The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-06-10

lives" was the answer, sin tn
next box to ours stands one o
the grandest animals you ever saw
same color, same size, or about it
worth little fortune. And set o
silver-mounted harness hanging up b,
himr'
:. Siiv.T-mounted?
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 tC
it. Afterwards they sat over the fire
with pipes and grog, and retired to theil
room about eleven o'clock
The room, double-bedded one, wa.
not exactly on the ground floor. but il
was not much higher. A few steps lead
ing off from the staircase conducted &c
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 peculiar dread.
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. "a child might lump
it. Shut down the window, Jim, and
let's have pipe. Hang that moon again!
thought you were wrong in foretelling
it would be a dark nights
Shutting the window as softly as he
opened it, Jim and his friend, each tax
ing a 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. knew rain was coming"
''Man alive, don't make that row.
retorted the other. ave don't want the
house woke upr'
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
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 a 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
a pelt it is!' looking up at the pouring
rain. Should say this was the clearing
,hower.''
what II the job bring us in, Jimpn
"Twenty pounds, clear, Ireckon. And
IN old hack thrown in to complete the
/. On the heath now, they began laugh
ng over the past nights adventure there.
Is related to them by the landlord. They
lad no fear of the highwaymen them.
selves, not they. such gentry do not prey
Ipon one another.
Hang it, Jim! CAM you drive faster?n
'ried Wade, suddenly.
Jim made no answer. He was becin-
ling to feel somewhat puzzled, for. un-
ess he was greatly mistaken, the beau
iful horse betrayed unmistakable SIGNS
II giving in. Their own wretched animal
ould do as well as this. Presently it
topped; stopped dead from exhaustion
p" What the deuce is the matter with
limr demanded Wade
+" Be shot if l know. He seems dead
.eat It'ss dark one can see nothing.
Wish that moon would come out!-the
ain has ceased"
well, this is pretty gor' exclaimed
he other as the horse, in spite of whip
nd word refused to move. Brought
p before ones half beyond danger, With
stolen horse! You must have been
mistaken in the worth of the animal.
Inn, never knew you mistake one be-
ore.n T;
1t beats me hollow" returned Jim.
Is crestfallen tone betraying some alarm.
AS to being mistaken in him know / !
ever was; there. Something extraor-
lDarV mlIst all tho boro, >,