The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-16
The Waylayers



blush and stammer before her, IL he
were lacking i'm valor?
Miss Eetty took counsel with her
maid, Tomkins, and the result of 1t
would have been apparent to any
one watching at O'Clock on Christ
mas eve. At that hour. with many Il
La" and Mercy on u.s." Tomkins
was engaged in handing up the two
great /pistols that the squire used to
keep in the hall, TO one who looked
to be a determined highwayman. his
| face behind a black mask. but who
| was in fact seated straddlc-w!se on
| Prince Charlie, Miss Betty Borthrop's
| favorite horse. There was no one else
about, and the park gate had purpose
/ ~ been left open. Snow was falling
from u dark sky scarcely lit by a
struggling moon, and the gaunt and
leafless trees seemed to the shivering
Tomkns so many gibbets set along
the drive
Mind. not a word. Tomkins." said
the highwayman.
Not for a hundredweight of gold,
MAN," vowed the maid. But sup
pose your la'ship wasn't back when
the squire comes?"
"Oh. but shall be. l am only for
the crossroads"
"And there your la'ship will find
him?"
aye, and make him stand and de-
liver, as you shall see"
"Yes, indeed, NAM" said Tomkins,
doubtfully.
"And maybe shall ride back with
my father, who will enjoy the thing
| vow. when all is over and my gem
tlcman's cowardice discovered"
La" said Tomkins, ito think now
that a man should ha' lived to be
stopped on the road by his own lady.
And he SO handsome, ma'am. But does
your la'ship know for sure that heull
be there before the squire comes?"
why should he not be-"
"Oh, your la'ship cannot tell. He be-
ing timorous and the road lonely, Will
he not stay at the Blue Dragon for
company till he be sure the 'squire's
coach is up?"
How little you know of men, Tom
kins," said the highwayman impa-
tiently. "Of course he will be there
first and dying to proceed"
ITO be sure" said Tomkins. He
And l pray he may not die of fright
when lie does" said the highwayman
bitterly. But I must go. Mind you
be ready to let me in when call"
Surely"
Miss Betty put spurs to her horse,
and cantered reluctantly through the
gateway out on to the lonely road.
There was no need to so fast, but she
went fast for it seemed uncanny to go
| slow. The dusk was so great and the
road solitary beyond expectation. AL
ready her heart began to misgive her
over the venture, and but for her pride
she would have given it up without II
sigh.
The horse hoofs fell mufIled in the
snow. She had the unpleasant expec-
tation of something lying in wait at
| every corner. She began to whistle and
stopped. Suppose real waylayers were
abroad and heard her? Besides. she
must come on him silently, and take
him unawares, else he might fly and
never know who challenged him-not
even realize the shame and confusion
that was proper to him. He would BE-
as presumptuous and as veXatious as
ever.
If he were not waiting at the cross
roads, Miss Betty felt that she must
return. She could never bide alone in
that awful silence, even with two pis-
tolS In her holsters. She recollected
That they We're unloaded. OF cours,
she had wished him no harm, but then
II she were herself attacked, thew
would be useless. She took one out
ana held it in her hand, for she was
Just coming to her destination. She
hoped then that it was for certain un-
loaded for it might go off and kill her
Then she turned the last corner, and
could see before the open space. with
some oak trees growing in the center,
where the four roads met. There WA.
a horseman waiting there.
Miss Betty's spirits revived at the
sight Of her victim, and the fun of the
thing which had been rather eclipsed
reoccurred to her. She reined in, and
made her horse pad slowly along the
shady side OF the lane till she was
within thirty yards. Arrived there.
she pressed him into a canter and
called out, hoarsely, command TO
stand and deliver.
The horseman stood still enough.
] IlF SIoou 50 sun lnat something in
side Miss Betty began to beat violent
ly, and she pulled up, straining her
yes to see more clearly A cloud Just
/ passed from the moon and she saw
IN fash that this was not Mr.. Car
rington at all, but a masked man on
u black horse, who was waiting with
cooked pistol in his hand. She let
her own weapon fall i'm her fright.
as she stopped dead, for her heart was
in her throat, and some one was speak
/ ing behind her
| Ride slow, and if you turn, you're
! a dead soul"
! She was trapped between two high
waymen, trapped utterly, and she be-
gan to feel very sick and faint. Pres
emily she became aware that she had
been hidden to dismount, and she
obeyed. She stood in the snow quak-
ing.
80 you was on the road, too, was
you?" said the man whom she had
challenged. AN you was going To
waylay Black Dick and Harry the
Racer, was you?"
/ NO" faltered Miss Betty.
| The man laughed coarscly
RIP me-" he growled. But YOU
was. | heard zee. Likewise, you was
out on this road, which il privit Ia
me an my mate, you may lay to it.