The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-02-17
! THE TRLCKED RASCALS,
Tn THE good old days when highway


chaise travellers never journeyed with
out pistols in their pockets. and tremor
at their hearts; when strange feats in
the shape of starlight robberies were
boasted of and a Knight of the Road"
aspired to be called a gentleman, the
following incident occurred:
One afternoon in carly autumn, close
upon sunset, couple Of well-dressed
men, driving light gig in which was
poor, jaded-looking horse, stopped at
wayside posting inn, not hundred
miles from Bath, ard requested accom-
modation for the night. They were
fashionably attired, and spoke in con-
descending tones tc the landlord and
servants, using a 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 gig 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
dering supper to be served later.
whats this story about 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"
''Qute 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
horsemen with cooked pistols. The old
lady screamed and tainted; the young
ones screamed and kicked, and the gem
tlemen, those audacious robbers, pro-
ceeded politely to rifle the ladies of
every ornament they wore.'
'Scoundrels!' interiected one of the
guests.
"More than that, your worships.
What should those bold blades do but
invite the damsels to tread measure
with them? 1t was fine night, as you
may perhaps remember, sirs; the moon
beams shining bright on the bare heath.
Out of the coach they handed them and
footed it in a minuet, dancing, it is said,
to perfection, as though they were used
to lead out the kings own daughters
every night 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 gen
tlemen of the highway"
The two gentlemen listening to this
had gone into bursts of laughter. but
what of the men-servants? What were
they doing?" spluttered one.
Only two were in attendance, sirs,
1t seems-my lady's footman in the
dickey and the postillion on the horses,
and while two of the robbers were thus
doing their dancing, the other two
stood guard over the men. each with his
pistol cooked and his hand on the trig-
ger, ready to fire at the least move
ment"
And the upshot?"
The young ladies were bowed into
their coach again, all with stately cere-
mony, and the robbers, after wishing
them very courteous goodnight, rode
OH at canter, with every jewel they
FAD possessed, small Or large, costly or
simple, and my lady's purse into the
bargain. They may well boast that
they lead merry lives-those men! Fine
commotion the news has caused round
ABOUT us to-day, as you may imagine.
gentlemen. Every body's talking of it. -
The landlord. being called for else
Where, retired; the travellers slipped at
'helr glasses, laughing away and con-
sersing with one another in an under
tone. Dusk came on and the elder and
'aiier ct the two addressed his friend in
adifferent tone.
About time to see after the horse,
An II, Jim? It's dark enough"
was just going to-" answered Jim
.no draining his glass, he went away
% the stable-yard.
Looking about him with the air of a
soanolsseur, after watching his horse
ess up its oats. he made himself ac-
saaln'ed with the arrangements of the
sanles. Some five or six horses were
= 'Qen In the hox uext to his own