Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Vol. CXXIII CHAPTER Tf. THE SORCERESS. T was very plain to all Naseby village that Cromwell’s victory in Parliament for the reorganization of the army upon what he called the new model was not yet in force. Behind the Sign of the Three Blue Angels the troopers of his personal command were making free with the ale, perhaps realizing that on the morrow such carnal indulgences as drinking, swearing, and secular singing would be out of order. Yet even in their cups the deeper spirit of my comrades in arms was manifest. From within the tavern roared a great voice, the personality behind which I recognized with a chuckle. It was Hobgoblin jack, for a wager! Another voice, vainly trying to get in a word of counter-argument, was undoubt- edly that of Eli Okey, who this day was made a sergeant and was doubtless paying the shot for the last time and in honor of his promotion from the ranks. “Ye reason not half so strong as ye roar!’’ Okey was expostulating. “ ’Tis thy 1 Arcosy HE ARG SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1920 OSY No. ! Stephen Chalmers Auther of “‘ The Bronze Helmet,”’ ete. tempestuous voice frights a man to agree for peace’ sake. But answer me _ this: Why, if the Lord be all-powerful—why, I axes, do He permit the devil to continue in evil works?” “Why? Why!” roared Hobgoblin, and- I could almost see, as I could hear, the way he banged his pewter pot on the board. ‘Why do the Lord send thunder and lght- ning and tempest and earthquake and plague and fire? Else we should not love comfort, ease from aches, and the good sun- shine! Why send boils and sickness and death? Else how should we love blessed life? ‘Why permit the devil to exist, you axes? Okey, th’ art a bullock with an ass’s bray—sergeant though ye be—and I say it now, for without that door I may not, having respect to thy new rank. Thy speech answers itself. ‘“°Tis the Devil—whose powers are lim- ited by Heaven’s permission—makes thy question. Tis Heaven moves my tongue to make answer. Evil exists—is permitted to exist—only that good may spring from it, and in beauteous contrast to sane men’s COmiclbooks Cc (©