The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-10-20

His name was Hardy; hers, Sc
phronia. Her fathers name was Morris.
He was a rich, kind hearted gentleman,
who had a msnsion on the Alameda
AS the two passed the postofice cor
ner, "A pair of bleared eyes winked quietly,
and a couple of lips grinned sardonically.
They belonged to Tarantula Joe.
AS soon as the couple got under the
shadow of the wall of Notre Dame,
Hardy placed Sophronia's arm within
his own. She did not object. He enter
tanned her marveiously well. His
knowledge of the world was extensive,
aud his education good. She began to
think he was an angel in disguise.
At the east end of the bridge there
I stood a bill board. When the two
passed this, and were well on the bridge,
a shadowy form, scarcely perceptible in
the darkness, emerged from behind this
board and crept noiselessly after them.
This sneaking person carried a club in
! his hand. Stepping rapidly behind
Hardy, he raised his deadly weapon and
brought it down with a heavy blow on
the young mans head. There was a
dull, crashing thud, and Hardy sank
with groan. There was o slight con-
traction Of the muscles, gurgle, and all
| was quiet.
The girl heard the blow, and saw her
defender stretched at her feet. She was
instantly rendered powerless and speech
| less by sickening terror. Immediately
powerful and brutal hand closed upon
her throat, stopping her breath, Other
shadows emerged from the darkness, a
dozen strong hands seized her, and before
she had time to offer resistance that
would have been useless, a gag was
thrust into her mouth, half choking her.
So intently had the highwaymen been
engaged in rendering the girl helpless
and robbing her OF her jewelry, that
| they did not perceive Hardy stagger to
his feet. He was dazed and uncertain.
The blood poured down his face and
saturated his shirt. A glance at the
struggling forms brought him slowly to
| his senses.
"Has she any money!" demanded
gruff voice.
81 can't find any,
"Take those rings off her fingers.
How she struggles! Isn't that watchP
Snail on to it. Pull out those earrings
-quickW
Il can't-don't know how they are
| fastenedw
Tear 'em out, then-you; and hurry
up!"
At the moment when the robber
grasped the earring to pull it rudely
through the tender flesh, a heavy club
descended crashing upon his shoulder.
Hardy was awake. He had seized the |
club, which had dropped upon the
bridge, and was welding it with mer- |
ciless desperation that only the protec-
tiOn of so precious charge could have |
inspired. The robbers turned upon him |
five in number.
Quick as a cat, and before they could |
recover from the surprise of an attack |
by q man who, to all appearances, had |
been killed, he felled another with a
heavy blow upon the head. The re-
naming four rushed upon him before
he had time to raise the bludgeon again, |
overpowered him, and bore him down.
The club was wrenched from his grasp !
after desperate struggle, and laid with |
deadening blows and with terrible effect |
upon his face and breast.
One of the ruffians drew a knife to |
plunge it into Hardy's breast, but the |
young man struck it from his hand, |
seized it, and drove it into the throat of |
the nearest robber. This man fell with |
gurgling noise, straugling with blood. |
Hardy struck about him wildly with |
the knife, and the robbers sprang away |
to escape the cruel steel.
But soon strong blow with the |
clenched hand upon his arm caused his |
weapon to drop from his grasp. The |
two men closed. and determined strug- |
gle ensued for the possession of the |
knife. The others darted to seize it, |
when a kick in the face from Hardy's |
boot stretched one of them full length |
upon the bridge.
The contest on both sides was desper- |
ate. It was no longer robbery, but muir |
der. The girl attempted to render her |
brave companion some assistance, but |
she was brutally thrust against the rail
ing.
By dexterous kick Hardy succeeded |
in sending the knife flying off the bridge;
and Immediately thereafter, having
pushed his assailant against the outer
railing, suddenly picked him up and
thrust him headlong into the mud be-
meath. 1t was fall of fifteen or twenty
| feet.
The remaining robbers, evidently dis
| couraged at the determination and inn
mense strength of Hardy, and disguised
with an enterprise that had already cost
them so dear, were easily put to flight
by knife that Hardy whipped from mis-
pocket.
He was master of the field. A dead
body remained.
He quickly removed the gag from the
mouth of the almost fainting girl. He
restored to her what jewelry the robbers
had dropped. The blood covered his
! face.
"You are seriously hurt" she said, as
soon as she could recover her speech.
1T is nothing" he replied, wiping the
blood from his face.
Nevertheless, he walked unsteadily
as they proceeded, and at length was
compelled to stagger against fence,
and lean upon it for support. Every
noble and generous feeling in the girls
heart was aroused. There was no longer
any ceremony between them. She put
her hand caressingly on his face. Then
she took it away and looked at it by the
light of distant lamp. 1t was stained
! with blood Som he raOainad his