Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-10-19

MY father WAS q Worcestershire man
He stood six feet three in his stockings, and
measured thirty six inches acros. sAe chest
tie could double mp a half-crOwn between
his finger and thumb, and WAS as brave as &
lion. So, many a time and oft, when any
one talked Of the dangers o. the road. he
would sci his great teeth together, shake
his head and say that he should like to see
the man that could ROB hin on the highway !;
and, az | said before, he did see him, and it
was Tom Rocket.
My father was lawyer, and was at the
time have mentioned, engaged in a great
1.-THE cause that was to be tried at Warwick
Spring Assizes SO, shortly before Christ
mas, he had to go over to look up the evil
dence. There was no cross-eountry coach,
80 he rode and being, az l have said, a
brave man, he rode alone. He transacted
his business and ray poor mother being
i'll, and not liking TO leaye her alone longer
than he could help, he set ont to ride home
again about haf-past nine o'clock that
same evening. Ii was as beautiful a win
fers night as ever you were out in. His
nag was first rate hunter docile as dog
and fit to carry even his weight over, or
past anything He had a brace Of excel
lent pistols in his holsters, and he logged
along, humming merry time, neither
/ thinking nor caring for any robber under
! the sun All OF a sudden it struck him that
the pretty barInaid of an inn just out of
I Warwick town, where he had stopped to
/ have girth that he had broken patched to-
gether, had been very busy with those self
same pistols and suspeeting that she might
4 have been tampering with them he drew
1 the charges and reloaded them carefully.
/ Tnis done, he logged on again as before.
/ He had ridden about len miles, when he
came to a wooden bridge that there was in
/ those days over the Avon. Just beyond it
rose a stiffish HILL at the top Of which was
! a sudden bend in the road. Just as my
father fesched this turn, a masked horse
man suddenly wheeled round upon him, and
T babe him Stand and deliVer :" 1t was
Tom Rocket In a second my fathers pis-
/ tolls were out, cooked, and snapped within a
yard of the highwaymans chest but, one
! after the other they missed fire The pref
4 ty barmaid~a special faVorite Of TOMS
( was too sharp to rely upon the old dodge Of
drawing the balls, or damping the charge
! she thrust a pin into each touch hole, and
then broke it short off.
"Any more" Tom inquired, as eoolly as
/ you please, when my fathers second pistol
flashed in the pan.
Eyes shouted my father in flay, "ooe
for your mob" And selling the weapon last
used by the muzze he hurled it with all his
might and main al Rockets head. Tom
ducked, the pistol flew over the hedge, and
nv father, thrown out of balance by his
5xertion, lost his seat and fell heavily on the
grass by the road side. In Less time than il
takes to say so, Tom dismounted, seized my
| father by the collar, and presenting a pistol
within an inch Of his face az he lay, babe
him be quiet, or it would be the worse for
him.
s.Tou've given me deal of trouble" said
Tom, $50 just hand over your purse without
any more ado, or by c., I'll send bullet
through your skull--just there;" and he laid
the cold muzzle of his pistol on my father 8
forehead Just between his eyes.
1t is bad enough to have to look down the
barrel of loaded firearms upon full cock, with
highwayman's finger upon the trigger
but to have the cold mHzzle pressed slowly
upon your head-ugh 1T makes me creep
to think OF it.
My father made virtue of necessity, and
quietly gave up his purse.
Much good may it do you he said for
there's only three-and- sixpence in it"
''Now for your pooket-book, . said Tom,
not needing him.
Pocket book inquired my father, turn
ing little pale
AYE, pocket book Tom repeated; "a
thick black one il is in the left-hand peck
ct of your riding coat"
g Here it is, said my father, "you know
so much about it that perhaps you can tell
what It's contents are worth ~
"pll see" Tom replied, quietly taking
out and unfolding half dozen legal-looking
documents
They are law papers-not worth rush
to you OF any one else, said my father.
'Then, Tom replied, g 1 may tear them
up, and he made as though he wonld do 80.
Hold ! on your life" my father shouted,
struggling hard, but in vain to rise
ooh! they are worth something then, .
said Tom, with grin.
II would take deal of troubly to make
them out again, my father replied aulkily,
-" that's all.
"How much trouble?" Tom inquired with
meaning look.
We'll, my father answered, 81 suppose
| know what you are driving at. Hand me
them b9Qk and let me go, and l promise to
send youa hundred pounds when and where
you please"
you knew very well that these papers are
worth moro than hundred, " said Tom
"A hundred and fifty then, said my faith
er."
go on, said Tom
81 tell You what it is, you scoundrel, cried
my father; ':T'l stake five hundred against
them if you'll lose your hold and fight me
fairly for it.
Tom only ohuckled,
why, what ninny you must take me
for" he said: .'why should l bother myself
fighting for what | can get without :"
your cur, that's what you are, my
father shouted in fury.
Don't be Cross" said Tom. s'It don't be-
come you to look red in the face Now at
tend to me, he continued in an altered tone;
do you see that bridge? Well there is a
heap of stones in the centre, isn't there !
Very good 1t you place five hundred
guineas in gold in a bag amongst those stones
at twelve o'clock at night this day week, you
shah find your pocket book and all its CON
tents in the same place two hours after
wards
''How am l 10 know that you will keep
your word = my father replied, little soft
ened by the hope of regai9ing, even at SO
! heavy a price, the papers that We're invalua
| bic TO him.
''rm Tom Rocket said the robber, Sc
curing the pocket book about his person,
/ ''and what mean | say; and what say
/ stick TO. Now get up and mind;" he added,
/ as my father sprang to his feet, ''my pistols
! don't miss fire
Il shall live to see Won hanCed y nv fl-
Their muttered, adjusting his disordered
dress.
shall help You. 10 catch your horse -