San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-14


smooth mile, through thick, dark woods
of hickory and oak. l felt a little anX-
ious about this mile of gloom ahead. 1t
was not just the road one would choose to
ride on dark night, with S20,0 600 in
notes and bonds. tapped up the mare,
and we dashed down the slope and into
the woods black shade. She was brave
horse as ever trod or tramped, that fiery
roam mare, Skylark. l let the rein hang
loose. She doubled her neck, sprang out,
and galloped fierce as fire. kept keen
lookout, though might have saved my
pains. 1t was dark as the pit in that
close grown tunnel of shade. Once out of
this gloomy hollow, should not fear.
There were only two miles of the open
high road beyond, with houses scattered
every little way. We tramped along
through the hollow; l kept the mare
up to her best. The long level slipped
| behind The woods began to thin
and tighten little. A little fur
Their on we struck slight ascent-the
foot of our Hilbury hills. A minute
more and we should be clear of the woods,
and safe. felt the ground steepen under
us. Skylack slackened her pace. The
road was steep before us; | had ridden
her hard, up hill and down. felt safe
uOH, ulllH W uISt DIG
labored up the ascent, breathing quick
| and hard.
A bright glare flashed in my eyes A
crash in the bushes-the mare SHE'D and
plunged A mans form, dimly seen, was
hanging by her bits. struck my heels
in her TANKS, drew my pistol-fired. The
mare was plunging wildly; / was blind
with the glare in my eyes-I missed. l
felt myself grasped from behind drawn
heavily backward felt the mare going
from under me. l kicked at her furiOusly
flung the pistol at her head as fell.
She snorted and plunged made one great,
frightened leap high in the air, flung the
| fellow that held her heavily into the fence,
| and shot away up the hill.
AS fell the light glanced one side from
my face and showed me the man who
held me full and plain. Tall and light
made, with small, white hands, pale
face, black, silky side beard and mus
tache, keen gray eyes, thin lips and per-
feet teeth, long hair, glossy and jet
black. He was dressed in fine black cloth,
linen spotless and unruffled, and high
silk hat. / saw the light glance from his
polished boots. from a diamond ring on
his hand He had cigar in his mouth.
There was no passion or excitement i'll his
face He looked rs cool, as fearless, as
devilish as ever / hope to see the face OF
man, as he dragged me back and threw
me on the ground-held me down by the
throat.
sJiberr' he called. "Quick, will your
did not fight. The mare was off with
the money. knew there were two others
| at hand. was unarmed. l knew they
could quiet me quickly enough. l knew
that that cold, white, cruel face above ME
would kill me without remorse If it came
to need. / thought of Nell, and lay still.
The man called Jiber came crashing out
with his dark lantern in his hand. He
| wore a slouched black hat was roughly
dressed-altogether a commOner, rOugher
man than the other, with cunning,
| sneaking face written all over III stray
Cling characters with his proper name Of
thief He lighted an open lantern and
set it on a stone. The third robber crawled
up out of the bushes and stones where
the mare had thrown him. The others
| called him Chisel. He wore cap and q
suit of dark gray coarse cloth. did not
see his face. He plainly studied to hide
| it-kept it in the shadow or turned away.
He seemed younger than either of the
| others-not stout, but 1.-the and quick as
cat.
1t was only q minutes time from the
first flash till was lying quiet on my
back in the road, with that white faced,
| jeweled devil holding me down, and the
others kneeling by U.S. They called him
the parson. They called the rough one,
with the brutal face and slouched hat,
Jiber, and the other Chisel, as l said.
''Chisel," he said-his voice was clear
and calm-"Chisel, hold the lantern.
Jiber, cock your pistol. Put it to his
! head. Are you ready?'
Were ready, Parson.n
1t was Jiber who spoke. The other
held the lantern between my face and his.
Jiber cooked his pistol examined the cap,
and put the muZZle close to my head. /
felt the cold iron touch my skull. A
strong, convulsive shiver went through
| me, shook me from head to foot. | knew
there was little danger-that it was not
to their interest to peril their precious
| necks. But saw the ruffian's villainOus
| face, and l knew that single twitCh of
the brutal fellows hand was all that
stood between me and the awful mys-
terry beyond. In broad day, when there
is no present danger, when life swells
strong in pulse and limb, when the
pale horse gallops far off beyond the sun
| set hills of hope, take as calm view of
that certain but shadowy contamination
| as the rest, l suppose. But when the
grisly phantom comes quite close-when
you feel his terrible numbing touch and
his blasting breath on your cheek-well,
mot all the preaching since Adam has
made death aught but death"
eff he makes any trouble, Jiber," the