Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-04-21

Now, I'll put the money in place of
this wool. Don't fear. No one can hear
or ace us here. Your saddle is worn
thin; this will fit under it prime. I'll
fix it myself Let me see your arms
Il showed him my pistol, Colts make,
six barrels
"All charged?" he asked. I nodded
He examined it carefully, nipple and
trigger. You'll do, l guess" he said.
"Prent Broom" he asked seriously,
there's one word I want to say to you
It's one thing to be brave, and another to
be rash. When you turn off the pike to-
night, put Skylark into run, and give
her her head Don't stop for man or de-
vii, till you're safe home. If any one
tries to stop you, drive her at him and
fire. If anything serious happens, let the
mare go, and gi in She'll bring the
money to me if she can.
''Now, sit down and eat; I'll have the
mare round in FIVE minutes.
| mounted her at the door. Old Brame
whispered; ''Ta4e care, Prent; and re
member Nell"
Goodnight, SQUIRE" I called, and
started down the pike. 1t was mile to
the fork where our Hilbury road turns
north. Skylark is fiery beast; powerful
in breast and quarter, 1.-the of limb and
flank, long small head and ears, quick,
bright eyes, and very deer to run.
trotted her sharply down the pike, she
pulling hard Coming to the fork, we
turned it sharply. chirruped to her,
broke her up, and gave her her head
She shot away north like flight. [
just guided her, kept the bit in her
mouth, and let her run. Soon she set
tied down to a long, low, regular lope thai
was very easy riding, and dropped the
miles behind like swift gliding panora-
ma of night in the lone y hills. Up hill,
along the level, Down the long decline,
through the level meadows and pasture
lands, up again breezily, striding. strid-
ing-ever the same long, easy, bounding
lope.
There was Jason's place now, up on
slope of Kinnel Hill--seven miles more
to Nell at Sicklefeld l thought of her
watching for me, anxious enough, Knew.
I whistled to the mare, She leaped to
it gayly, and we whirled along, down the
long mile that skirts round Kinnel Hill
AID the Elder swamps, on again north
over Harmony Flats, till we struck the
bills again at Nine Mile Rock, on the
Joram road.
So we he'd on through the Brandou
Hills, keeping the long, low, flying lope.
Leving the hills, the road dips down
into Treaele Hollow, and runs a straight,
smooth mile, through thick. dark woots
of hickory and oak. I felt a little anx-
Gus about this mile of gloom ahead 1t
was not just the road one would choose to
ride on a dark night, with twenty thou
ped up the mare, and we dashed down
the slope and into the woods black
shade She was as brave horse as ever
trod or tramped, that fiery roam mare,
Skylark. | let the rein hang loose.
She doubled her neck, sprang out, and
galloped fierce as fire. l kept keen
lookout, though | might have saved my
pains. 1t was dark as the pit in that
close grown tunnel of shade Once off
of this gloomy hollow, should not fear.
There were only two miles of the open
high road beyond, with houses scattered
every little way. We tramped along
through the hollow kept the mare up
to her best. The long level slipped be
hind The woods began to thin and
Tighten little A little further on we
struck slight ascent-the foot of our
Hilbury hills. A minute more and we
should be ear Of the woods, and safe
l felt the ground steepen under us. Sky
lark slackeued her pace. The road was
steep before US; ! had ridden her hard,
up Hill and down. | felt safe now.
didn't care to urge her She labored up
the ascent, breathing quick and hard.
A bright glare flashed in my eyes A
crash in the bushes-the mare shied aud
plunged. A mans form, dimly seen,
was hanging by her bits. [ struck my
heels to her hanks, drew my pistol-fred.
The mare was plunging wildly; | was
blind with the glare in my eyes-I miss
ed. felt myself grasped from behind,
drawn heavily backward. | felt the mare
going from under me- | kicked at her
furiousiy-fung the pistol at her head as
[ fell. She sported and plunged, made
one great, frightened leap high in the
air, flung the fellow that held her heavily
into the fence, and shot away up the hill.
AS fell, the light glanced one side
from my face, and showed me the man
who held me, full and plain Tall and
light made, with small, white hands, pale
face, black, silky side beard and nous
tache, keen grey eyes. thin lips, and per-
feet teeth, long hair, glossy Jet black.
He was dressed in fine black cloth, linen
spotless and unrufled, and high silk hat.
l saw the light glance from his polished
boots. He had cigar in his mouth.
There was no passion or excitement in
his face He looked as cool, as fearless,
as devilsh as ever | hope to see the face
of man. as he dragged me back aud threw
me on the ground-held me down by the
throat.
"Jiberw he called Quick, will you.
l did not fight. The mare was off
with the money. knew there were other
two at hand. [ was unarmed [ knew