The rustler., 1891-08-21

N"A+A@H
hritish jailer would prefer the ballad
81 The cock-a-iioop and the Gagged
EarieF'
shelton's eyes blazed with anger M
this mock ailusion 70 their relative
positions; walking quickly 20 the back
Of the captain. he dealt him such a
blow In the face that the sea dog was
knocked into his neighbor's lap.
With loud cries of Villain and
coward" a dozen men sprang 90
avengc this unsoldierlilxe act But
Mariner was not the man 10 require
assistance In such tnattcrz
Pray return 20 your seats. gentle
men, he said; then. In a tone OF mock
reproof, he added. ''What! attack with
your hands a poor fellow Who has
nought but sword and pistols where
with 10 defend himself For shame,
boys
Turning 10 shelton. who stood with
his hand ON the hilt Of his saber. he
said, IN an undcrtone: For prisoner
of war to lay finger ON his guard is. as
You well know, to incur the penalty of
death; besides, you are armed and am
not; but | shall repay YOU before many
days"
Il shall not avoid you-when you
are entitled 10 wear n swordl' rctorted
the major, contomptuously; then, as
the company broke up. in disorder, ne
stepped into the inn. to pen a line 10
the British general, asking for few
troops Ito prevent a certain unscrupu-
lous rebel. one Mariner from breaking
his parole"
The captain. however, had no such In.
tention. Lazily lolling over the now
deserted table, he lii his pipe. and APP
peared 10 be lost in peaceful musings.
But he was never so wide-awake as
when he appeared abstracted. A foxy
glance or two at the hosiery showed
state Of hustle thercin presently. upon
the blind of the tap-room, he saw the
shadow of the major and the innlSeeper
In earnest conversation. Soon the
shadows disappeared, and Shelton
sauntered out for his evening walk. As
soon as the wood screened him from
view, the captain raped sharply with
his mug, which brought Mrs Van Bu.
rem 10 the table.
THE old man has gone to the Eng
lish lines, said Mariner.
Lords mercy, captain, and what
makes you think 500"
THE horse has hoofs, and we are to
lew'rd. ! don't want to know his bust
ness; what desire TO ask you is-are
you daughter of liberty?"
why, really, captain, the master
hasn't decided
But you have" interrupted the cap
tain, land you wish the English were
ut the bottom of the sea. You saw that
brig try TO shoot away my topm'st?"
1T were a dirty trick, sir, II it's the
blow you mean"
The captain tore n leaf from his
pocketbook and wrote few lines upon
It.
Mrs. Van Buren," he said, "can you
ride horse?"
Indeed, few better, sir; my own
horse, Black Ned. in the stable there
Gen Putnam is in Brooklyn; this
slip of paper must be put into his hands
to-nightr'
Lords mercyr' cried the hostess
"And are we going to have another
battle?"
II will read it,
My Dear General-Can you have me ex.
changed. and ut oncef MARHfSER' "
The captain bestowed n significant
glance upon the lady, who took the bit
of paper and thrust il in her bosom.
Then, running into the house. she re-
turned with pint of the captains par
ticular porter, which he swallowed
gratefully, bade her good night and set
out for the cottage ut which he was
lodged. On his return, instead of re-
tiring, as he should have done under
the circumstances, Maj. Shelton re-
paired to the bar, reclined ON one of
the settees, and to the infinite annoy
ance of his hostess commenced TO dis
cuss what he was pleased to term "the
pitiful folly of these provinces in heark-
ening to such sordid wrctches as Henry,
jefferson, Washington and Paine"
The rumbling of distant thunder now
added to the worthy lady's disgust.
This delay would oblige her to take
the shorter bride path through the
woods, and she had pardonable dis
like to the proximity of tall pine trees
in thunder storm. So communicative
was the major that the anxious woman
feared lest he should conclude TO sit up
for her husbands return; but tre-
mendous thunder crash right over the
inn seemed to bring him to sense of
the proprieties, for he leaped to his
feet, locked ut the brass timepiece on
the mantel (which was on the stroke
of midnight) and hurried upstairs.
Without the loss of moment the
woman assumed her good mans cordu-
roy coat and, taking a lantern to the
stable, aroused and saddled Black Ned.
The rain was falling in torrents as she
rose to the saddle and cautiously di-