The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-14


said my father was dying"
There were tears in her voice, but it
was too dark to see whether they
dimmed her eyes.
'It's too badr' said Griggs; "but 1
couldn't let Digby go on any account;
because, you see, if Mrs. Griggs should
be took, she'd die afore we could git DR..
Lumston here on foot. You see, when
she has these spells she's awful Hello!
Who's coming now!''
A close carriage drawn by two dark
horses had come up and halted by the
side of the overturned coach. 1t was
just light enough to show me that there
were two men in the carriage, and that
they wore caps with the visors we'll
down and were muffied we'll about the
throat; but it was a chilly, raw evening,
and one needed to be muffied.
whats the difficulty?" asked one of
the men, in a hoarse voice.
"Stage upset." said the landlord;
''axle-tree broke, and every thing went
to thunder"
''Well, you'll get your house filled to-
night, if you're the landlord of the
place back yonder," said the stranger.
ANY gentleman here that would like
to go on to Raybury? We would take
one down."
Istepped quickly forward and said
should be greatly indebted if they
would give me a seat. And then l in
troduced myself-Henry Marsh.
"And here's young woman as is 60
| ing, too" said the landlord; her pas
sick, and she must git there, and 1
wouldn't think of having Digby out on
| account of Mrs. Griggs' uncertain
health. ss-Miss-what's your name,
my dear?"
"Axtell," said the girl, Madeline
Axtell. My father is Howard Axtell,
of the Raybury bank"
The president of the bank for which l
worked ! knew Judge Axtell very
well, and was able to tell Miss Made
line that his illness was not considered
dangerous. But still she insisted upon
going on, and at last, after some con-
siderable conversation between the two
strangers, inaudible to us, they consent
ed to take US both.
| assisted Miss AXtell into the car
riage and took with her the back seat,
our companions occupying the front.
Only one lamp of the carriage was
burning, and that gave very dim light,
and the farther we went the deeper
seemed to grow the darkness. 1t was
lonely road at any time to Raybury,
but now it was particularly gloomy, and
| was confident that Miss Axtell showed
to some degree the vague forebodings
which / could not prevent myself from
experiencing, for she drew closer to me,
and once she asked me how long it
would be before we reached Monville-
the next village.
We came at last to Hemlock reach-a
long stretch of timber which intersected
the country at that point, and was some
three miles wide. There was not house
for the whole three miles, and both sides
of the road were wooded almost to the
wheel rut.
As the horse plunged into the black
ness of the place and painted and strug-
gled through the mud under foot l
was confident that the two men spoke
together in subdued whispers, and
that L distinctly caught the words:
Cd the grill" and 'Fifty-ive hun
dred."
l grew cold with dismay. Fifty-five
hundred dollars was just the amount |
had about me, and it seemed very pos
sible that these fellows had got informa-
ton to that effect, and that | was to be
neutrality-suspicious. murdered. If | had
been alone l should have felt no fear,
for | am naturally what is called dare
devil sort of a fellow, and | had conf
dence in my courage and strength, as
well as in the pair of trusty revolvers
carrie in my breast-pocket.
But Miss Axtell? What would be-
come of her? If they conquered me she
would be wholly in their power, and if |
they were what l took them to be-then |
God help her!
We had travelled about half the dis |
lance through the woods when the |
horses were stopped abruptly, and one
Of the men rose up in his Sc at and faced |
us.
Miss AXtell grasped my arm, and l |
knew that she was terrified by the |
quick way in which her breath came,
but she did not Cry out, as most women
would have done.
''There is no need of mincing mat
ters," said the man, with admirable |
GOODNESS, land l will come to the point |
at once. You have $500 in your pos
session, and my friend here and myself |
are in want of it. We planned the ac-
cident to the stage by saving the axle
half in two, and we happened along ex-
pressly to take you down to Rayaury. |
The lady we did not reckon upon, but |
could not we'll be ungallant enough to
refuse so much beauty in distress. And
now the question is, will you or will you
not give us this money!"
"Most decidedly will notE' was the
reply.
Then VIC must use force" said the |
man, and 1 warn you now that will
murder you before 1 will allow you to
escape with the money! Give it up
peaceably, and l pledge you my honor
that both yourself and the lady shall
be left at the next village, safe and I'M
molested."
81 will never give up cent of the