The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-09-12

naO opened IL, Jim anu DIS lIlentis cdcu
taking a short, well-worn pipe from his
pocket, sat down to smoke. From an
other pocket came a flask. They made
themselves comfortable, and seemed to
forget all about bed.
At any rate neither of them attempt
ed to 60 to it. They sat on and smoked
and drank occasionally, and whispered
together in hushed tones. At last the
clock struck two. One of them rose,
drew aside the window curtain and
looked out.
4 suppressed shout of exultation
broke from him. "Wadei Wade! the
night has changed. It's raining and
the moon is gone. 1 knew rain was
coming.
Man alive, don't make that row."
retorted the other. 1--WE don't want the
house woke up
Putting away their pipes and TASKS
they opened the window with crafty
gentleuess and dropped down on the
ground outside it, one after the other.
The night was very dark; no light, nor
giimmer Of it, was TO be seen anywhere.
Making their way round cautiously
" lnt 1OdCn ~ QSt anu cAcDi1cs JAIN lttO-
duced master key which undid the
locks. The stable door he undid was the
one that had the valuable horse in it,
and he was surprised to find out what
an easy lock it was. Then, while the
other man kept watch he hastily and
noiselessly attached the horse to their
own gig, using the harness he had adj
mired so greatly. The rain was dash
ing down smartly, which tended to
deaden other sounds. When all was
ready they cautiously led the horse
and gig out of the yard and to dis
lance beyond it, and drove away at
spanking pace.
So far they were well satisfied with
their nights work, and congratulated
themselves on the valuable prize they
had captured in the horse and harness.
It's true the horse appeared to require
the whip pretty frequently, and Jim,
who was driving, did not fail to admin
lister it.
'Lazy beggar! He has stuffed him
self out with corn" cried he. "You
shall fast all this day, my gentleman,
and that will bring you into working
OltcI. w nat pert IL 10 NbOOhAhS up
at the pouring rain.l SHOULD say this
was the clearing shower"
"What'Il the job bring us in, Jim?"
Twenty pounds clear, reckon. And
an old hack thrown in to complete the
bargain"
On the heath now, they began laugh
-1g over the past nights adventure
there, as related to them by the land
lord. They had no fear of the high
waymen themselves-not they; such
gentry do not prey upon one another.
"IIang it, Jim, can't you drive
faster?" cried Wade, suddenly.
Jim made no answer. He was begin
ming to feel somewhat puzzled: for, un
less he was greatly mistaken the beauti
ful horse betrayed unmistakable signs
of giving in Their own wretched ami
NAL could do as well as this. Presently
it stopped-stopped dead from exhaus
ton.
what the devils the matter will
him?' demanded Wade.
: BE shot if 1 know. He seems deat
beat. It's so dark one can see nothing
: Wish that moon would come out; TIT
ram mas ceaseu.
''Wcll, this is a pretty go!" exclaimed
the other, as the horse, in spite of whiI
and word, refused to move. "Brough
/, up, before ones half beyond danger
with a stolen horse! You must hav
. been mistaken in the worth of the ami
= NAL, Jim; never knew you mistake on,
before"
a He jumped out of the gig and began
e feeling the animal with his hands. A
= the same moment the coy moon burs
e out from behind the clouds and shon
e down in all her splendor. Jim felt tn
4 horse, stared at it and stared again
: The other one in the gig was also gazing
curiously. simultaneously shout 0
i dismay, followed by an imprecatior
+ burst from both of them. They ha'
/. stolen their own horsel
Some mutual recrimination ensue6
Wade accusing Jim of having made
;, mistake and opened the wrong stable
J. Jim vowing BY all that's blue that h
: had orened the right one.
!, "Any way, we've got the harness,
a pleaded Jim.
r. The remark caused Wade TO turn hi
= eyes on it; its silver points were glitter
h ing in the moonlight. a closer glance
and then another angry shout brok
from him.
= "T.cok here, you fool, here's crest.
'Hey-what?" cried Jim, turnin
round.
= Sure enough; the silver-mounted hai
= ness bore a family crest with its Lati
= motto. and could TO doubt be identifie
/, anywhere. Certainly this nights al
- ticipated spoil was not lucky in an
!, way.
" Next morning the landlord of the in
~ was intensely surprised at the disal
pearance of the travellers and at I'll
= spiritinG away of some harness that b
80 legged to the young Viscount Dare. II
> stood in the stable yard talking with h
49, hostler.
- ''Dut for me his lordship's boss woul
e. ha' gone, too," cried the ostler, stolidl
= when l see one o. they two gents