Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-01-09


and lonely spot before | received sum
mons to "stand and deliver" My hors
being very fresh, quite entered into hi
riders feelings, and had not the least in
tention of checking his speed, but con
tinued his journey; while behind h
who babe me- "stand," threatening t,
put bullet in mo if l did not draw
rein. This only made me urge my ami
NAL to greater speed; but my pursue
did his best to keep his word, for h,
fired, and the bullet just grazed my LEFT
arm, ut the same instant a hand wa
laid upon my horses bride 80 suddenly
as to throw him Oft his launches, ant
cause me speedy and ignominious dis
mount But be that As it may it seryec
ME good turn, as | was enabled, MOI
being at all hurt, to slip away into the
darkness and conceal myself in the plan
tatiOn.
Where is he?" inquired the horse
man riding up.
"Stunned, 1 s'pose, close by" was the
reply.
- The tiend take him for plaguey
horse dealer" rejoined the first speaker
as | fancy they searched for me. Al
last the same voice said: Here,
Stevens, I can't see him. Take this note
to Walters Of Garforth, and bring nc
back an answer sharp. Take my horse
that other brute might get you recog-
nized:'
" Besides" said the other, "the ami
and much to my regret.
1" | will wait for you at the corner of
Deadman's lane" said the first speaker,
as his companion mounted and rode on
! and he continued his search for me little
thinking l was creeping away from him
/ through the plantation, out Of which at
! length I emerged, and crossing some
fields regained the road, and had the
unspeakable qualification of seeing the
I horse l had ridden fastened to gate.
This, I suppose, had been done by
Stevens when he overlook him. / was
soon once more in the saddle, and away
we went az fast IS the horse could 60.
About three miles from here the road
branches of to the right; and as I came
! down the road towards the turning, |
perceived Stevens riding alongit. Quick
as thought threw myself Oh the horses
back, thinking it just possible he mis- ht
hear the galloping, turn around, and
try his hand as marksman; fortunately
he did not; and I arrived at my destina-
ton without further adventure To call
up the assistant, have the prescription
made up and attend to the horse were
, things speedily done, and ere long I was
again in the saddle.
Now | looked before, beside and be-
hind me, but all was peaceful. I neared
the plantation where had been stopped,
but no one barred my progress; so I
rode on, not quite treasured though, for
| had not forgotten my pursuer was to
wait at the corner of Deadman's lane,
and l did not know where that was
And now the open road, shining in the
clear moonlight, lay bright and unten-
anted before me. I could distinguish
marlborough house, and, nearer, the
lane up which, when coming with DR..
Seyton, we had seen horseman. Then
it struck me that as that horseman was
not the messenger dispatched for the
doctor, that functionary having arrived
, before us, it might have been the one
who had stopped ne, and that that was
Deadman's lane. There was 10 help for
it; must pass the spot; so feeling for
the pistol | had taken the precaution to
bring with me this time, I pressed the
horses side and urged him on. I was
not four or five yards from the lane
! when man started into the roadway
and stood directly in front OF me; his
figure was slight and his face concealed
by mask; but when he spoke I recog-
nized the voice that made me "stand
and deliver"
mot quite SO fast, young sir" said
he, as he perceived my intention to draw
on one side. "We don't part quite so
easily this time. I must have the medi-
cine"
"What medieine?" I asked.
ooh! none of that stuff for me. I
want that physic you have been sent for;
and that bottle must and will have. So
take your choice-that bottle and life,
orr produciDga pistol, this barrel and
death"
1t was serious moment: but my plan
was at once decided on; 50 putting my
hand in my breast, az if for the bottle, l
reined close up beside him, and as he
eagerly stretched forth his hand for the
expected prize, drew my pistol and
fred. l saw him stagger, and in few
moments after: as it seemed, I was at
the gate of marlborough house.
Once inside and safe, had no sooner
delivered the medicine to the servant, to
be taken up to DR.. Seyton than the state
Of tension to which my nerves mot of
the strongest) had been sitting, gave
way, and, but for some stimulant from.
the steward, should have tainted away.
However, | soon recovered sufficiently
to narrate my adventure to him, but he
only laughed at my attributing literal
meaning to the robbers demand for the
bottle, and suggested it light be slang
for murder; 50 l held my peace on that
head, feeling the force Of the lines:
man convinced against his will
Is OF the same opinion still.
The conversation with the steward
soon changed to the family, and
learned from him that Hon. Frederick
Wellester had half brother Ernest, a
very wild, dissipated person, who had
been favorite of the earl until his char
acter was found out. This Ernest used
to- live at Caultdale Place, one of the
earps seats, some Is or Is miles off; but
owing to heavy gambling debts, he was
compelled to break UP his establishment,
and only retained one servant, whom;
after time, he also discharged. This
servant MIR. Frederick had engaged.
"and," continued the steward the stew.
ard, "a very decent servant Stevens
was"
"stevens?' Iejaculated, very loudly,
I dare say, for man looked into the
apartment and inquired: "Did you call
sir?" l was struck dumb; thousand
ideas rushed through my brain. "No:
it was nothing" replied the steward;
and the man disappeared, but not before
1 recognized in him one of the men con-
cerned in my late adventure. Just at
this moment there was great disturb.
yance in the house; and, going out to in
quire the cause, I found DR.. Seyton
standing on the staircase inte1rogating
Stevens, the other domestics being