Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/214

 that come from big cities to swindle honest country folk. Yes, master, that’s the way he went, over there.”

The laborer seemed such an honest simple fellow that at once the nobleman told him how the stranger had swindled his wife.

“Oh, the rogue!” the laborer cried. “To think of his swindling such a fine lady, too! Master, I wish I could help you. I’d take that horse of yours and go after him myself if I could. But I can’t. I’m carrying a bird of great value to a gentleman who lives in the next down. I have the bird here under my hat and I daren’t leave it.”

The nobleman thought that as the laborer had seen the swindler he might be able to catch him. So he said:

“My good man, if I sat here and guarded your hat, would you be willing to mount my horse and follow that rascal?”

“Indeed I would, my lord, in a minute, for I can’t bear to think of that rogue swindling such a fine lady as your wife. But I must beg you to be very careful of this bird. Don’t put your hand under my hat or it might escape and then I should have to bear the loss of it.”

The nobleman promised to be most careful of the bird and, dismounting, he handed his bridle to the