Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, August 9, 1903, Page 30

August 9, 1903, fane and alley and came thundering after the flying man like a charge of cavalry. A turn in the road brought the bridge in gight, and Armstrong saw that it was guarded only at the end nearest him, and that merely by two lone pikemen. He would mow them down like grass, he said to himself, as he drew his sword. “Stand aside,” he yelled. ‘“The Scot is and we're after him.” The men d aside, glad they were not called upcn to arrvest such a progress as they beheld coming down upon them. It was apparently one of their own officers who commanded them, and there was neither time to think nor question. As the horse's hoofs struck the bridge the deep crash of & cannon boomed from the castle, and be- fore the fugitive reached the center there arose at the other end of the bridge, he could not guess from whence they came, a troop of horse, as if the thunder of the Jumg gun had called the company magically from the earth. Big Bruce stopped on the crown of the bridge, at a touch of the rein, quivering with excitement; raised his head and gave a snort of detiance at the kade ahead of him. Armstrong glanced the bridge had closed on him like a trap, both ends stopped by forces impos- sible for one man to contend against. *““That cannon shot did it. Well planned,"” he growled to himself,, his horse now drawn across the bridge, alent for the word of command, whatever it might be. Below, the swollen Eden, lipping full from bank to bank, rolled yellow and surly to the sea. Right and left, at either end of the bridge, stood a mass of steel-clad men, impregnable as the walls of the castle it- self. De Courcy sprang off his horse to the bridge and advanced with a valor which Armstrong, sitting there, apparently calm, had not given him credit for. “He's my man!” he cried. dead if he raises his hand.” Then to the Scot: ‘*‘Surrender quietly. You have no chance. A score of muskets are turned on you."” “If they shoot some of them will wing you. Better warn them not to fire,” re- plied Armstrong, mildly, as if proffering to a friend advice which did not concern him- self. ‘Do you surrender?"’ “Com. and take me if you are anxious for the thousand pounds. It's worth the money."” The Frenchman hesitated, edging cau- tiously along the parapet, so that if his friends shot he would be as much as pos- sible aside from the line of fire. Seem- ingly his confidence ia their marksmanship had net been augmented by Armstrong's warning. “If you raise your hand to a weapon,” said De Courcy, ‘‘they will fire on you, and 1 cannot stop them. They will not wait my word.” “I know. I shall not raise my hand.” The Frenchman dashed forward and seized the bridle rein of Black Bruce. “Come quietly!” he shouted. “l will," said Armstrong. He leaned for- ward, said sharply to his horse, *“Ovor, my lad!" and smote him a rising blow on the shoulder with his open hand. Thea horse raised his powerful front and stood poised for a moment like a statue, then launched himself into space. As De Courcy felt his f:et leave the stenes he let go the rein and fell sprawling on the parapet, but Armstrong leaned over and clasped him by the loose folds of his doublet. “Come down with me, you traitor!” he cried. There was a scream of terror and next instant the river roared in his ears. ‘When he came to the surface he shook his head like a spaniel, swept the water from his eyes and looked aloft at the great bridge. The parapet was lined with troop- ers, all stricken motionless, as if they had been transformed to stone. De Courcy, one moment afloat, shrieked for help, then sank again. Armstrong knew that the paralysis on the bridge would not last long, and he turned his horse toward the bank of raw clay. “No one in command up there, ently,” he muttered, most of it, old man."” The panting horse, breathing laboriously, essayed the bank and slipped back. Arm- strong let loose his sodden cloak and flung it on the flood, turning the horse that he “Shoot him appar- “We must make the might make the ascent at an angle. The crowd still stared at him as if it were a show they had come out to see. Bruce, his feet once more on firm ground, shook his mane and gave forth a wild whinny of delight. Now the voice of command came in a blast of anger from the bridge: “After him, you fools! What are you staring at?” “Too late, my son, I think,” ventured William, as he leaped his horse across the ditch that divided the fields from the road. Once the followers came near him and he turned in his saddle, threatening them with his pistols, and they, forgetting that his powder was water-soaked, fell back. The troopers found no difficulty in be- lieving that a man who jumped his hors: over Carlisle bridge into the Eden directly aided by the devil, as had rumered, and they made no doubt tha powder would soon dry, om such a pit- scorched favorite as he. They felt sure he could put the pistols to deadly use in case of need. From the moment Bruce struck his hoofs on the road the horses behind had no Woas been THE ILLUSTRATED BEEL. chance of overtaking him. They fell fur- ther and further to the rear, and at last the silvery Ksk gleamed ahead, while all along, since pursuit grew hopeless, Willlam had been feasting his eyes on the blue hilis of Scotland. He walked his horse through the KEsk, but it, teo, had been swoilen by the rains, and Bruce again had to swim for it before he reached the other side William sprang to the ground, flung his arms round the neck of his sterling com panion, laying his cheek agatnst that of the horse. “You've won the race, my boy. All the credit is to you, and Bruce, my lad, poets will sing of you.” Then, with a choking in his throat, he kneit down and kissed the wsofl, the sensible horse looking on in wonder. As the young man rose to his feet and saw on the other side of the Esk the troopers lining up, his mood changed and he laughed aloud. Draw- ing forth his leathern bottle, he held it aloft and shouted to them: “Come over, lads, and I'll give you a drink. Don’t be feared; none o' the water got into this.” But the officer dared not cross the bound- ary. Cromwell's orders had been strict; so he and his men stood glum, making no re- sponse to the generous invitation. ‘“Well, here's to us a'," cried raising the bettle to his lips. “And now, my friends,” he continued, replacing the flask and springing into the saddle, “do not be so down in the mouth. You've seen a Scotchman run, which was more than vour ancestors saw at Bannockburn.” And with that he rode for Traqualr Castle. CHAPTER XXV. Accomplishment, William, As evening drew on the old warder of Traquair Castle beheld a sight that caused him to rub his eyes in the fear that they were misleading him. A horseman, bearing the guise of a Roundhead wooper, his steel cap glittering, approached the ancient stronghoid. That such a man dared set foot on Scottish soil and ride thus boldly to the home of the most noted royalist on the border, seemed incredible, but the warder was not to be caught napping, and he gave orders that the gates we closed and guarded, for the border was ever a land of surprises, and one must take all precau- tion. Doubtless this lone troope® had a company concealed somewhere, and was advancing to parley, although he carried no flag of truce. He came on with a fine air of indifference and stopped when he found his way barred, sitting carelessly on his horse with an amused smile on his lips. “What's ye® wvull, surr?” demanded the warder from the wall. “That’s it,”" replied the horseman. “Whut's it? I dinna unnerstaun’' ye." “Wull's ma name,” said the rider with an accent as broad as that of his ques- tioner. *““Wuz that no' whut ye were spierin? Dinna staun’ glowerin' there, Jock Tamson, like an oolet or a gowk. Can yve no' sec am English? Gang awa' and tell yer maister that a freen o' Cromwell's &t th’ door an' craves a word wi' him.” “Dod!" cried the bewildered warder, scratching his head, “if ye ha'e a tongue like that on ye since ye crossed the Border, ye've made the maist o' yer time."” “Is the Yerl o' Traquair in?" “He's jist that.” ““Then rin awa' an' gi'e ma message, for Am wet an' tired an’ hungary.” The warder sought Traquair in his lbrary, where he sat, an anxious man, with many documents spread out on a table before him, “Ah,"” said the earl, frowning, “they've caught poor Armstrong, then, and now in addition to our troubles we'll need to bar- gain with that fiend Noll to save his neck. “Yer Lordship, there's a soldier in the uniform of the English rebels at th' gates, wha says he's a freen o' Cromwell's and begs a word wi' ye."” Everything is against us.” ‘“He may be an Englisher, but he's got a Scotch accent as broad as th’ Tweed.” ‘““He’s one of our countrymen fighting fer Cromwell and therefore thought by that shrewd villain the better emissary. Bring him in.” “There may be others o' his like in hid- ing, me Lord." “Close the gates after him, then, and keep a strict wateb, There's no danger on that score yet, hut lppen to nothing. 'This man's just come to strike a bargain an’ I'm afraid we must dance to the tune he pipes. Bring him in."” When William and the warder came in together a moment or two passed before the carl recognized his visitor., Then he sprang forward and held out both his hands. “In God's name, Armstrong, is this you?" he cried. "*What have they done to you? Save us all! Who has shorn and accoutred you like this?” ‘“The necessities of the chase, Traqu . This is a disguise, and although you suw through it I'm happy to think I deluded Jock Tamson there.” ‘“losh!"” cried Tamson, peering forward. 7.1 never threep doon ma throat that t) < Wnll Armstrong.” > Willlam, #f you pleass, Tamson," corrected the new knight. *“The title was bestowed upon me by his Majesty him- self and 1 shall expect that deference from the lower orders, Tamson, which the des- ignation calls for. Stll, Jock, I'll forgive your familiarity if you help me off with this helmet that scems glued to my skull.” The old man grasped the cdges of the egteel cap with both his hands when Arm- strong bent his head. He braced his foot against that of the helmet wearer and pulled with all his might, but his strength wias unequal to the task. “Lord pity us!" growled Will; “catch me ever putting my head in a trap like this aguin. I'll have to take it off with a boot- Jack.” “Bring in Angus,” laughed the earl; he'll pull either the helmet or the head off you." The huge Angus came lumbering in after the warder who went in search of him. “Ilave you had yvur supper, Angus?”’ asked the earl, “Yes, ma Lord" “Then let me sec what strength it's given you. Tug this iron pot from Arm- strong's head.” Angus, bracing himself as the warder had done, jerked ineffectively several times, “Iull, ye deevil!” cried Armstrong. “Ye've no more strength than a three-year-old waen.'" ““Am feart ta thraw yer neck,” protested Angus, “Never mind the neck. Being hanged by Cromwell is as nothing to this. Pull, ye gomeral. Am I to go about with my head ifn a metal bucket all my Hfe? Pull!” Angus put forth his strength, and the helmet gave way with unexpected sud- denness, whereupon Angus sat down on the floor with a thud like an earthquake. the steel cap in his lap. Traquair slapped his thigh and roared till the rafters rang. “Will, you'll be an inch taller after that. 1 never saw the like of ILL I have heard that a man’s head grows with new honors placed upon him, but I had no idea it was so bad as that. Mau, where's your hair? And did they chop it off with a battleax? If that is a fair example of bar- ber's work in England, I am glad I live In 8cotland.” Armstrong rubbed his shorn head with his open palm. “A barber may have other qualities than experience with the shears,” he sald. “The trick of the shears is surely the chief requirement for the trade.” “Yes. You're In the right. My halr was cut out in a stableyard, under moonlight, with great haste and blunt blades. We will see what your own poll-man can do In still shortening the result. I have been hotly chased, Traquair, and haircutting was the least drawback that troubled me. 1 think my talloring Is even worse than my barber- ing, and there also you must stand my friend. Is the Castle tailor out of work?" My whole wardrobe is at your disposal, Wil “Nothing in it would fit me, and I am a thought particular about a new dress, as I have lost all seif-respect in this one. 1 may borrow a hat from you, if you have one of the latest fashion, with a fine feather on {t." “Aha! What's come over you, Will? Some lady in the court of Charles? You didn't fash much over your clothes in the old days."” “I don’t fash much now, as you may see by my array. 8till, it isn't duds, but food, that is the first necessity. I've had nothing all day but a hurried drink out of the Eden, It was as thick as brose, and about the same color, but not so sustaining." “They're preparing supper for you now, and I'll bear you company when it's ready. I'm eager to hear what befell. So the king knighted you. Deed, he might have gone further than that and made you a marquis or a duke at the same cost.* “Oh, he offered me anything in his gift if I brought the commission safely through to you, a promise that I'm thinking I'll never trouble him to redeem. Nevertheless here's the packet, a little damp, but none the worse for that.” He placed the cause of all the trouble on the table, and Traquair turned it over and over in his hands, with no great delight in its possession, as the messenger thought. The earl sighed as he opened it at last, and slowly perused its contents in silence, laying it on the table again when he had finished. “You are a wonderful man, Willlam,” he said. “If everyone in Scotland did his duty as thoroughly as you do it we would soon place the king on his throne again.” “Is there more trouble brewing?" “More trouble, and the old trouble, and the new trouble. Everyone pulling his own way, and in all directions, thinking only of himself, and never, by any chance, of the interests of the whole.” “May I tell Cromwell that, He seemed at some pains to Intercept a blllet that you receive but lightly.” “Tell Cromwell! You're never going to write to that scoundrel!” “I intend to sce him before the week is past.” What! You're not such a fool as to put yourself in Cromwell's clutch again!” “Just that.” “Will, 1 wonder at you. Angus got the steel bonnet off you with some work, but no man in Bcotland can get Cromwell's rope off your neck, if once you thrust your head through the noose.” “Cromwell’'s not such a fool as to hang me. If he difl it would but unite your wavering hosts like an invasion of Scot- land.” 11 “It will be a heavy price to pay fee union, WilL" “I'he price will never be paid, Cromwell knows what he wants, and he doesn’'t want me now, howcver anxious he was for my company this morning.” “Have you actually seen him?" “l met him the first day 1 crossed the border. 1 saw him once again, and I traveled over most of dngland on & pass from his own hand. Cromwell and 1 have a mutual respect for each other by thia time, but there are some matters of difference between us that I think will best be settled by word of mouth, so I'm off day after tomorrow to foregather with him. I cannot go sooner, because my new gear will not be ready, and I want to give the general time to withdraw his troops from across the country, so that I may come on him in other fettle than as & prisoner."” “Who s the woman, you would go clean daft her." “Never you mind. As the border s & land of nobility and romance, we will call her an earl's daugther to please you."” “More like same peasant girl who assiste ed you to escape from your enemies.'” “Well, whoever ghe is, Traquair, 1'll make Will? I knew when you met her Mrs. Armstrong when [ get the chance.” “Lady Armstrong, you mean. You're forgetting your new dignity. Burely, If the case stands thus, you will ask the king to fulfil his promise una make yow a baron at the least."” “That will 1 not. I'll trouble the bad- gered man no further.” “1 know the ways of the sex better than you do and 1 warrant you the lady will give you no rest until the title's yours, whenever she knows you have earned it and have had the offer of it."” “*She thinks I do even."” ‘“Then she is no peasant lass." “I never sald she was." At this point, greatly to the delight of Armstrong, whose answers were becoming more and more short, his supper was an- nounced, and Traquair, with his arm over the shoulder of his guest, led him to the dining room. The taflor came when supper was fin= fshed and measured his new customer, received minute instructions regarding the garments and retired protesting he would do his best in the limited time allowed him. The barber operated as well as he could on a head that began to nod in spite of the efforts of its owner. Sleep laid its heavy hand on Armstrong, and the voice of Tra- quair sounded distant and meaningless, something resembling the rush of Eden water in his ears, whereupon Willlam nearly got those useful members cropped in earnest. At last he found himself In his room, and for the first time since he left that hospitable mansion, enjeyed the luxury of lying down between clean sheets with his clothes off. Then he slept aa dreamlessly as his ancestors, (TO BR CONTINUED.) less of these things thaa Checked From Bingen A 10-year-old boy was checked through from Bingen on the Rhine to Cando, N. D,, as baggage. lle was sent over the Penn- sylvania on Train from New York teo Indianapolis, where he was transferred to the Monon for Chicago, thence over the Northwestern railroad. About a month ago he had started from Bingen on the' Rhine to g0 to his parents in Cando, N. D. More than a year ago they had left their native land to try thelir fortunes in America. Thelir little son had been left in charge of an aunt, who was to care for him until his parents could make enough money to send for their boy. The child knew that his parents had pros- pered in the new country, for he said they had a home and cattle and horses. They sent money to pay his fare and plenty for his expenses. His aunt had accompanied him to Hamburg, but from there he had traveled alone, except for the little dachs- hund under his arm, which had not left his side day or night since starting. While the boy was checked through like any other baggage, he carried a ticket and rode In the coaches like other passen- gers. The baggage check was used only to identify him and he was placed in charge of every new conductor who came on duty, He was very impatient to meet his parents, and spoke of his longing to be with them once more. If he had good luck he reached home and parents on Bunday.—Hagerstown, Ind., Dis- patch in Cincinnati Commercial-Tribune. Modest, but Truthful A pretty, rosy-cneeked country girl enw tered one of our large department stores one day this week. It was bargain day and the crowd was greater than usual. She had wandered about from floor to floor a little bewildered at the magnitude of the establishment, the largest she had ever seen. Beeing her, the floor walker approached and said: “Is anybody waliting on you.” “Yes, sir,” sald the girl, blushing to the roots of her flaxen hair, “he’'s outside; he wouldn't come in.”"—Philadelphia Ledger,