The Van Buren press., 1898-01-29

THE TRICKED RASCALS.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TN THE good old days. when highway
assaults were rife, and solitary post
ehaise 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 knight of the Road
aspired to be called gentleman, the
following incident occurred:
One afternoon in carly autumn, close
upon sunset, couple of well-dressed
men, driving light gig in which was a
poor, jaded-looking horse, stopped at
a wayside posting inn, not hundred
miles from Bath, and requested accom-
modaton for the night. They were
fashionably attired, and spoke in con-
descending tones to 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
| puDliC lOOul anu tdiitu lOl llRdlt
refreshments in the shape of drink, or
dering a supper to be served later.
whats this story about great high
way robbery near here last night, land
lord ?" questioned one eve 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 ball, when their car
rage was stopped by four mounted
horsemen with cooked pistols. The old
lady screamed and tainted; the young
ones screamed and kicked, and the gen
tlemen, those audacious robbers, pro-
ceeded politely to rife the ladies of
every ornament they wore"
"Scoundrels!" interjected 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 a 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"
"And the upshot?"
"The young ladies were bowed into
tAeir coach again, all with stately cere-
mony, and the robbers, after wishing
them a very courteous goodnight, rode
off at 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 boast that
they lead merry lives-those men! Fine
commotion the news has caused round
about us to-day, as you may imagine,
gentlemen. Everybody's talking of 1t"
The landlord, being called for else
where, retired; the travellers slipped at
their glasses, laughing away and con-
versing with one another in an under
tone. Dusk came ON and the elder and
taller of the two addressed his friend in
different tone.
| "About time to see after the horse,
isn't it, jim? It's dark enough"
| xxae met eroip 4o ~ pcuara5 Tin,
and, draining his glass, he went away
to the stable-yard
Looking about him with the air Of a
connoisseur, after watching his horse
eat up its oats, he made himself ac-
quainted 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 steed nor yourn, sir!" cried
the ostler from behind him in a quiet
voice, and the gentleman gave start,
not thinking anybody was near.
"Aye; mine has seen good service,
and he has been worked hard lately"
| answered the stranger, good-humored-
| ly. "a very fine animal, this, as you OBJ
serve. And yet" stepping back to look
critically at it, "were my horse in good
condition it might not be much inferior
to this. They are not altogether un-
like-about the same height and much
| the same in color-brQwn."
With the last words the stranger
went back to the house whistling. The
ostier peered after him through the
| dusk while he made his comments.
"You have got cheek, master, who
ever you may be, and an impudent
cheek it is, going and comparing of the
two hosses like that-this 50-guinea,
beautiful animal and that there
wretched old hack O. theirn! What
next? wonder who they be when they
be at home?'' And with that he locked
the stable door.
"Wel?" cried the elder traveller,
when the other one returned. ANY
| chance?"
"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 about it; worth a little for
tune. And set of silver-mounted har.
ness hanging up by him"
"Silver-mounted?"
Think so. Looks like it. We have
got rich chance, / tell you, Wade"
Supper was announced in due time
and the two hungry men did justice to
IT, AfterWar,l they sat over The fire and