The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-07-19
AN UNLUCKY RAID.


tremor at their hearts when strange
feats in the shape of starlight rob.
berries were boasted of, and q
Knight of the Road" aspired to be
called a gentleman, the following In
cident occurred
One afternoon in early autumn
close upon sunset, a couple OF we'll
dressed men, driving a light gig IL
which was a poor jaded-looking
horse, stopped at wayside posting
inn, not a hundred miles from Bath
and requested accommodation FOL
the night. They were fashionably
attired, and spoke in condescendine
tones to the landlord and servants,
using a few words now and again Of
town slang, as young bucks of the
first water were proud to do in that
day.
Giving the horse and gig over to
the care of th ostler, they adjourned
to the public room and called fol
some light refreshments in the shape
of drink, ordering a supper to be
served later. The landlord himself
brought in the brandy and water.
What's this story about a great
highway robbery near here last
night, landlord ?" questioned one,
We heard Of it on the road coming
along. Is it true?
"Quite true, sir. All, gentlemen
it is dreadful thing-though clever,
| must say. Ny Lady Cantifere
with her two daughters was driving
home across the heath an hour or
two after,midnight, baving been to a
ball. when their carriage was stop
ped by four mounted horsemen
with cooked pistols. The old lady
screamed and tainted the young
ones screamed and kicked and the
gentlemen, those audacious robbers,
proceeded politely 10 rifle the ladies
of every ornament they wore.
'Scoundrelsl' interiected one Of
the guests.
More than that, your worships.
What should those bold blades do
but invite the damsels 10 tread a
measure with them 1t was a fine
night, as you may perhaps remem-
Der. sirs; the moonbeams shining
bright on the bare heath. Out of
the coach they handed them, and
footed ii in a minute dancing, it is
said, to perfection, as though they
were used to lead out the Kings own
daughters every night of their lives.
The young ladies' screams ended in
laughter the Baroness woke up
from her faint and abused them all,
robbers ard daughters together. o.,
they are bold, those gentlemen of
the highway p
The two gentlemen, listening to
this, had gone into bursts of laugh
ter. But what Of the men-serv-
ants ?-what We're they doing ?"
spluttered one.
"0ulv two were in attendance,
sirs, it seems; my lady's footman
in the dickey, and the position on
the horses and while two Of the
robbers were thus doing their dan
cling, the other two stood guard over
the men, each with his pistol cooked
and his hand on the trigger, ready
to fire at the least movement"
And the upshot ?"
The young ladies We're bowed in
60 the coach again, all with stately
and the robbers, after
wishing them very courteous good
night. rode off at a canter, with ev-
cry Jewel they had possessed, small
or large, costly or simple, and my
lady's purse into the bargain. They
may well boast that they lead merry
lives, those men Fine commotion
the news has caused round about
us to-day, as you may imagine, gen
tlemen Everybody's talking of it. "
The landlord, being called for
elsewhere, retired; the travellers
slipped at their glases, laughing
away, and conversing with one an
other in an under tone. Dusk came
on, and the elder and taller of the
two addressed his friend in a differ
ent tone.
about time to see after our
horse, isn't it, jim? It's dark
enough.
Il was Just going to-" answered
Jim. And draining his glass, he
went away TO the stable-yard.
Looking about him. with the air
OF a connoisseur, after watching his
horse eat up his oats, he made him
self acquainted with the arrange
ments of the stables. Some five or
six horses were in them. In the
box next to his own stod splendid
animal evidently valuable.
"A better steed nor your'n, sir y
cried the ostler from behind, in a
quiet voice and the gentleman
gave start, not thinking anybody
was near.
"Ay /; mine mas seen good service,
and he has been worked hard late
ly," answered the stranger, good -hu-
moredly. "A very fine animal this,
as you observe. And yet" stepping
back TO look critically at it, were
my horse in good condition itmight
not be much inferior to this. They
are not altogether unlike: about the
same height, and much the same in
color-brown."
With the last words, the stranger
went back TO the house, whistling.
The ostler peered after him through
the dusk while he made his com
ments.
"You nave COS cheek. master.
whoever you may be; and an i'm
pudent cheek il is. Going and com-
pairing of the two hosses ike that
this fifty guinea beautiful animal,
and that there wFetched old hack
o therin What next? | wonder
who they be, when they he at home?"
And, with that he locked the sta
ble door.
We'll, cried The elder Traveller
when the other one returned. ANY
chance?"
Never had better chance in all
our lives" was the answer. In the
next box to ours stands one of the
grandest animals YOU ever saw
same color same size, or about it