Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 9, 1903, Page 29

(Copyright, 1903, by Robert Barr.) CHAPTER XXIV. Vietory. ESPITE (he night's rest, the horses were sUT after the long struggle with rain and mud the day hefore. If the situation was o be suved =¥ by a race, there scemed little chance of success with anlmals so (ired and discouraged. With the ception of the departure (rom Oxford, the riders were more silent and mclancholy than st any other time during their journey together. They had discussed the case In all 1% bear- ings the previous night, before the blazing fire, and had come to the conclusion that it would be safer to part. Armstrong was now In u country that he knew reasonnbly well, and he had no need to ask his direction from any chance comer, which was an advanlage to a fugitive. They had agreed to deflect toward the east, and Lid goodby to cuch other alt Kirby Stephen, and he striking northwest to Penrith, and she taking (he main roaa east, entering Durhamn at Barnard Castle. There was no blinking the fact that while a Pur- Hamentarian trooper might pass through this land unquestioned, especially as so many soldiers were making their way north, a trooper with a beautiful young woman of aristceratic appearance would certainly couse comment and excite curiosity The nearcer they came to Carlisle the greater would be the danger of embarassing questions. They had a wild country (o traverse, dleak hills and moorluml; the roads as bad as they could be. and although they left Clitheroe st b o'clock. it was past noontide befure they renched Kirby Stephen, a atstance of less than forty miles. They had met no one and so (ar as the morning section of the Journey was concerned, the road te Scot- land was clear enough. At the squalid inn of Kirby Stephen they partook of what each thought was their last meal together for & long time to come, and then. !n spite of her protests. he accompanied her east out of the town and Into the tonely hill country. At last she pulled up her horse, and impetuously thrust out her right hand, dashing away some teardrops from her long lashes with her left “Goodby,"” she cried, the broken velce belieing the assumed cheerfulness of the tone. “I cannot allow you to come further. You must now bid farewell to your scout.” “Dear lass, it breaks my heart to part with you in this way,"” stammered Wil- liam, ingulfing her small hand in both of his, then drawing her to him. *It shames my manhood to let you go this wild road alone. I must see you to your own door, in spite of all the Cromwells that ever broke their country's laws.' No, no,”” she pleaded. “We went over all that last night, and settled it. 1 am safe enough. It Is you who are in danger, You will come to me when this trouble is passed and done with.” “By Saint Andrew, I'll ‘.come to you as ®oon as this letter is in Traquair's hands ™ “Again, no, no. Cromwell is a hard man, and if you steal through his cordon you must not come within his power In & Rurry.” “No fear, lass, he dare not touch me. Onece my foot's in Scotland, I'm like that anclent chap you told me of, I draw vir- tue from the scll, and am unassailable Cromwell wants nothing of me when this packet escapes him. “I'll turn back from Traquair the moment I give it to him." “I do net permit such folly, remember that.”” She wept a little, then laughed a Httle. “I do not wish to see you until your hair is grown again. My Scottish Samson, you must come to me with flowing locks, as when I first saw you, so that I may for- get I have been your Delilah.” For answer he kissed her protesting lips again and again, then she hid her face in his somber cloak and sobbed quietly. The patient horses, now accustomed to any vagaries on the part of their owners, stood quietly close together, “Goodby, goodby, goodby,” she cried, breathlessly, whisked herself from him and was gone, never looking back, but waving her hand as she rode. He sat motionless a8 she had left him. At the top of the dlis- tant hill, outlined against the dark sky, she drew in and stood. Dimly he saw the flutter of something white in her waving hand, and he drew from his breast her own handkerchief and waved in return. He pressed his hand across his eyes, and when he saw more clearly only the blank sky and the bare hilitop confronted him. “Now curse the man who tries to stop me,"” growl:xd Armstrong through his set teeth. “I have been too mild with these ruffians. I'll break him acress the pemmel of my saddle as if he were a rotten sgesr.* The rain began to fall once more as he passed again through Kirby Stephen, but he pald slight heed to It, 4nd pushed on to Penrith, where he bought a day's proven- der, 50 that he would have no need to make request for food as he neared the danger spot. Just before darkness set In the sky cleared somewhat and he saw ahead of him the gloomy bulk of Cariisie castle. He turned aside from the main road, and before the night became biack, found quarters for himself in a barn that contained some fodder for bis horse He Over the Border | threw himself down on and slept the fragrant hay peacefully, In the morning the rain was again falling steadily. lle reconnoltered iis position. There was no dwelling near, uné he determined (o let his horse rest all that day and the next night, so that he should be in trim for anything that might happen, when the pinch came. A day more or less could make little defference with the effectual guarding of the bridge, which wuas now doublless held as strongly as it could be. He was convinced that success must depend ultimately on the speed of his horse., and he could not enter the contest with an exhausted animal. Black Jruce was never 80 carefully tended as on the day befgre the crisis, and as his Intelligent head turned mstant toward Lis muster, be seewed o Lnow that something unusual was afoor. Gn the second day Armstrong thought it best not to enter Carlisle too early in the morning. He wished to mingle with a crowd and not to ride the streets alone. The second night in the barn, with the rest of the day and night before, had left Loth himselt and his horso At to face anything that might ensue. The day was ine; the clouds had cleared away and the sun was shining on the sodden ground. When he came in sight of-the main road he saw what ap- peared to be an army marching north. He halted at the cross-road, in doubt regarding his next move. The men, In a long line, were on foot, trudging sullenly, wearily along, water-scaked and mud-covered. No man looked up or seemed to take an in- terest in anything but the dismal work in hand. Far on toward the gates of Carlisle, rode a group of horsemen, and at the rear another squad of mounted men, encouraged the laggards to keep up for a little longer. Armstrong sat on his horse until the latter company was abreast of him. ““That is Carlisle ahead, I hope,” sald one of the officers. “Yes," answered Armstrong. “Is this the Manchester contingent?” “Yes, RBrutal weather we've had, ™ growled the oMecer. “It was that,” assented William cheerfully, falling into line with them; “but it seems on the mend.” “Ave, now that our mareh Is finlshed.” “Oh, you are likely to go farther afleld, by Robert T. Barr across the country, when you reach Car- lisle." “I suppose so," replied the officer grufily, not too good natured over the prospect. No one asked Armstrong who he was and the claborate fiction he had prepared to ac- count for himself was not cailed for. The troopers were worn out by their contest with the elements and the roads and all curiosity was dead in them. There stood Carlisle in front, and that was enough, The foot soldiers struggled on, in no defi- nite order of formation, each doing the best he could. ‘The officers rode silent be- hind thenw Thus they all marched into Cariisle without question, and in their compiny the man the army was seeking. After o slight delay and pause in the Jerror, s ears . slreets the new iroops moved on to the castle. Armstrong found no difficulty in falling behind, being thus free of the town. He knew every turn of every street and lane In the place as well as he knew the inside of his own pocket. He resolved to ride leisurely to the bridge, cut through the guard, if it did not prove two strong, and then trust to the spur. The town was thronged with military, but no one paid the slightest attention to him. As he Jogged ulong very nonchalantly, more con- tented with the prospect than a few days before he would have thought possible, Black Bruce awoke the echoes by neighing loudly. “Now, oM man, what did you do that for?" whispered Willlam. He looked ahead and was stricken speechless for the mo- ment by seeing Frances Wentworth on her horse, without doubt a prisoner, two troop- ers riding on either side of her, and a young officers in front, She had unques- tlonably seem him, for her brow was wrinkled with anxiety, but her eyes gazed steadily past him into the distance. As he made toward the party they flashed one look of appeal upon him, which said as plainly as words, “For heaven's #aks, ride on and do not recognize me,' byt the young man was oblivious to cverything except the fact that she waa In énmne trou- ble. “Where are you going with this ladyr* he demanded of the officer, ‘““You may wei! ask,” #aid the man, in no accant of pleasure. “We have come across A Tale of the Days of Charles I, country to Carlisle under orders wem owe authority, and now we must hale her back to Durham, where General Cromwell is stationed, and those are the orders of somcone else.” “But it is all a mistake,” cried William. “That’s what I'm telling you,” said the man, with a short laugh. “This lady is a sister of Captain Went- worth of our army." ‘80 she says. Others say she is the woman who was with the Scotch rene- gade. 1 krnow nothing of it, and care less. I obey orders.' “Sir,” sald Frances coldly, “I beg you not to interfere. It is a mistake that will be explained in due time, but these men must do as they are told. That much you 1Y) ome dotn with me, you traitor!” he cried. here twas a scream the river roared wn and the next should know." Although her words were spoken harshly enough, her eloquent eyes were bringing him to his senses and a realization of the unwisdom and futitity of his behavior. Before he could speak again a sharp voice behind him rang out: “Why are you loltering there? Get on with you.” Without turning he knew who the speaker was, and if he had not, the gleam of fear in the girl's eyes might have warned him of peril. “This man questions my orders,” the officer. “No man has a right to question your orders. Who is he?" Armstrong was edging away, but De Courcy spurred the horse he rode in a semicircle to cut off his retreat. In- stantly the Frenchman raised a shout that echoed through the streets of the town and arrested every foot within hear- said ing. “The Scot! The Scot!" he roared. “Stop that man! Never mind the wo- man. After him. BSBound the signal and close the bridge. The thousand pounds are mine, by Ged!™ Now Bruce was doing his best down the main street of Carlisle. A dozen shots spattered fire harmlessly and a big bell began to tell. Armstrong was well ahead of the troop- ers who foliowed him and he gained ground at every stride. The pursuers were continually augmented from each