Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 134: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

640 sentry was standing with his musket grounded just @n the other side of the bars, and that a pair of eyes were on me in a way that made me feel conscious of being studied. Looking up sharply, I recognized Hob- goblin as the new sentry on the death- watch. My heart gave a great leap of joy at sight of his rugged, homely face, which was now wrought into lines of deep pon- dering. “* Eh, lad,” said he, speaking as casually as if we were not meeting under unusual circumstances, “’tis the devil takes the trick this deal. But the game is not done yet. I would say mayhap the Lord hath still an ace in hand, but the simile savors somewhat of the unfitting. “But,” he went on, dropping his voice after a glance up and down the prison al- ley, ‘“‘ first of all, tell me what hath led to this, lad?”’ “Bunyan,” I said, ‘“‘do not ask me. I ha’ pondered the whole matter, which hangs on me heavier than your own great burden, and I cannot speak—even to you.” “Then thou wilt hang heavy thyself!” said Bunyan. ‘Tt would even seem so, Jack.”’ Hobgoblin shouldered his musket and took a few strides about the alley. Pres- ently he halted again before the cell, grounded his musket with a bang, and gave a mighty snort. He glared at me; but then his eyes fell on my clothing, which he had not closely observed in that dim lan- tern-light until now. “Eh?” he exclaimed. ‘“ Methinks I ha’ - geen that dress before!” I said nothing. It might be, if he identi- fied my clothing as that which he had seen ‘“‘ Richard Eveleigh ” wearing in the gar- den, he would presently put two and two together and arrive at the truth, especially as he had probably already heard that I was under suspicion of having had dealings with the person of the king. And if he did arrive at the main fact of the whole matter? A hope for my personal safety involuntarily sprang into being, only to be dashed immediately. Any such sup- position of the actual facts that Bunyan might form on the évidence of my dress ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, and his own piecemeal knowledge could only prove my offense the more unpardon- able from a military point of view. “Ha!” cried Bunyan, careful, however, to keep his pitch to-a vocal whisper. ‘“ So thou’st been adventuring on thine own ac- count, and ha’ suffered for it? That be like to the dress Master Weakspine wore, for a wager! Nay, I wager not; I declare! “But how comes it, Master Sly?” he went on. ‘“ Did ye try odds with Master Weakspine and his pistol. Did ye find him a king’s man, or— ‘* Q-o-ooh!”’ His face became stamped with stupefied amazement, and his mouth shaped itself into a capital O. He smote his head with his left hand, muttered: “ Dolt!” and fell to pacing again. But in a few moments he was back once more, plying me with questions; to all of which I replied ‘‘ no ” when he failed to hit the mark, and said nothing when he did. As my failure to deny was as good as any affirmative, I presently refused to answer at all. If Bunyan was to know the truth he must arrive at it himself. Presently, to my wonder, Bunyan said, after a thoughtful period: “Eh, but y’ are a wiser fool than I thought. (Nay, I take back that word ‘fool’; ’tis inviting of hell-fire.) But ye do well to keep still, Master Sly.” He came nearer the bars, and whispayed quickly: “For mark ye this, boy: there was pur- pose in choosing me relief guard. “T'was thought, our acquaintance being common knowledge, that ye would speak free with me. But ye do well, if any good end is to be served, to keep thy tongue atween thy teeth; for no doubt ”—and here again he glanced up and down the alley — “ some other, unbeknown to me, is posted to over- hear.” “ Master Slythey, for instance,” I sug- gested. ‘ Art sure he is not at thine elbow, John?” Bunyan stared at me, then burst out an- grily: “Not to my knowledge! ye speak on't, I ha’ no doubt the choosing of me was his— 8 A J DOO eS) Though now