The advocate., 1895-05-08
BOOK I.
CHAPTER VIII.
DOBBINS MEETS THE REBELS AGAIN.
A plague Of all towards, I say
Pa nnA mn

Gertrude stopped at Job COttles shop to have some
bookshelVes made Five minutes later, man who
had been lounging about the shop went out and
walked till he came to sentinel near the court
house, and very soon afterwards dozen armed men,
one at a time left the Court house and walked out
on the Boston road
The stage for Boston started half hour lste al
though there was apparently no real excuse for the
delay. The driver had been at public house, as was
usual just before starting time, and, while there,
had talked a moment with farmer over bottle,
and when he came to take out his STAGE he kept for
getting things and going back after them, examin-
ing the harness, and, as impatient Dobbns put it,
kept "fooling away precious time" until the four
passengers, including an elderly lady Of sour aspect,
were growing extremely unamiable. Even when the
stage got started at last its progress was exceedingly
slow, for the driver seemed possessed of the hauci
nation that something was wrong with the harness
and kept stopping the vehicle in order to Jump down
from his box and make rigid examination of every
scrap Of leather upon his horses. AT the top of a
hill however, two miles out Of town, he seemed sat-
ed at last that the harness would hold together for
one trip and greatly to the relief of the passengers
the stage set off at rapid rate Whether the lutter
ing of handkerchief tied to stake at the roadside
some distance ahead had anything to do with this
restoration of confidence history does not enable us
to say with certainty but the handkerchief dissp-
peared almost Immediately after the stage had accel
Grated it's velocity.
Up the next hill and down again ratified the stage;
but as it neared the bottom it came to a sudden
standstill, and the passengers heard someone in
Quire:
Have you passenger for Boston insideY
some, SIR answered the driver"
''I wish to see him."
The driver got down, and opening the stage door,
addressed the four passengers in a lump:
ga gentleman wants to see you, sir"
A rustic head was poked in.
(which is the gentleman that's bound for Bos-
ton? inquired the rustic head.
"Thats him, SIR said the driver, pointing to Dob
bins
''What do you want with meH" ferOciously de-
msnded Dobbins
The rustic head vanished and a sterner voice said:
"YOu must alight Immediately; you are OBTAINING
Che stage"
ssOh-that REBEL that numbering Stonel Save mel
Save me exclaimed the terrified Dobbins, as he asW
pistol in Sydney's hand and caught sight of bsyo
nets on the other side of the road He tried to crawl
behind the other passengers but was rudely and un
feengly repelled by the elderly lady with the sour
face.
Come, no more delay Men, get him outl" said
Sydney
The stage door opened on the oppoStes and,
looking that way Dobbins saw bayonet coming to-
ward him; whereupon he made dash for the other
door and fairly turned someTaut gettingout. Sgd
ney, addressing the remaining passengers, said:
81 beg your pardon for this interruption but this
rascal was making off, and we were sent after him.
I congratulate you on your good fortune in being
able to travel without such company. trust you
hsve lost nothing by him as yet"
Whereupon the elderly lady made very anxious