The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-05-23

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the sudden and dangerous illness of an
old friend of the squire's. The man
who brought the letter went on with
another to more distant nelghbor.
" | shall go at once" said the squire
to Emma and her mother. al must
see him again in life"
"Then Rogers will attend you ? /"
said the widow, timidly.
No, latymer Coran was no court pop
Inlay, who could not take care of him
self he was not afraid of the dark
towards we're unknown in his young
days
Squire Coran went to his room to
prepare for his journey. Boosting
never strengthens ones own courage,
and he took great care that his pistol
was in good order At another time,
notwithstanding the reality of the
danger, he would not have taken the
pistol but now he loaded it with
deadly precision, and laid it carefully
in his great coat pocket.
Emma ran to call her brother to say
good-by, but she found his door locked,
and could get no answer
Let him alone" said her grand
father" let him alone example is
better than rrecept," and SO he rode
away.
There was only cloudy moon, but
the stout.hearted traveller knew his road,
and was as little likely to miss his way
on the moor as is a street Arab to lose
himselfin London. His thoughts went
before him to his dying friend, and his
indignation with Hugh slowly faded
from his mind, when, just as a cloud
obscured the moon, he heard the snort
Of aspurred horse, shadow fell on his
path, hand suddenly caught his
bride, and pistol was pointed at his
head.
Your money or your life !"
The words were spoken quickly, in
disguised but agitated voice. There
was just light enough to see the high
wayman was a slight built man, of no
apparent physical force, yet the squire
remembered his vain boast as he felt
how completely he was in the striplings
power. There vas moments silence,
The squirc's hand was in his great,coat
pocket. Did the robber think he was
getting his purse Did the squire know
he was searching for his pistol?
The highwayman spoke again in the
same strange voice, which seemed full
OF smothered passion or grief " have
heard you would never yield to single
man"
The squire's blood boiled at the i'm
piled taunt, but yet tho pistol was ter
ribly near his head and he te!t that in
such case neither strength nor cour.
age Can always win victory.
Nor would | yield to you," he said
he knew not what prompted him
not to you alone 4; but for that other
fellow looking over your shoulder.
The robber started shudderingly, and
turned, Swift as lightning the squire
aimed his own pistol, and fired.
For a moment tho moorland seemed
illumined out of the fendish bright
ness came a light, sharp, almost girlish
shrek. A second mora all was dark
and quiet, and the squire realized he
stood alone in the dim moonlight with a
dead man at bis feet.
A stern man was Latymer Coran of
Coran, and he was not to be brought to
a pause on his journey because he had
Glanced to slay a thief. Nor was it the
awe and horror of justice which blanoh.
cd and flushed his cheek as he rode on
No. his rigid justice argued that the
man deserved his death, only il was not
meet that such as he should have DO.
traycd an honorable gentleman to deceit.
For he krew that he had verified his
boast, and saved himself by lie!
That haunted him as he stood in the
grim chamber Of Wrottel Clockhouse,
and saw the last of his OLD friend, the
county magistrate. He dispatched no
one to the dead robber-time enough
for that when he returned in the morn
ing.
Then he took officers Of justice with
him, and they respecting his position
and the depression in which he seemed
plunged, walked quietly side by side, a
a little way behind his horse, At last
they reached the spot where the deadly
deed had taken place. To their aston
ishment, little group of people were
gathered about, and as they drew near
they heard a sound of lamentation, and
the squire saw his own livery servants,
one Of them holding the bride Of ri
derless horse. They turned startled,
white faces to him, as he rode up, and
were silent.
"What is the matter ?" he demand
ell imperiously.
och, he Gamma be dead +" the bonnie
ladlie !" sobbed an old Scotch groom,
Some one has shot Mr.. Hugh, said
two or three at once
at must have been duel" said
some one, for the young master has
his own pistol with him"
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