The Van Buren press., 1877-12-25
Vol. 15.---No. SO.

| ~ buG ulu nOt iAAv W Iuu nuOUt UeDRX
strangers, asking them 70 change - ;
bill, especially a. no one seemed abIs %
do so. Sue, therefore. turned her hosDs's
head once moro toward home. Scarcsly
had she passed the outskirts Of the town,
whom she was overtaken by the strange
who had spoken to her In the last Store
and who, at first. thought he could
change her bill He was mounted npoa
4 ne-looking bay horse, and saluted her
rcsr respectfully rs he came alongside"
Did you get your bill changed n y
asked.
mo; small bills seemed scarce" NE
replied.
Do yon live near heae r.
"About five miles Of"
"Quite rids.'
"Oh, W don't mind ave- miles n ~
country"
+" You are an excellent rider"
~ have ridden, since wss six years
DID," she said; +" but my sister Ellen 10
better rider than am."
You are generous to admit II" said
the stranger.
"Why II il only the TRUTH" shc m.
swered frankly.
After they had passed over about two
miles, they came to very lonely piece
Of road, quite removed from any dwell
ing houses. Still, as the stranger ap.
peared SO gentlemanly, and had address-
cd her so politely. she had not the lesst
suspicion Of any evil intention ON his
part.
Presently, he said suddenly, ri viii
thank you for that BILL"
Whist r. said she, half smiling.
Please to give me that bill"
| "What do you mean p asked Maude.
"Just what say" he replied. sad.
denly.
ii shall do no such thing she an
svered, firmly.
II AIN sorry TO draw = pistol oa .
lady" he continued. suiting tue sctien 10
the word, but must have that hundred
dollar bill at once"
| "Do you mean to rob me ?"
II must have the money!"
1t was with difficulty she could believe
the man was In earnest; but when be now
cooked his pistol and held il toward her
with enc hand, while he extended the
other for the bill, aud was forced to yisld
to the necessity OF the situation. She
was brave hearted girl, and, even now.
she did not turn paleor trcmble In the
least; but she saw she could not help
herself, and SO made the best Of L.
| Just ~ she held out the bill to him,
suddea puff Of wind blew Il into the road
and carried II several yards from then.
The stranger alighted to get It, ard. ~
quick % thought Maude estruck her
horse hard blow. to get out Of the rob-
ber' power. The sorrel mare was .
spirited little creature, and sprang into
smart gallop at once; while the stsan.
gers horse that had been standing b..
side her, also started or at full speed II
her company,
Bang! went the robbers pistol afl4s
them, having only the effect to increase
the speed Of the flying horses, both Of
which were on the dead run. Maude did
not care how fast she rode, ~ the serrcl
was easy - cradle At any speed, and In
ten minutes she dashed into her fathers
yard, followed by the ridcrlcsss horse,
Her story was soon told, aud her tath-
or was, with difficulty, prevented from
starting after the robber with his pistol
and rifle, but lie knew the scoundrel natu.
rally take at once to the woods, whore he
could not follow him.
Well, we've got his horse. 1t any
rate" said the farmer. and be In worth
more than hundred dollars"
.Hallo, master!' said the man John,
who hadsbeen taking the saddle.bags from
the strange horse.
"What Is It. Johnf,'
- These bags 10 full Of something.
Is should think so" said the farmer, -
he unstrapped the leather bags
They were found to contain seas
counterfeit plates, quantity Of countee.
felt money. IN various bills, and, also, .
little over fifteen hundred dollars Ia good
money.
:. Huszav' cried the farmer.
"What is it, father ?" said Mauds.
"Why. your trip to Easton hes prov.
cd profitable one, 1t all events Here's
over fifteen hundred dollars In good
money"
"Ah! but 1t will be claimed BY the
owner"
"Do you think counterfeiter viii daSs
to come for the tools that would convict
him ITO say nothing Of highway reb-
berry"
81 didn't think Of that.
That evening Farmer Henderson sent
John over to young Masters with me-.
sage to call around and zee him, to which
Harry responded instantly.
"Mr. Masters" said the farmer, % be
came into the large old fashioned sitting.
room, "you remember what you asksd
of me, this afternoon -
ayes, sir"
swell, sir, sivo my consent. Msuds
has just usnished hor own marriage pOr-
ton. Take her, my boy, and DO happy.
A very laxative lady, VII bad weasisd
the temper Of Mr.. Abernethy. who Vas
at all times impatient Of gable, was told
by him, that the first moment be could
get chance Of speaking, to be good
enough to put out her tongue. Nov.
pray, madame said he playfully. keep
il out The hint was TAKEN He rarely