The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-11-04

and thereby caused rumor that they 1
were engaged 10 float through the re-
gion.
No, she was not engaged TO jack |
Jasper though he was a handsome Eel. |
low as strong as Ajax, and Rachel
| liked strong men. She hat liked him
at first. and but for one thing. which
she had kept from her mother. she
might have returned his attentions and
an engagement might have been the
result.
That very night Of the husking bee
in taking handkerchief from his
pocket. Jack dropped something which
the girl picked up. She was in the act
of returning it To him when its make
up struck her as being peculiar. and On
looking Mt it in n secluded corner She
found it to be n white cotton mask.
The discovery almost unnerved
Rachel. white mask such as high
waymcn wear in Jack Jasper's pocket?
What did it mean?
The girl kept her secret, telling it to
no one. and the mask She quietly
burned the next day in the woods.
From that moment her liking for Jack
Jasper seemed to fade and she had
resolved to have nothing more to do
with him.
The fair custodian of the parsons
saddlebags thought of this as she rode
along. She was nearing the BUNDLE
, Bee hills and in accordance with her
/ mothers advice. She drew the pistol
and kept il firmly gripped in her hand
while she rode on.
All at once the parsons horse SHE'D
l for the first time since commencing tho
Journey, and Rachel, looking to the
. right, saw standing at the bush -fringed
edge OF The road man whose face was
covered by white mask Near him
and Just dscernible were three others
similarly disguised. and Rachel look
ing ut them, instinctivcly drew rein
and waited for their next move.
She felt that She had encountered the
bandits of the humble Bee hills, and
when the leader stepped forward she
eyed his magnificent physique will
more than womanly curiosity.
Wen take the saddlebags-tlat''
ALL" ne said
A thrill. passed over Rachel Have
locks frame as shc thought of the two
mcn-thc young parson and the lcgatee
She was within five miles Of Rock,
Ridge and short ride would land he
at her journeys end.
IL can't deliver up to you what d.
not own She said, in reply to tn
roa;l-agcnt's demand and in n voic
that did not trcmble in the least.
Al. ..... N..'l toll
the saddlcbags, whether You own then
or not
Rachcls mind was made up. Fror
what she had seen OF the parson'
=, horse he was feet and wiry, well-rit
den by person who knew somethin
about horses, and she did. for she wa
- a thoroughbred bachwoods girl Sh
= thought She was not so lily situated u
. one might suppose.
=, Come. Aren't go going to give II
=. the saddle bags?' exclaimed the in
n. patient fellow. advancing n step. bs
~ Immediately he stopped and opened Il
m eyes behind the mask. for Rachel ha
:. suddenly presented the pistol in II
w face.
~ You can't get away from us a
,s shorn," he crieL. I'VE don't want {
n. harm YOU We want merely the sal
n. dlebags. and with them in our hant
Il; You can go OIL.
s'You can't have them, for they don
n, belong to you l refuse to give thel
up. and II YOU attempt force, shall n
sist il with the same"
he There was no mincing matters wit
ut Rachel lIavclock She clutched u
I reins with one hand and with I'll
al other held the cooked pistol in the ba,
irl dts face.
10. "By heavens! you can't beat MS out {
what's in the bags he suddenly q,
Nv claimed IL propose 10 have then
rs and the boys will see to helping me-
is He threw himself impulsively iowa,
e. the girl. bat the next moment the pi
tol flashed in his face and he staggerc
nd toward the fringe of the road with
ne wild cry of pain At the same tim
is Rachel put spurs to the parsons hors
he and WAS of like Il rocket. Present.
he she heard hcofs behind her. III
or bandits were giving chase, but the roa
S, outd;stanccd them all, and, thong
Rachel got glimpse OF them once {
no twice, and even wished for anotht
On
i w VI ttI