Evening star., 1941-10-03
CHAPTER XIII.

her father" Montjoie said, and
after the birth Of Jane Seymour's
son she was practically forgotten,
with the Prince and her sister Mary
ahead Of her in the succession. she
was sent to the village of Blsley III
the care of Katherine Ashley and
Thomas Parry at Overcourt Manor.
when the Princess was about lO
years old she died of fever, and on
the heels of her death, before any
one even suspected that she was
sick. came a message to Oyercourt
from King Henry announcing that
he was coming to visit his daughter.
You know the sort OF man Henry
was. He had sent hundreds OF
people TO the block, including two
of his own wives, for real or fancled
wrongs. What would that eccentric
man do to the two who had allowed
a princess of the blood to die? Ash
lev and Parry had visions of them
selves being led TO Tower Hill where
they would be drawn and quartered.
Inspiration came to them IN the
shape of the redheaded playmate OF
the dead Princess, boy named Ed
ward Neville, who, in addition to
being the same age as Elizabeth,
also bore a striking resemblance to
her. They took the boy to Over
court, announced that he had died
and buried Elizabeth in his stead.
Then they dressed young Neville in
E1izsbeth's clothes, frightened him
to obedience and coached him in the
part he was to play" Mont1oie
paused to indulge in laugh.
A Fantastic Tale.
"My hat is of to Tom Parry and
Kate Ashley for the dexterity with
which they extracted themselves
from that predicament. For the
amazing substitution was successful
Henry, YOU know, had seen Eliza
beth infreQently and then only long
enough to satisfy the demands OF
short lived sense of duty. Also, re-
member, the Princess was a growing
child. Anyhow, the conspirators
palmed off the boy on the unsus-
pecting king and the imposture once
begun, had to be kept up while
Henry lived"
Il don't believe you!" exclaimed
Warburton.
Read the letter." Montjoie coun-
tered. 1T is the confession OF
Neville. Why do you suppose Mary
allowed Elizabeth to leave the
Tower when she could have needed
the advice that she send her to
the block? Because, to gain his
freedom, Neville confessed to the
Queen, then went into a hermit
like exile at Hatfield Manor. While
Mary held the confession Neville
had to behave himself, and Mary
on her deathbed, ordered that the
confession be sent to the rightful
heir, Mary Stuart. 1t was addressed
to King Francis-spouSe OF the
Stuart-and about to be dispatched
when stolen by the agent OF Eliza
beth, alias Edward Neville. With
the letter out Of the way, Neville
Intended to usurp the vacant
throne"
Montjoie fastened his black eyes
upon the troubled face of Warbur-
ton. And now, Adam, who is in
the right and who Is in the wrong?
1, whom you consider a rascal, have
Justice and moral right on my side,
while you, the would-be paragon, are
aiding a lawless masquerader."
Warburton made no answer and
Montjoie's insolent voice droned on:
"And If you take the letter back to
Neville, do you think he will believe
that you have not read 1t? You
will not live TO speak 10 another
soul once you have given up that
precious document
An Early Advantage.
Il have given by word Of honor"
Warbnton lifted his ret chin, and
I have the promise Of Elizabeth"
Why don't you join forces with
me, Adam? Together we will 60
to Paris and lay the matter before
the King. Francis will reward us
handsomely, and when Neville has
been exposed all England will hail
you as a hero"
Warburton shook his head. II
keep the letter. II shall not 60 to
France. This is q matter for Eng
lshmen to handle, not foreigners"
In the set face of the other Mont
Joie read final refusal. His body
leaned forward suddenly and his
hand darted up and over his should
der. His arm snapped down, a long
dagger few from his fingers and
buried itself in Warbruton's should
der,
Ass! Fool! Doltl1 snarled Mont
joie. kicking his stool backward and
whipping out his sword.
Warburton pulled the knife from
his flesh, then flung up his sword
IN time to catch the 1unge of Mont
1oie. The blades sang down each
other until the hilts clashed.
The rapiers forked In and out In
grim silence. Only the slithering
hiss OF steel was heard in the room.
Neither man wished to have the
ships company burst in on the
quarrel. Each hoped to quit the
Merry Mary-one in England and
the other in France-unseen with
the letter in his possession.
At first it appeared that Mont joie
was the better swordsman. Twice
dUing the first minutes did his
point slip through Warburton's
guard. The first thrust scared the
muscles OF his forearm and the
second stung him in the side, biting
deep into the flesh, rasping along
one OF his ribs.
But all this was due to the fact
that Warburton's arm was awkward
from long disuse. This was the first
time he had used q sword since
his incarceration in Newgate, while
Montjoie had exercised himself In
his bout with Sir Arthur Vance.
Wins In Weakness.
Bleeding from three wounds,
warburton fought on. Little by
little coordination of hand and eye
was re-established and he was able
to hold his foe on even terms.
pi1t tho Strenoth uas ehhinu from,