The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-05-20

worth little fortune. AND SET or
silver-mounted harness hanging up by
himr' ~' +"
+" SilUer-
Think so. Looks like it. We have
got rich chance, tell you, Wade"
Supper was announced in due time,
and the two hungry men did justice to
it. Afterwards they sat over the fire,
with pipes and grog, and retired to their
room about eleven O clock. b
The room, double-bedded one, was
not exactly on the ground floor, but it
was not much higher. A few steps lead
ing off from the staircase conducted to
it. The travellers had chosen it in pref
erence to one at first assigned them on
the second floor; one of them observing
that he liked to sleep near the ground in
case a fire broke out in the night, of
which he had a peculiar dread. .-ag
The first thing they did on entering the
chamber was to double-lock the door and
put the candle out; the second was to
softly open the window, to stretch their
necks out of it as far as they convenient
ly could, and to wish the moonlight was
changed"
Nothing of drop, that" observed
Wade, measuring with his eye the space
to the ground. ga child might jump
it. Shut down the window, Jim, and
let's have pipe. Hang that moon again!
| thought you were wrong in foretelling
it would be dark night"
Shutting the window as softly as he
opened it, Jim and his friend, each tax
ing short, well-worn pipe from his
pocket, sat down to smoke. From anoth-
er pocket came forth flask of some kind
of liquor. Thus they made themselves
comfortable, and seemed to forget all
about bed.
At any rate, neither of them attempted
to go to it. They sat on, and smoked,
and drank at the flask occasionally, and
whispered together in hushed tones At
last the clock struck two. One of them
rose, drew aside the window curtain and
looked out.
A suppressed shout of exultation broke
from him. ''Wade, Wade! the night has
changed. It's raining, and the moon is
gone. Iknew rain was coming
''Man alive, don't make that row."
retorted the other. "We don't want the
house woke upr' 0'.
Putting away their pipes and TASKS,
they opened the window with crafty
gentleness, and dropped down on the
ground outside it, one after the other.
The night was very dark, no light, or
glimmer of it, was to be seen anywhere.
Making their way round cautiously to
the coach-house and stables, Jim pro-
duced master key which undid the
locks. The stable door he undid was
the one that had the valuable horse in
it; and he was surprised to find what an
easy lock it was. Then, while the other
man kept watch he hastily and noise
leSsly attached the horse to their own
gig, using the harness he had admired
so greatly. The rain was dashing down
smartly, which tended to deaden other
sounds. When all was ready they eau
tiously led the horse and gig out of the
yard, and to distance beyond it, got in
and drove away at spanking pace.
So far they were well-satisfied with
their nights work, and congratulated
themselves on the valuable prize they
had captured in the horse and harness.
It's true the horse appeared to require
the whip pretty frequently, and jim,
who was driving, did not fail to admin
lister it.
Lazy beggar! he has stuffed himself
out with corn" cried he. "You shall
fast all this day, my gentleman, and that
will bring you into working order. What
pelt it is!'' looking up at the pouring
rain. "Should say this was the clearing
shower" ua
"What'll the job bring us in, Jim?"
Twenty pounds, clear, reckon. And
an old hack thrown in to complete the
bargain"
On the heath now, they began laugh
ing over the past nights adventure there,
as related to them by the landlord. They
had no fear of the highwaymen them
selves, not they, such gentry do not prey
upon one another.
"Hang it, Jim! can't you drive faster?"
cried Wade, suddenly.
Jim made no answer. He was begin
ming to feel somewhat puzzled, for, I'M
less he was greatly mistaken, the beau
tiful horse betrayed unmistakable signs
of giving in. Their own wretched animal
could do as we'll as this. Presently it
stopped; stopped dead from exhaustion.
What the deuce is the matter with
him?" demanded Wade.
g Be shot if l know. He seems dead
beat. ,lt'sso dark one can see nothing.
Wish that moon would come out,-the
rain has ceased" ...... i.'....,
"Well, this is pretty gor' exclaimed
the other as the horse, in spite of whip
and word, refused to move. "Broug ht
up before ones half beyond danger, with
a stolen horse! You must have been
mistaken in the worth of the animal,
Jim, never knew you mistake one be-
fore'' .gDitf4 -e7H j!f eHr JOS
g 1t beats me hollow" returned Jim,
his crestfallen tone betraying some alarm.
Gas to being mistaken in him know
never was; there. Something extraor-
binary must all the horse" t."
He jumped out of the gig and began
feeling the animal with his hands At
the same moment the coy moon burst
out from behind the clouds and shone
down in all her splendor. Jim felt the
horse, stared at it and stared again The
other one in the gig was also gazing Gu
riously. simultaneously a shout of dis
may, followed by an imprecation, burst
from both of them. They had stolen their
o1U7a horse. q b. f'.T. tt-
Some mutual recrimination ensued.
Wade accusing Jim of having made a
mistake and opened the wrong stable;
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