The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-10-05

n
in and for the nation, and l would base
my currency on the whole material wealth
Eof De copntry, aud item k9 would have q
national, permaneht shd Nnifdfm circulat
ing medium. A dollar would be dollar
wherever you went. Discounts would be
unknown, bankers unnecessary, periodic
financial oolIapses and crisises, unheard of,
and spsculatora would have to work or
starve.n
"Idare Wy you are right, but we must
be moving " we win kesp Mr. Morris
waiting until his patience is strained. .
Squire Stanly rehabited himself, and was
soon ready for the rosd, Richard after q
hasty farewell and q parting kim from his
wife and children, yet out with him.
Richard Arbyght's mission to Silverville
on this occesion, was TO make the transfer
OF the prnl~rty and receive the cash there
TOR. lie was also to receive payments for,
and take M certain notes and mortgages
due the estate and himself, amounting in
all to about live Thousand dollars.
Silverville Mas reached about twelve
O'Clock, but Mr. Morris, the purchaser, had
not yet arrived, nor did he put in an ap-
pearance until three o'clock in the after
noon. He explained his absence by say
ing that he was detained by dinner party
gwen to an impecunious nephew Of his,
Who that day started for the West to make
has fortune. This delay forced Richard
Arbyght to remain in Silverville until
nearly dark.
Sllverville was even then an old and
somewhat dilapidated village of struggling
wooden buildings, thrown together promis-
cuously, without any apparent pretensions
to order or design. The principal part OF
the village was on the crest Of hill, which
gradually sloped on both sides for about a
mile, when the bottom Of the valley, or
valleys, was reached, and two other incip-
lent mountains doomed up beyond. Run
ming east and west, across these hills and
valleys, ran the principal street in Silver
vile. Running north from the village, ran
two main roads, about three quarters of a
mile apart, converging about two miles
beyond the town, becoming one highway
for mile or so, when they sgaiR diverg
ed
As the shades of sable night were rapid
ly settling down upon the village, Richard
Arbyght might be seen, mounted on a
stout farm horse, and moving briskly
along the more westerly Of the roads men
toned. About the same time another
horseman emerged from the shadow of the
village school house which stood on the
upper or eastern road, along which he
urged his horse at frightful rate He cast
two OF three rapid furtive, glances at Rich
ard Arbyght, but he was soon lost in the
thick timber that skirted the road ON which
Richard Arbyght was travelling towards
home, encountered deep forest half a
mile to the north Of the village through
which il ran for about a mile and a half,
or to the point where the two roads mem
toned, converged The mind Of Richard
Arbyght, as he journeyed homeward was
filled with loving thoughts Of his wife and
babes, and the future home and colossal
fortune he was to make for them in the
great West. But shade swept across his
handsome countenance as he thought Of
the twenty thousand dollars on his person
What if anything should happen t. The
idea frenZed and maddened him. He
clutched the cash with one hand, with the
other opened his holsters and examined
his pistols. 1t was now pitchy dark, and
Richard had already advanced far into the
forest. Just before the road emerged from
the wood, there WIS a small hill known to
the farmers rs the Summit, at the foot Of
which, on the village side, there was a
slight dip or depression in the road. As
Richard neared this spot he noticed, or
rather outlined, a horseman coming down
the hill at pretty rapid pace he could
also hear the horse blowing fearfully. His
first impression was that some poor neigh
Dor was sick, and that the horseman APP
preaching hun was going to Silverville for
aphysician. He had hardly time to form
a second opinion before they met, lust at
the foot Of the hill. The stranger did not
slacken his speed he came directly toward
Richard, who, to void q collision, turned
his horse head t. one side. In passing,
the stranger suddenly checked his steed,
caught the bride rein Of Richards horse,
and came to a sudden halt, at the same in
slant presenting an ugly looking pistol,
with the fearful words "Your money or
your life. Richard Arbyght was NO
coward, but this unexpected, sudden
attack took him completely by surprise
The robbcr thrust his pistol up to the face
Of AIS victim and repeated his command
by tins time Richard Arbyght was himself
again, and dashing the weapon at his as
sallant aside with his left hand, he, at the
same instant, with his right hand drew his
own and snapped it in the very teeth Of
the robber. But horrors it missed fire
But the bare act, its quickness and bold
ness Disconnected the robber, and he recoil-
ed upon his saddle, and before he recover
ed Richard drew his other pistol. But
horrors upon horrors that also missed
FIRE.
The robber now burst into loud and
forced laugh, and said, " Do you think
was fool enough to attack You, knowing
you to be armed Oh no, | was too old
for that. fixed them shooting irons
when your horse was in the stable at Sill
verville. Come, sir, you had better deliv-
er gracefully and handsomely"
" Curses on you do you think am
going to rob my wife and babes The
money AZ not mime, it is theirs only three
thousand dollars of it are mine you can
take that, but my wife's property cannot,
viii nos give you." EsAl1
why man, you are fool Twill have
1t and your life too, if you don't hand it
over in ten seconds"
Fiend, robber, murderer, incarnate
devil, | know you know take that, and
that, and Richard Arbyght leaned for
ward and dealt his assailant two powerful
blows in the face and head with the pistol
he held in his hand, then giving the rein
powerful jerk, he loosened il from his
grasp, and dashed away. But alas it did
not avail, for just then ball from the
robbers pistol struck him between the
shoulders, and passed clear through his
body The assassin's horse being much
faster than the farm steed, Richard
Arbyght was overtaken before he reached
the crest Of the hill Here fierce strug-
gle ensued. Richard Arbyght, buoyed up
with the thoughts Of his wife and children,
fought like tiger, or dying grizzly bear
In the struggle, both men were nnhorsed.
But the wounded man was fast sinking
no knau no oo.,lI NOD live -. 81. -