Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-02-13

yet had some K1no OF an 1nK11ng tuab
it wasn't entirely parson beneath those
beautiful black clothes, too, - said the
captain genially.
''Why, of course, gentlemen of the
road like yourself, I" said the old man,
Frightening somewhat at the friendli-
ness of the others tone. "But parsons
we've been for the last six months, just
to implant little confidence. !"
''And how did it all come about?'
inquired Captain Jacobus.
parsons we were for six months, :"
repeated the impostor, Sin Kingsclero
yonder. - He jerked his thumb over his
shoulder. "Did you never try the lay.
captain? You have to live mighty strict
while it lasts, but it's good lay-a
good layp' The speaker smiled sourly at
the recollection. Highly respected by
rich and poor There was nothing good
enough for such brace of saints as
Johnny and me. Fat collections every
Sabbath, and the poultry and butter and
cheeses-why, we lived like couple
of kings, except for the liquor Your
parson must be cruel sparing of the
bene bowse. That was where the shoe
pinched. But at last our chance came
along, for girl of the place was going
to be married to some bloated cit i'll
Winchester. Her men folk were out O.
the way, and who SO fit to escort her
and her mother-and her dOwry-as
the two tall parsons? So, one on each
side, all for fear of you, captain, we
logged along till nightfall And here
we are, and offering you third of
the swag. and what could be fairer?"
Captain Jacobus stood erect and clear
ed his throat. The highwayman loved a
striking sitaation, like an actor, and
delighted much more in the series of
+ histrionic opportunities continually pre-
sented by the incidents of his profession
than in the profits it afforded him. If
need should SO require, he would even
sacrifice all plumber for the sake Of
sheer effect Thus the difficulty was to
preserve dramatic propriety with min
imum loss out of pocket, and in its solu-
tion lay the very marrow of the enter
prise. For the first time that night the
captain saw his way clearly to a satis-
factory achievement. The taxing of two
Presbyterian ministers had at first ap-
peared to him merely as duty, neces-
sary, but dull, to the discharge of which
little novelty might be impaired by
the use of the cards. 1t was an agreea-
BILE shock to him to discover that he was
dealing with scoundrels, and that the
occasion would require all his quick
ness and resource to save him from be-
ing hoist with his own petard. Having
accomplished this so far and succeeded
in inducing the elder rascal to condemn
himself out of his own mouth, the psy-
Geological moment had arrived for an
appropriate closing scene.
''You dogs of Egypt" began Captain
Jacobus in voice that made the glasses
ring, would you make terms with me?
By the heavens. you blaspheme You
shall strip yourself of every doit! 'Tis
you and your like bring disgrace upon
the names of the kings gentlemen. Are
we to keep the road with ours like you
swapping at our heels? What! You
would decoy two poor ladies upon the
kings highway and drag the very rings
from their fingers. You would poach on
the manor of Captain Jacobus, take pos
session of his inn. sharp him at the
cards and shoot him through the head
afterward, if he hadn't been a match !
for the hulking pair of you rum clapper
dogeons! All that you would do, and
when he gets upsides with you you have
the DEVILS own bravado to inform him
of,f lf> Ii foo nd To nffo +, n ct,
A share To me!'' and the orator inter-
polated some highly stimulating oaths.
ga share! You shall see now! Empty
your pockets on the table. Take off that
ring-off with it-that, or the finger.
Search the other rascal. Now, strip. the
pair of you Quick about itl Am to
dance attendance upon you while you
make toilet? Put the clothes on the
fire. So!''
The two men, constrained ny the
brace of grinning pistol muzzles, strip
PED to their shirts and obeyed in ST.
lence. The face of the elder was flushed
to dusky red His eyes shone in his
head. A trickle of blood from his bitten
lip streaked his white beard, and the
younger tottered to and fro with dead
white face, hugging his wounded hand.
''Now," said Captain Jacobus, lyon
shall lead my horse for me, by thun-
der!''
Keeping his eye upon the two, he
moved to the door, opened it and whis-
tied Instantly there was a clatter of
hoofs, and his Elack mare came trotting
round the corner and trampled into the
room. The captain stood by the horse's
head, rating the shivering wretches like
dogs while they strapped on the bag
gage, and when they had done he led
the animal into the road.
''Hold my stirrup, GideonP' said the
captain to the hapless Johnny and in
cluding them both in final exhorta-
ton ''The landlord takes your nags for
the reckoning But if ever I meet you
out on the pad I'll shoot you down like
vermin, so sure as my name is Captain
Jacobus Stand clear!"
And with bound he was gone, leav
ing the two half clad rascals prey to
the humiliation Of impotent fury and
the most deadly discontinue Of body
amid the scene of the dismalest disorder,
the last sparks of their clothes flying
up the chimney i'll the icy draft, and
the gray light of the winters dawn pal
ing the candles.
1t is upon record that Captain Jaco-
bus took it upon himself to restore all
the trinkets. ard, according to his rule
in such cases, one-half the money to the
rightful owners thereof, and that the
other half went into the bottomless
pocket of King Charles II, then living
very privately in the city of Cologne
L. Cope Cornford in Pail Mall Budget.
He Took Salmon.
81 say, Gaddersby,' said Mr.. Smith
as he came into the fishmonger's with
lot of tackle in his hand. II want you