The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-08-30
PICKENS, S. G, THURSDAY, AUGUST 80, SS3 VOI XII

'c" HHIdS tufthcr Gown, turned IL.
Trough the narrowgntcway Of tho Angel
nto the dim deserted inuyard. From !,
ln2lo half-opcn doorway came n STREAM.
Il light. A figure issued forth in answc,
TO my summons.
Good evening, Mr.. Tom" said tbi,
person, approaching and patting tn,
mares neck.
"Hallo, Jack is that you," said T, as
drew the rrins through my fingers and
tllGhtcd, recognizing, as [ did so, Mr.
Jack l'l0ver, to whom was intrusted tn,
important duty of carrying the Queens
ma'l-baSs from Worthington to tho roil
way town. "You'il have 70 wrap III
warm Tonight"
"Ay bitter cold, that it is" answered
Jack, undolng the Traces. "But, law
bless mo ! I'm used to it. If only I'd
cot as good thing between my shaft
Is you have here. I'd think nothing of
cvcntcen-mlle drive, do assure YOU
,ir." '
"Your old pony isn't to be dcspiscd
either" said +, holding up tho shat
while Jack drew the mare out. GA ncv
pair of foiclcSs and sound below
would improve him, but except f.,
chat"
"Wcll he isn't quite Newmarket O,
Doncastcr, / do confess" said Jack
cading the marc in through the opc,
doorway and putting her in vacan
stall. "But he's good enough for his
work. l start carly and we take it easy
You won't have the collar of, sir:"
"No," | said. 'I am off again in al
hour orsO.
We crossed the yard, passed through
I swing door and found ourselves in thu
warm cheerful bar.
There was only y one other occupant
kho bar, stranger to me. He WAS
man apparently vcrging on forty, but
'oncd up i'll shabby great coat ant
with his hat so slouchcd over his eve.
that his features were hard to be dis
c"rncd. TO the salutation which / gave
him on entering, he made no reply, bu'
with arms folded, gazed iixcdly on tn,
floor.
Jack soon said he mltst leave and as
he went out the man with the slouchcd ha,
looked up, and, addressing nobody il
particular. inquired in harsh, rough
voice, with queer burr in it.
"N'hat time does the post 60 oui
here o.
cat eight o'clocl1," replied the bar.
maid, looking ut her mtcrrogator will
no peculiar favor. "That is the drive,
of the mail-cart who has just left"
$50 I Judged" replied the man
rising, and putting some money q
the table. "Is that right Good night
to you."
And with heavy, slouching gait, he
strobe to the door and was gone.
After tea i'll the half-lit coifce-room and
a pipe in the bar, with the barmaid to
tell me the gossip. L started ut about
half-past eight, called at the saddlcr's,
put my saddle under tho scat, and set
ont for home. AS we passed the black
smiths forge Mt the end of the street
there was pony being shoG, and Mr..
Jack Plovcr, in big grcat-coat, was
looking on at t. @ process.
"Cast n shoe, Mr. Tom, and had to
turn back" he called out as I passed
by.
Out into the country, looking donbly
black and dismal by contrast with the
cheerful light and warmth that we were
leaving behind; with the slanting rain
IRVING full in ones face, so that it dnz-
llcd the sight; with gray piles of cloud
hurrying overhead; with veil of mist
md darkness blending hurdle and hedge.
row, field and tree, into vague, indis-
tnct, gray mass. The road is muddy,
and, albeit the high-rond, in bad condi-
ton; but the little mare has got her
hcad homeward, and pulls her hard
.st toward warm stable and wcll-stockcd
rack and the society of heavy Dobbin and
brethren. Not that my little hunter is
to be permitted to phil herself to pieces
Trough ruts and over ill-laid stones, fer
here is Saturday in prospect, and, with
shc country in this state we shall want
the very last ounce. Now we are climb
ing the hill, and, anon, we are on the
top, and the rain and the wind beat
Iavagcly upon us and the prospect ON
ithcr hand is drcary enough. Now
steadily down the shedding ground.
with n tight rein and a careful lookout
Tor loose stones; for this is deep de.
scent, and one false step may take TWEEN.
ty pounds off the little mares value
The banks are high, ut all events, Sc
there is some shelter, and down at tn,
bottom there are trees on either hand.
1T was pitch dark in TIC hollow, but
let the mare out ut the bottom Of the hil
and gave her her head. Suddenly, will
II loud snort, she swcrvcd violently, ral
hcwhccl of the trap on to q head of way
SIDE stones, pnt there to mend the road
and III second we were over.
| went out, of course, and the driving
box, the saddle, and tho debris Of mis-
ccllancous articles after me. I landed
partly on my shoulder, partly on my
head and was mp again in moment, al
though bit dnzad. The moment
gained my feet was seized by the col
lar, and harsh voice cxclnimcd-nOt tC
me. but to someone else:
"Hold his head down-hoId his hca,
down."
a dusky form sprang to the mare
head and kept her froia attempting t.
rise. A third form knclt On the trap.
"By jovc!" exclaimed this last fclloy
in an angry tone, we've got the wron!
mani"
"What ?" said he who had hold of m,
collar. "Do you mean to say it ism
| the"
With vollcy of oaths, the other re
piled in the negative. The man who ha'
! hold of me released me and joined Tie
other. They whispered together for !
| few seconds. Then tho first one came