The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-09-12
" The TRICKED RASCALS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
IN THE good old days when highway

4 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 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
poor, jaded-looking horse, stopped at
a wayside posting inn, not a hundred
miles from Bath, ard requested accom-
mediation for the night. They were
fashionably attired, and spoke in con-
descending tones to the landlord and
servants, using 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 a 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
a dreadful thir~, though clever, must
say. My Lady sCantifere, 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 cd
lady screamed and tainted; the young
ones screamed and kicked, and the gen
t.emen, those audacious robbers, pro
ceeded politely to rifle the ladies of
every ornament they wore"
"Scoundrels!" interjected one CT the
guests.
More than that, your worships.
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 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.
tlenen of the highway"
"And the upshot?"
The young ladies' were bowed into
their coach again, all with stately cere'
mory, ard the robbers, after wishing
them very courteous goodnight, rode
. eff at a calter, with every jewel they
had possessed. small or large, costly Of
simple, and my lady's purse into the
bargain. They may wei boast tina
they lead merry liyes-those merl Fin'
eommotion the news has caused rount
about us to-day, as you may imagine
gentlemen. Everybody's talking of it.
The landlord, being called for else
where, retired; the travellers slipped a
their glasses, laughing away and con
versing with one another in an under
tone. Dusk came on and the elder ant
taller of the two addressed his friend il
, a different tone.
about time TO see after the horse
isn't it, jim? It's dark enough"
81 was just going to-" answered jim
/. and, draining his glass, he went ava
to the stable-yard.
Looking about him with the air Of
connoisseur, after watching his kors
eat up its cats, he made himself az
a quainted with the arrangements of tn
-
in them. In the box next to his CIV
q stood a splendid animal, evidently va
liable.
"a better steed nor yourn, sir!" erie
= the ostler from behind him in quit
voice, and the gentleman gave star
not thinking anybody was near.
"Aye; mine has seen good servic
= and he has been worked hard lately
answered the stranger, goo6-humoret
}. ly. "a very fine animal, this, as you q
e serve. And yet" stepping back to leo
4 critically at it, "were my horse in goc
condition it might not be much inferiC
y to this. They are not altogether u
like-about the same height and muC
the same in color-brown."
: With the last words the strang'
Ii went back to the house whistling. IT
ostler peered after him through Il
= dusk while he made his comments.
"You have got cheek, master, VIII
ever you may be, and an impudei
cheek il is, going and comparing of Il
two bosses like that-this 5G-guinc
beautiful animal and that the
wretched old hack O. theirn! VIII
next? Iwopder who they be when thu
: be at home?" And with that he lock-
the stable door.
"Well?" cried the elder trayei6
when the other one returned. "Al
charce?"
''Eever had better chance in all o
q lives" was the answer. "In the ne
Z box to ours stands one of the grande
| animals you ever saw-saue coz
5 same size, or about it; wortha little *
tune. And a set of silver-mounted h;
ness hanging up by him.
"Ci'ver-mounted2 >"