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 stsrted. 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 aud con
science9 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' fur3
Don't keep me uncertain like this. Shoot
away, or let me get up alongside of you.
I'll go peacefully. Ais up with me,
anyway"
Ben still kept him covered with his
revolver, but his mind was so agitated
that his man could easily have escaped.
The words Of Harry brought him to his
senses, and nc murmured aloud:
''Do with you-what am / 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 I
did--an' then-well, you got caught,
an didn't. You amt no worse than
am. Dot What am l goin' to do with
youi Well, nothin'-not thing.
Come, get up alongside of me an ride
to the town. 1 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Ben had Withdrawn his revolver and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 riae," Ben continued.
''I kin trust you. You don't want to
hold me up any more, ar don't want
to hold up myself ag'in. We're not fit
for highwaymen-got too much con-
science-eh, Harryw
He laughed so strangely that Harry
Somers began to doubt his sanity. Me-
chanically the highwayman picked up
his rifle and took a seat alongside of the
driver.
"No, it's no trap that Pm leadin' you
into. Pm honest with you. No, l amt
mad, nor insane either. I'm just fair
an 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 ef 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
had thousands of dollars aboard, an no
body roun'. could pitch the box ia
the bushes, an then come back fur il
later. Tell 'em that highwayman held
me up. Nice story, eb1 Nobody be the
wiser. But when cum to my senses
agu was frightened at the thought.
licked up the horses as ef Satan was af,
ter me. Twas narrow escape. Then,
sure enough was held up by you.
b'lieve the Lord jes' sent ye to try me-
He wanted 10 see if I'd be as merciful a;
He was. That's the whole of the story
Faint much, Harry Somers, but it means
that we're both highwaymen. It's oul
6rst, an it will never happen agin'.'
Ben was still dilating upon his fears il
the canyon when the stage coach rolled
into the town; but the two highwaymeu
| kent their story to themselves. and di.
vulged it to no one.-Yaukee Bade.