San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-23


"Then perhaps it may be twig,"
Isaac admitted, 'but lame he assuredly is.
May my only daughter never know hap
piness again If there is not something in
side the hoofr
make sharp about it, then"
But the Jew did not seem inclined to
make sharp. He moved as if cramped by
rheumatism in every limb, probably on
account of his late mishap, and then feebly
set 20 work, alternately scraping and
hammering at the horses hoof, all the
while loudly lamenting that he had
ruined good horse as we'll as breaking
his own bones in the service of the gentle
man.
IF you do not drive on at once shall
beat you to jelly" at last roared Hugo,
losing all patience; so, trembling sorely,
the Jew remounted the drivers seat. He
took another two minutes, however, to
get fairly settled in his place, and was still
fumbling with the reins when the passen-
gers became aware that the sledge was
surrounded by half a dozen men, who had
silently emerged from behind the giant
stems.
"Wai! Wal" shrieked the Jew, throw
ing down the reins. 1--WE shall be MUIR
ueTttt anu EODUcu. wal. wall
"Drive on, in Gods namer' roared
Hugo with stentorian voice, but the luck
less coachman, apparently paralyzed by
terror, could do nothing but rock his body
and moan, "Wai! Wain'
"Give us your money, good gentlemen,
and we shall do you no HARM said the
foremost CT the band, advancing to the
side of the sledge, while two others had
planted themselves in front of the horses,
and two others were busying themselves
in cutting through the ropes by which
Clara's trunk was secured behind the
sledge. eve are poor devils who are dy-
ing Of hunger and have no other way of
getting our bread"
Clara, trembling like an aspen leaf,
had now clutched hold of Hugo's arm.
II am frightened, she murmured into
his ear. '"Take care of me now-and al
ways"
81 WILL" he answered, very low.
"Give me your Money" now repeated
the foremost robber, addressing himself
more particularly to Hugo, and putting
out his hand as though to assist him in
unbuttoning his coat.
Hugo had grown rather pale, but did
not for a moment lose his presence of
mind. Clara's little hand was still clasp
ing his arm.
"My fine fellows" he said, addressing
the robbers in fluent Russian, 1--WE are in
your power, it seems, and resistance
would be foolish. 1t is your good luck
and our bad luck which has brought us
here today. The only one among
US who has any money IS this
young lady, and she will give it to you,
I am sure, if you will not modest her
further, and let us drive on quietly.
Permit me-" he said to Clara, gently dis
engaging his arm from her clinging grasp;
and to her stupefaction he now proceeded
to take the fur cap off her head. "Here
is the cap; you will find the money sewed
into the lining. You do not believe me2'
as the robber shook his head suspiciously
'See if do not speak the truth" and he
ripped up portion of the lining, disclos
ing the rainbow colored bank notes to the
amount of 700 roubles.
The man now eagerly grasped the cap,
and his companions bent over him ex
aiming the booty; the two men holding
the horses relaxed their grasp for a mo-
ment, afraid of coming too short in the
partage.
Hugo saw his opportunity, and quick
as lightning he had swung himself on to
the drivers seat, and snatched the reins
from the moaning Jew. One stroke of
the whip had caused the horses to plunge
violently, and then start off at a headlong
pace, which soon left the robbers far be-
hing, quarreling loudly over the contents
of Clara's fur cap.
Not for full ten minutes did Hugo re-
lax his speed. He urged on the beasts to
their utmost strength, lashing them I'M
mercifully till their sides were streaked
with bloody foam.
The four other occupants of the sledge
had been paralyzed at the rapidity of his
movement. The Jew did not attempt
either excuse or explanation, nor did he
try to regain hold of the reins; the red
nosed man sat staring open mouthed be-
fore him, having even forgotten to button
up his coat and the fur clad man was
shaking as though with fit of ague.
AS to Clara, stupefaction is far too
weak word to express her sensations.
Utterly terrified as she had been at sight
of the bandits, her humiliation had been
complete at Hugo's unexpected and mex
plicable treachery. To think that man,
who had all but acknowledged his love for
her only few hours previously, should
thus cruelty have sacrificed her at the
first danger, was incredible. On the part
of any man to act so toward a helpless
young girl would be vile, on his part it
was simply monstrous. The mariner who
in calm weather feels his trusty ship go
down without warning, or the man who
beholds faithful dog suddenly meta
morphosed into roaring lion, could not
ha 1rrrn hi Cd no,
with blanched face and wild, dilated eyes
cbo oa god rpsaaipo bafora bar uor boir