Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 21, 1903, Page 30

June 21, 1903. as if a film like that of an eagle's eye tem- porarily obscured it. “Some nights since, as I was making for the English line, 1 stopped for refreshment at an inn where I had been accustomed to halt in my travels. To my amazement [ was refused admittance. by a man who stood on guard. We had a bit of a debate which ended in my overpowering him and forcing an entrance, and which was more surprised, the dozen there gathered to- gether, or me with their sentry under my oxter, it would be difficult to tell. Swords were drawn, and I might have com: badly out of the encounter had it not been that a friend of mine among the assemblage recognized me."” A shade of perplexity had overspread the grim face of the general as this apparently simple tale went on. He leaned his elbow on the table and shaded his face with his open hand from the light of the two can- dles, thumb under chin and forefinger along his temple. At this point in the discourse he interrupted: “I suppose you wish to names?”’ mention no tion,” continued Arm- strong, innocent I take it that the men were quite within their right in gath- ering there, although 1 contended they exceeded their right in trying to keep me out of a public house. My friend was th» earl of Traguair. The others [ did not know, and was not introduced, but in the course of the talk 1 gathered that the one who had the most to say wais Henderson, a minister of Edinburg, who spoke much, as was to be expected from his trade. Well, these gentlemen, finding I w for England, asked me to carry i messige to the king, but 1 explained that 1 had n» wish to interfere in matters which dil not concern me, and they parted to meet again “1 sece no obj somewhere else.’” “Do you know where “1 think in Lord Traquair's own castle, but of that I am not sure.” “This is interesting. We shall, of course, try to prevent any messenger teiwching the king, but 1 do not understand why you connect the incident at the inn with your detention. ’ “There was a great splore about a spy that escaped, and I have no doubt if he saw me there, and heard the proposal made to me, he might well have brought my name and description across the border. At least that was the way I reasoned it out with myself.” “It is very like you are right. Spies, un- fortunately, seem to be necessary wien a country is in a state of war. Many un- justifiable acts are then committed, in- cluding the arresting of innocent men, but 1 an anxious nothing shall be done that will give cause of offense to Scotland; a God-fearing country, and a friendly. When such injustice happens, as it has happened in your case, I try to make amend How far south do you propose to travel?” “1 may ge the length of Manchester or Birmingham. The distance and the time will depend on the state of trade.” “If you will tell me the place: you in- tend to visit I will include them In the pass | shall now write for you." “That 1 eannot just say at the moment. 1 wish to follow trade wherever it leads me.” “Then an inclusive pass, extending as far south as Manchester will meet your needs?"” “It will more than meet them, gen i said Armstrong, with supreme indiffer- ence, The commander took up his pen, but paused, and still shading his face, scru- tinized the man before him. “As | am not likely to see you again, perhaps it would be as well not to limit it to Manchester. You may wish to travel further south when you reach that town?” “It is barely possible.” “As you carry no message from Tra- quair to the king, 1 ean write Oxford on your permit easily as Manchester.” “Thank you, general, but Manchester will be far enough.” “I may say that we are strict about those whom we allow to journey to and fro at the present time, and if you should over- step the limit of this document you are liahle to investigation and delay, and 1 am not like to be near at hand on the next oceasion.” “I quite understand, and if I wished to go further s=outh I would have no hesitation in begging permission of your Excellency, but I doubt if 1 shall even see Manchester.” “You will not be leaving Corbiton until the morning, of course?” “No general I know when I am well housed.” “Then, as I have much to do, T will muke out your paper later, and it will be handed to you in the morning.” “Thank you, general.” With this the commander rose and him- gelf accompanied Armstrong to the door in most friendly manner. The young man, in spite of his distrust, was very favorably impressed, for there had heen nothing in Cromwell's conversation of that cant with which he w=ss popularly accredited. The Scot had expected to fad an English Alcxander Henderson, a dizputatious, grufy, tyrannical lcader, cowmitting acts of op- pression or crvelty, and continually ap- pealing to his Maker for justifieation. Fut Cromwell's attitude throughout bhad been THE ILLUSTRATED BEE. that of the honest soldier, with little to suggest the fervent exhorter After giving some laconic instructions touching the welfare of the northerner to Captain Bent, who was hovering uneasily in the outside hall. Cromwell, bidding his enforced guest a cordial farewell, ordercd Wentworth to be brought to him and retired once more into the dim chamber. With hands clasped behind him and head bent, he strode slowly up and down the long room in deep meditation, vanishing into the gloom at the further end and re- appearing in the limited cirele of light that surrounded the two candles, for the torches had long since smoked themselves out, and there had been no replacement of them, for none dared enter that room, unsum moned, while the leader was within it The watcher in the gallery felt, rather than saw, there was an ominous frown on the lowered face as the commander waited for the second prigsoner, over whom hung sentence of death. council This time a clanking of chaing announced the new arrival, who was preceded by Colonel Porlock, and accompanied by two soldiers, one on either side of him The yvoung fellow, who shufiled up to the table, drogging his irons, cast an anxifous look at the forbidding face of the man who wiis to be his final judge; in whose word lay life or death for him, and he found there little to comfort him. Cromwell seated himself once more and said grufily: “Take off those fetters.” When the command was complied with the general dismissed the trio and sat for some moments in silence, reading the frank, open face of his opposite like a poster on a wall, “You are to be shot at daybreak tomor- row,” he began in harsh tones that echred dismally from the raftered ceiling. This statement contained no information for the youth, but the raven's croack sent a shiver through his frame, and somehow the tid- Ings brought a terror that had been ab- sent before, even when sentence of death wias pronounced with such solemnity by the court. There was a careless inflection in the words, which showed that the speaker cared not one pin whether the human being standing before him lived or died. Allowing time to produce the impression he desired, Cromwell continued in the same strain of voice: “I huve examined the evidence, and I find your condemnation just.” The boy remembered that: his father had met death bravely, asking no mercy and recciving none, and the thought nerved him. If this man had merely brought him here to make death more bitter by taunt- Ing him, it was an unworthy action; 80, moistening his lips twice before they would obey his will, he spoke up: “l have never questioned the verdict, general, nor did I make appeal.” The shaggy brows came down over Cromwell's eves, but his face cleared perceptibly. “You own the penalty right?" ir, it is partly right and partly wrong, Yike most things in this world. It is right to punish me for deserting my post; it is wrong to brand me a traitor.” ““Ah, you have found your volce at last, and there is some courage behind it. De- scrtion is an unpardonable crime. ‘The foint T press upon you is this: Your life is torfeit, yet although your fault is unpar- donable 1 do not say it cannot be compen- sated for. Kven my enemies admit T am an honest trader. 1 will bargain with you for vour life. You shall buy it of me and I shall pay the price, even though I do not forgive the crime. “We will first, if you please, clear up the charge of treachery. You were visiting your ewn home that night, and as it is on the further side of Rudby Hall your an- cestors naturally thought you had a ren- dezvous there?” “No, general; it was my intention to have visited Rudby Ha'l" “The residence of that foul, maulignant, Lord Rudby, so-called?"” “Yes, but not to sec¢ his lordship, who is my enemy, personal as well as political.” The scowl vanished from the face of his questioner, and something alme bling a la st resem- 1 came from hig firm lips, u are truthful and it pleases me. Why did you make a foolish mystery of your ex- cursions? 1 take the case to stand thus: Your grandfather and Rudby were neigh- bhors, and possibly friends. You were, and are, in love with my lord's daughter, but since you belong to the cause of the people this oppressor of the people will have naught of you. You have risked your life to see the girl, who is doubtless as silly the rest of her class, as you will dis- cover if 1 let you live not thus?" “In a me Stands the case asure, sir, it does, saving any reflection on the lady, who—" “Surely, surely. I know what you would say, for 1 was once your age and as scuked in folly. The question is, if you will risk vour iife for her, will you do what I asgk of you to earn the girl and yYour life, or will you refuse, and let her g0 to another?” r, 1 will do anything for her.” *Then harken well. There was here he- fore me, where you now stund, some mo- ments since, the most plausible liar In the kingdom. He told me truths, which on the surface appeared to be treachery to his friend, but which he was well aware 1 al- ready kuew. This was to batlle into believ- ing him. He rides to Oxford to see the King, and in that I am willing to aid him. He may tell the king what pleases him, and those who send him-—little good will it do any of them. In return the king is to give him a commission, to be handed to certain lor in Scotland, If thet commission crogses the border we are like to have a blaze to the north of us, which I do not wish to see Kindled until a year from now, then, by God—then, by God's will, 1 shall be ready for them. We shall defeat the Scots in any cas but if this commission reaches these malcontents we cannot have the pleasure—humph—we shall be preciuded from the duty of beheading the ringleaders, without bringing on ourselves the con- tumely of Europe. Without the Kking's commission they are but broilers-marau- ders, With this commis=ion they will set up the claim that they are belligerents. Do you understand the position?” “Perfectly, General” “The commission must be intercepted at all cost. 1t will be vour task to frustriate the intentions of the king and his Scottish nobles. But the task is more complicated than yet appears, It would be an easy matter to run this messenger through the body, and there an end. I want what he carries, but 1 do not wish to harm the car- rier. These Scots are a clanuish, troubl some, determined race. If you prick one with a sword's point the whole nation howls. This, then must be done quietly, 80 that we bring no swarm about our cars. “william Armstrong is the messenger's name, and he has powerful supporters in his own country. He was stopped as soon as he cross the border yesterday and brought here. He pretends to be an inno- cent trader in cattle, and will likely keep up that pretence. 1 have appeared to be- lieve all he says, and he leaves this house tomorrow with a pass from my hand, giv- ing him permission to travel as far south as Manchester, which was all he asked. I would willingly have given him safe con- duct to Oxford, but he was too crafty to accept such a thing. He thinks he ean make his way south from Manchester. As a matter of fact, he cannot, but I wish to make the way easy for him. ‘Of course, I could give a general order that he was not to be molested, but there are reasons against this, as we have doubt- less “spies in our own ranks, and a general order would excite suspicion, and would probably prove useless, beciuse this man, south of his permit's territory, will en- deavor to go surreptitiously to Oxford, and by unfrequented routes. It will be your duty to become acquainted with Armstrang and win his confidence. You will accom- pany him to Oxford and return with him. You will be protected by a pass so broad that it will cover any disguise either of you may care to assume. It is such a pass as 1 have never issued before, und [ am not likely to issue again, s0 1 need not warn you to guard It carefully, and use it only when necessary. It reads thus—"' Here the speaker took up a sheet of paper on which he had been writing, and, holding it so that the light from the candles fell upon it, read aloud— “Pass the bearer and one other without question or interference from Carlisle to Oxford and return. ‘““The journey south will give yvou the op- portunity to become acquainted with your man. On the northward march you must become possessed of what he carries, and when you bring it to me, you receive in return full pardon and promotion. 1f you do not succeed before you reach Carlisle, then I must crush him; possibly kill him as a spy. Will you undertake it?"’ “Pis an ungracious office you would be- stow upon me, sir. 1 had rather meet him ifn a fair fight, and slay him, or have him sl me, as God willed.” There speaks youth,” eried Cromwell im- patiently. “This man is a treacherous, ly- ing spy, whose life, by all the rules of wiur, 18 already forfeited. 1 propose to dis- comfit him with his own weapons. Nay, more; I willingly save him from the de- struction he merits. You are set to do him the greatest service one man can offer another. If you fail, he dies. If you suc- ceed, he has probably a long life before him, God knows | yearn to cut no man's thread, where it can be avoided, but the true interests of England stand paramouant, Would you condemn thousands of innocent men to agony and the horrors of a pro- longed war, to save the feelings of a border rutian, who intervenes in a quarrel that #hould not concern him “Sir, you are in the right, and your argu- maenrt is incontestable. 1 accept your com- mand willingly A gleam of pleasure lit the rugsged face of the general, for he was flattercd to be- lieve his prowess in controversy was no 10 potent than his genius in war. His ce softened perceptibly as he continued “We are enjoined by the word to unite the wisdom of the sergent with the harm- lessness of the dove. Your mission com- pines the two attributes, wisdom and harm- lessness®, for you are to beguile decelt and yet suffer the decelver to pass on hig way scathless. You save your country’'s enemy, forgiving them that persecute you. What excuse will you give to Armstrong for your desire to visit Oxford?"” “My friend, the son of Lord Rudby, is 11 there. Although we are on opposite sidesy he has none of the bLitterness against me shown by his father. 1 will say 1 wish te confer with him."” “That will serve. Now this pass is for two, and you can offer to Armstrong fafe conduct under your guidance, giving what plea you choose for the absence of the man who was to sccompany you, and who, it may be, was supposed to have procured this puass from me Whatever t as they advance, and, in so meeting them, will come into play whatever gifts of Ingenuity you may possess difficulties arise on the journey must be “If you show yourself worthy and diplo- matic there {8 scarcely limit to what you may attain in the councils of your country, The need of the future capable men, men earnest in well doing, «nergetic in actlon, prompt in decision, unwavering in execution. In the hope of finding vou one such, 1 snatch you from the scaffold. The king ecravenly bent yvour father's neck to the block, although he had shown himself to be the one strong man in his council; I arrest the order to fire at your breast, though you are yet unproven See that you do not disappoint me Cromwel! folded the pass and handed it to young Wentworth “Go. This paper is your safeguard & shall give the order that you are to be well mounted and provided with money, Send Captain Bent to me as you pass out."” Once more alone, Cromwell wrote the pass for Armstrong, giving him permis- m (o travel between Carlisle and Man- chester When he had finished writing Captain Bent was standing beside the table, and to him he delivered the paper., “You will give that to your late pris- oner,” he said “He i to depart tomor- row morning, not before 8 o'clock, and is to travel unmolested You have accomplished your duties well, captain, and your services shall not be forgotten.” The silent but gratified captain left the room with straighter wulders than had marked his previous His chief looked up at the dark gallery and said: “Come down and report yourself to the officer of the night.” For nearly ten minutes Cromwell sat at the table in silence, save for the busy scratching of his pen. Then he rose wearily, with a deep sigh, his marked face seemingly arg older than when he had entered the room. Once outside, he gave Colonel Porlock the papers he had written, and said: “The finding of the court-martial is ap- proved, but the verdict is suspended. It is possible that Wentworth may render such service to the state as will annul the sentence against him You will give him every assistance he requires of you, and the amount of money s=et down in this order. Bring out my ho il “You will surely partake of some refresh- ments, general, before you—"' No. My horse; my horse:" When the animal was brought to the lawn the general mounted with some dif- culty, more like an old man than a leader of cavalry. The two silent horsemen be- hind him, he disappeared once more inte the night as he had come. (To Be Continued.) A Stack of Blues If a black cat enters the room it is a sure sign that the “kitty” will win every time. You seldom have to look over a bulwark of chips to see where Theory sits in a poker game, The only way to gain practical knowl- edge of the game is to study the pack and the players, The right passes In poker are more difMm- cult to learn than those of any other se- cret society. It is claimed by many experts that you should never enter a game with the left foot first, but are always safe in betting on the right hand. Often in a poker game the clumsy black- smith draws hetter than the comic artist and the matinee idol combined, When you have learned all that the books can teach you about the game, it is barely possible that you may know enough to stay at home, If you wish to gain everlasting knowl- cdge of the simon pure science of poker, Join in a night sessfon with a “gentle- manly" stranger or two, All expert writers on the great American Rime scem to have overlooked the highly important sclentific fact that a hand worth a whole pyramid of blues tonight may compel you to lay down to your uncle to- morrow.—New York Times, Nursing Them Sick “l need a vacation badly, but I ean't take it now,"” said Dr. Price-Price “Many of my patients are in such condition that I can't afford to leave them They nced constant nursing.’ “Ab, yes, replied the man who knew, 1 guess there wre certadn pationts who if yon quit. nursing them w!'ll g0t wall the first thing you know."—FPhiad:ipha Catholla Btandard,