The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-05-03

take me to tue town an have my body
grace tree. Mandy Duyval will be
there, an she'll rejoice with you at the
sight"
At the mention OF his sweetheart's
name Ben sterted. The mans harsh
laugh grated horribly on his nerves.
Would Mandy think moro Of him il he
brought bis rival to justicei JusticeI
Had he not just attempted the same
crime, and been prevented only by the
sudden awakening of his fear and con-
sciencea Was not he as guilty as Harry
Somers of highway robbery9 Tho
thought OF his indicted crime made his
hand tremble, aud the beads Of perspira-
tion started out upon his forehead.
"Come, what are you waitin' fur2
Don't keep me uncertain like this. Shoot
away, or let me get up alongside of you
I'll go peacefully. Ais up with ne,
anyway"
Ben still kept him covered with his
revolver, but his mind was so agltated
that his man could easily have escaped.
The words Of Harry brought bin to his
senses, and he murmured aloud:
''Do with you-what am l goin' to
dot Well, let me see. You amt bad
at heart, Harry. an this is your first of.
fence. You didn't mean to bo bad
you jes' yielded to temptation, same's 1
did-an' then--well, you got caught,
an l didn't. You amt no worse than
am. Do9 What am goin' to do With
youl Well, nothin'--not a thing.
1
Come, get up alone side of me an ride
to the town. amt got nothin' ag'in
you, an the Lord knows l wouldn't
hurt any one unjustly. Come, are you
gong with met"
Ben had Withdrawn his revolver and
placed it in his belt. The highwayman
was uncovered and at liberty to do as he
pleased.
"Pick up your rihe," Ben continued.
''I kin trust you. You don't want to
hold me up any more, an l don't want
to hold up myself ag'in. We're not fit
for highwaymen-got too much con-
science-eh, Harry9"
He laughed so strangely that Harry
Somers bega to doubt his sanity. Me-
chanically the highwayman picked up
his rifle and took seat alongside of the
driver.
"No, it's no trap that Pm leadin' you
into. Pm honest with you. No, amt
mad, nor insane either. I'm just fair
au' square. You needn't be afeard.
'Tain't Ben Tillottson that goes back on
his word, nor justice either. You tried
to hold me up an rob the stage coach.
Well, that's no more'n did, too. You
got caught, but the good Lord saved
me, an I'd be brute eff didn't have as
much feelin' fer you. 1t was simple
enough. ] jes' felt terrible feelin'
come over me back in the canyon thet I'd
like to be rich all of sudden. An l
had thousands of dollars aboard, an no.
body rouu'. l could pitch the box ia
the bushes, an then come back fur it
later. Tell 'em that highwayman held
me up. Nice story, ebH Nobody be the
wiser. But when | cum to my senses
agiu was frightened at the thought. l
licked up the horses as et Satan was af-
ter me. Twas narrow escape. Then,
sure enough was held up by you. l
b'lieve the Lord jes' sent ye to try me.
lie wanted TO see if I'd be as merciful as
He was. That's the whole of the story.
Faint much, Harry Somers, but it means
that we're both highwaymen. It's our
Grst, an it will never happen agin'."
Ben was still dilating upon his fears in
the canyon when the stage coach rolled
into the town; but the two highwaymen
kept their story to themselves. and di-
vulged it to no one.-Yaukee B!ade.