Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-01-11
THE TRlCKED RASCALS.

N THE good old days when highway
assaults were rife, and solitary post
chaise travellers never journeyed with
out pistols in their pockets. and tremor
at their hearts; when strange feats in
the shape of starlig ht robberies were
boosted Of and a "Knight of the Road"
aspired to be called gentleman, the
following incident occurred:
One afternoon in carly autumn, close
upon sunset, a. couple of well-dressed
men, driving a light gig in which was a
poor, jaded-lcoking horse, stopped at
ii wayside posting inn, not a hundred
miles from Bath, ard requested accom-
mediation for the night. They were
fashionably attire<l, and spoke in con-
descending tones to the landlord and
servants, using 4; few words now and
again of town slang, as young bucks of
the first water were proud to do in
that day.
Giving the horse and sig over to the
care of the ostler, they adjourned to the
public room and called for some light
refreshments in the shape of drink, Or
dcring supper to be served later.
Whats this story abouta great high
way robbery near here last night, land
lord?" questioned one. 1--WE heard of it
on the road coming along. Is it true?"
''Quite true, sir. All, gentlemen, it is
dreadful thing, though clever, must
say. My Lady Cantifere, with her two
daughters. was driving home across the
heath an hour or two after midnight,
having been to a ball, when their car
riage was stopped by four mounted
horsemcn with cooked pistols. The old
lady screamed and tainted; the young
ones screamed and kicked, and the gen
t1cmen, those audacious robbers, pro-
cecded politely to rifle the ladies of
every ornament they wore.''
"Scoundrels!" INTERCEPTED one of the
guests.
More than that, your wcrships
What should those bold blades do but
invite the damsels to tread a measure
with them? 1t was a fine night. as you
may perhaps remember, sirs; the NOON
beams shining bright on the bare heath.
Out OF the coach they handed them and
footed it in q minltet, dancing, it is said,
TO perfection. as though they were used
to lead out the kings own daughters
every nj ght of their lives. The young
ladies' screams ended in laughter; the
baroness woke up from her faint and
abused them all, robbers and daughters
together. Oh. they are bold, these gem
tlemen of the highway!"
'And the upslrot::"
The young ladies were bowed into
nn:r coach again, all with stately cere-
1nony, and the robbers, after wishing
them very courteous goodnight, rode
off at a canter, with every jewel they
had possessed, small or large, costly or
simple, and my lady's purse into the
bargain. They may we'll beast that
they lead merry lives-those men! Fine
rommotion the news has caused round
about us to-day. as you may imagine.
gentlemen. Evcrybody's talking of it,
The landlord, being called for else
where, retired; the travellers slipped at
their glasses, laughing away and CON
VCrslng with enc another ilr an under
tone. Dusk came ON and the elder and
taller of the two addressed his friend in
a different tone.
about time to see after the horse.
isn't it, Jim? It's dark enough
Il was just going to-" answered Jim.
and, draining his glass, he went away
to the stable-yard.
Looking about him with the air of
ronnoisserr, after watching his horse
cat up its oats, he made himself ac-
qnt>inted with the arrangements Of the
stables. Some five or six horses were
in them. In the box next to his own
stood a splendid animal, evidently val
liable.
"A better stecd nor yourn, sir!'' cried
the ostler from behind him in quiet
voice, and the gentleman gave a start.
not thinking anybody was near.
AYE; miro has seen good service,
and he has been worked hard lately,''
the stranger. good humored-
~. "a very fine animal, this, as you OBJ
serve. And yet" stepping back to look
critically at it, ''were my horse in good
it might not be much inferior
W IoAo' l. liz ulC HOc LltOSVtleT I'M
'ike-about the same height and much
the same in color-brown."
With the last words the stranger
went back to the house whistling. The
ost1er peered after him through the
dusk while he made his comments.
"You have got q cheek, master, who
ever you may be, and an impudent
cheek it is, going and comparing of the
two bosses like that-this 50-guinea,
beautiful animal and that there
old hack O. theirn! What
next? wonder who they be when they
be at home?" And with that he locked
1 he stable door,
"Well?" cried the elder traveller.
when the other one returned. "Any
:hance?"
"Never had better chance in all our
lives" was the answer: 'In the next
box to ours stands one of the grandest
animals you ever saw-same color,
same size, or bout it; wortha little for
tune. And a set of silver-mounted har-
ness hanging up by him."