The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 26, 1904, Page 6

THE SAN FRANCISCO * SUNDAY CALL he has a gre with more in- T TOAST OF THE Fie” wasn't true,” a married man, strongest oath kept a rascal from divulging a secret ted to him.” “You're right in that; you're right * the cobbler hastened to add; this involves others as well as There's time enough "hen I venture to say you are en- It's strongly and could stand a siege if neces- mayhap, young as I am, I can give useful advice from the green fields.” I'm not at all sure that we for to tell the have met with a wild set of lads and I find myself wondering how long my head will be. in partnership with my It's near enough to Stirling see my friena evening, and sleep my own bed that night, if I care to me to come Is it in a lonely place? can hardly say that. hill, yet there's to give you rest and retire- s the case as serious as that?” “Aye, it is.” “Then why not withdraw?” “Ah, that's easler said than done. once shut a spring door on yourself it isn't by saying ‘I will’ You'll not have for- gotten the first night we met, when you jumped down on my back from the wall of the Gray Friars’ church? “I remember it very distinctly, but which was the more surprised, you or yet been able It is at the When_you mind, Flem- you swithering whether 1 turn farmer or no? form you that it's a poor occupation.” what's on my swear plously that you get out. Let me in- Ballengeich, to keep it a secret.” do nothifig of the replied the young man “An honest man’s bare word have never ot 50 much as L,” interrupted the cobbler dryly, “when you came plump on my shoulders.” “By the way, did you ever hear any more of the thief you were after?” “That's just the point I am coming to. The man.we were after was his youthful Majesty James V of Scot- land.” “What. the King!™” amazed laird. “Just him and no other,” replied the cobbler, “and very glad I am that the plot miscarried, although I fear it's to come on again.” “I never heard the like of this.” “You may well say that. You see, it is known ‘that the King in disguise visits a certain house, for what pur- pose his Majesty will .be able to teil you better than 1. He goes unattended and secretly and this gives us our chance,” “But what in the name of the god of fools, whoever he happens to be, would you do with Jamie once you got him?"” Deed, there’s many things that might be mended in this country. as you very well know, and the King can mend them, if he likes, with a word. Now, rather thay have his-throat cut, our leader thinks he will agree to rea- sonable reform.” “And supposing be doesn't agree. are you going to cut his throat?” “I don’t know what would happen if he proved stubborn. The moderate = exclaimed the sectlon 18 Just for locking him by some- where until he listens to wisdom.” “And it is in your mind that my house should become a prison for the King?” “It seems to me worth considering.” “There seems to me very little worth considering in the matter. It is a mad scheme. Supposing the King promised under compulsion, what would be his first action the moment he returned to Stirling Castle? He would scour the country- for you, and your heads would come off one by one like buttons from an old coat.” “That's what I sald, ‘Trust the word of a Stuart,” says I, ‘it's pure non- sense.’ " “Oh, I'm not sure but the word of a Stuart is as good as the word of any other man,” replied Ballengeich, with a ring of anger in his voice, at which the cobbier looked up surprised. “You're not such an enemy of the King as you let on at first,” commented the mender of shoes. *“I doubt if I should have told you all this.” “Have no fear. I can pledge you that my word is as good as a Stuart’s at least.” » “I hope it's a good deal better.” “Your plan is not only useless, but dangerous,” my friend. I told you I would give you my advice, and now you have it. Do you think James is a \ lad that you can tie to your bench stool here, lock your door and expect to find him when vou come back? When is your next meceting and where?” "The meetings are held in this room, and the next will be on Wednesday night at 11 o’clock.” “Bless my sou cried, Ballengeich. ould nothing content you but to drink the whole bucketful? The Ten- dezvous in your shop! Then whoever escapes, your head’s on a pike.” “Aye,” murmured the shoemaker, dis- mally. “It isn’t taking very many of you to overturn the House of Stuart,” said the laird, looking about the room, which was small. # “There's just one less than a dozen,” replied the cobbler. . “Then we'll make up the number to the even twelve. T will meet you here on Wednesday night at this time, and learn whether or no they agree to have me as one of their number. If they refuse, there’s no harm done; I shall say nothing, and the King will know no more about the matter than he does now." “1 could not ask you better assurance than that,” said the host cordially, as his guest rose. They shook hands, and the guidman WAKQOS%/gE TERED BOLLING « into as out way of Ballengeicn, after peering the darkness to see that the clear, took his leav The laird was prompt in keeping his appointment on the following Wednes- day, and learned that the conspirators were d of his assistance The cob- bler’s tool box had been pushed out of the way, and a jhake-shift table, com- posed of three boards and two trestl the center of the room. have been tol began the who filled th chair at the f the ta where he had ad- ministered thé oa with much solem- nity to their new member, “we have been told that you own a house, which you will place at our disposal should the purpose fcr which we are gathered here together succeed.” such & house,” said the laird, , of course, placed freely at your service. But the plan you pro- pose is so full of danger that I wond- ered if you have given the project the deep consideration it deserves. It will be a hazardous undertaking to get the party.” “I never liked the kidnaping idea.” “Nor said the cobbler. “It was but a wild Hielan’ notion.” “My vroject has this advantag: continued Ballengeich with noncha impartiality, “that if it does not su ceed you can then fall back upon ab duction. Nouthing in v terferes with the u of your first plan At last it was de go, if Balléngeich co ten safe-conduct sign which would i te Within three daxs this ¢ placed in the hands of t h Ballengeic been signed added ths himself that the we'l ple of his loyal wdled Ki s subjects. the the court will be conducted his face day, the Did you su “It el merely “1 wish I were word, for they w ened men A rining m i hairs oaken tabl and six on tl the table was a sembling a thr standing there a tension arcely b curtains the »m, his high brow and h the doorway of the t L ing a gl When gruffiy dowr It is dou except th their rule for the ¢ your meetings mig be dis as 1 thought £ vou he floor i with smote th trembling the Kir Nis a5 ing ed st 1 the King.” King safely into my house, but let us ict to where? suppose that done. How are you go-—Ja hat is the point ing to keep him there stand l.‘\,. document. Read We will set a guard over him.” read it ry gcod. Which of you are to be Sir, it says safe conduct for eleven the guardsmen, and how many?” men here present, ot The conspirators looked at one an- your royal other, but none replied. At last the “Youd ceep to the point, leader said: bler,” shouted the King, bring “Tt will be time to settle that when first dowr the table. 2. we have, him safely under bolt.” duct to wherg, 1 asked “Pardon me, not so. The time to ar- ment does notsay s: range all things is now. Everything into Stirling ag : must be cut and dried, or ure is heaven or elsewhere certain. The moment the King is missed the country will be scoured for him. There will be no possible place of refuge for miles round that will not be searched for the missing monarch.” The King is but a hoy, and when he sees death or compliance before him he will accede to our demands.” “Suppcse, then, he gives conmsent to all you place before him? Do you think he will keep his word?" said the cobbler, speak- “The word of a the snap my “I doubt it, ing for the first time. Stuart is not worth finger. “On the other hand, if he does not accede,” continued Bellengeich, “what are we to do with him?” ut his throat,” replied the leader eripd several others, and for a momept there was a clamor of E , while discussion, all spe the laird stood silently regarding the vociferous disputants. Finally their leader sald: “What better plan have you to pro- he King is a boy,” spoke up Ballen- geich, “as you have said.” At the sound of his voice instant silence reigned. “But he is a boy, as I have told you, extremely difficult to handle with vio- lence. 1 propose then that a deputation wait upon his Majesty and place before him the evils that require remedying, being prepared to answer any question he may ask regarding the method of their amendment. If peaceable means fail, then try violence, say I: but it is hardly fair to the young man to ap- proach him at the beginning of his reign with a dirk in the hand. I have some friends about the castle,” con- tinued the laird. “I supply them with various necessaries from the farm; and, if T do say it myself, I am well thought of by some in authority. I can guar- antee you, I am sure, a safe conduct for your mission.” “will you lead the delegation and be its spokesman?" “No. My power to serve you lies in the fact that T am well thought of in the palace. This power would be in- stantly destroyed were 1 known as dis- affected. I would put it on this basis: My friend Flemming is the spokesman of ten others who have grievances to place before his Majesty. Therefore, as a matter of friendship between Flem- ming and myself, I ask safe conduct for the eleven.” “Indeed.” cried the cobbler, “T wish you would leave my name out of the affair, since no one else seems eager to put his own forward “1 put mine forward in making the vequest,” said Ballengeich. “There is wisdom in what the laird says,” cried one of the more modcrate pose. it an advocate's quibble, your Safe conduct is & phase well undegstood by high and low ike. Nevertheless, [ would re- spectfully submit to your Majesty that I alone of those present doubted a Stuart’s word 1 am like to have my doubts pract onfirmed. I would also oint to your Majesty that my comrades would not have been here had I not trusted the Master of Ballen- geich, and through him the King; therefore I ask you to let me alone pay the i v my error and al- jow my friends to go scathless from the grim w rling.” “There is n what you say,” replied the K Are you all agreed to that?" he asked of the others. by God!” eried the leader, springing to his feet as lustily as the King had done. ‘We stand together or fall tc her The mistake was ours as much = his and we entered these gates with ¢ eyes open “do “Headsman,” id the King, your duty The headsman whipped off the black cloth and displayed underneath it a box containing a large jug surrounded by eleven drinking horns. Those present, all now on their feet, glanced with amazement from the masked man to the King. The sternness had vanished trom his Majesty's face, as if a dark cloud had passed from tb lowed it to shir g led in the King mischief of t laughter rang what recover his g stretched out hand and pointed finger at the cobbler. “1 frightened you, Flem cried. “I frightened you; don’t I'll wager you my gold crown a weaver's woolen bonnet I fr the whole eleven of you.” aid the cobbler 1 al- ark bilant sun a again s eye a with an . “I shall be the first t was as white as a hs moon in mid-day. and I heard body's teeth chatter. Now, the dr we have had at our meetings heret fore was vile, and no more fitted for a Christian throat than is the headsma ax: but. if you ever tasted better than this, tell me w heeshead of i The headsman having filled horns, the lesder the n above his head rd =a give the toast of the No, no,” proclaimed arch. “I want to drink this TN give you a toast. May there come a time wh a Scotehman afraid to risk his head for what thinks is right.” And this toast they drank together. ne he