nothing save the faint. recurrent creak
of the dead mans gibbet above. Al
last he was aware OF other SounoS
growing slowly louder; there was a
stumble Of feet and small man stood
blinking in the light. one hand clenched
upon Nick's arm. the other dangling
"sir they call me The Par
son. and you being Nick's friend,
I give we hearty greeting"
Eat your serYice!" answered Sir
"A bullet through the arm. sir" Nick
explained. reaching sponge and basin
Have We any scissors?" inquired Sir
Richard, tucking up his ruffies. IN
slit I'D his sleeve and"
mo mol" gasped the Parson
"tis a good coat this !: took it from
arose and contrived to struggle out Of
the garment; then. sinking feebly into
the armchair.
Spoiled. aiackl" he sighed. "Ruin-
ated, and fitted me like my skin! Wash
it for me. Nick"
NAY, Rob, coat he cursed: show US
your arm!" So saying, Nick perforce
examined the ugly wound and fell to
work with sponge and water. Black
Nick washed, Amounted and bound up
| the ugly hurt; while Sir Richard viewed
this man whose ever-ready pistol-hand
had made his name q terror far and
| wide.
| A slim, small, strange man was he,
| black Drowned and of saturnine visage
| Meeting Sir Richards glance, he nod
| ded. toward Nick's solemn face.
How now, Nick?" quoth he. You'll
be thinking by tonight's work I've more
blood on my soul as we'll as my coat
Ell, lad?"
"I'm thinking you're too spry wi your
bankers, Rob. How came We by this
hole l. your arm?"
IT met a young STRIPPING other side
o. Lewes Pike. Stand! says !. The
devil!' says he, so let fly and down
goes his horse. Now the favour o. your
purse says I. Take bullet! says he
and firing from the dust, wings me.
Then my other barker misses. folk come
running. so it's whip and spur
Never a guinea and my good coat
1p o%hart to hint her ss SOUNDS pUnr S SeT
ish uneasy tonight! Ay, must out to
him. give me the Book"
Nick gave him the Book, small
thick, much tattered volume, where
upon the Galloping Parson struggled ia
unwilling legs and stumbled upon his
way.
Mick, what's he after7" inquired Sir
Richard.
your honour, he be gone up for to
read verse and say prayer over
poor Jimmy"
Doth he know me. think ye. Nick9
Didst mention my name?"
NAY. sir. told him you were friend
o. mine"
The Galloping Parson reappeared