The Yale expositor., 1901-11-29

the Hark-to-Rover. his inquiries as TO
what was up" not having been salts
factorily answered at the Star and
Garter
IL dunno" he said. las the young
gentleman is a wasteer or nowt better
nor he should be. | don't have much
faith In strangers as comes by road
on fine 'osses and hangs about pretend
ing they're fishermen. when they don't
know how to throw hy or bait
pool: but as the Bible says. they be
various OF the fisher tribe, and tho
party about whom I'm alludin' seems
10 know plenty about other kinds OF
fishing. to-wit, as the constable says,
fishing for n pretty woman. And II
he amt cooked Mary Lockwood, | new
er seed a gal as was cooked In all my
born days"
IL was something on this strain OF
thought that the 'Squire's reflections
had travelled as he trotted on his way
10 Harrogate. lie found himself won
dering who this young buck could be:
this stranger who had cut out Jack
Meadows so completely. He remem-
bered the night OF his arrival with
another fellow. whose looks he thought
villainous. whose appearance was that
of rogue, he thought The younger
OF the two seemed n frank sort OF
chap. outspoken. and n decent air and
manner; but what was he doing in
company with n man whom any jury.
he being charged with a capital Of
Tense. would hang on the evidence OF
his own face? I'VE shall doubtless
meet again." the Squire had said.
when leaving the inn and addressing
Parker.
They did meet again. only too soon
for the well-being OF all concerned.
CHAPTER VIII.
II was n night OF storm and tempest.
There was a moon nevertheless; but
IL only appeared at fitful moments
from behind the driving clouds. II
would have rained, but the wind was
too high.
There was n damp feeling in the air,
as II the wind had come across the
sea. Squire Bellingham rode merrily
through the storm; the noise and bus
tie OF 1t rejoiced him. The Squire car
ried about him a large sum OF mon
ey. but II was we'll known by every
body that his pistols were heavy. and
that he would not scruple To use them
II he was attacked. Indeed. IL was
said that the fine old 'Squire-merchant
rather couTted than feared attack;
though this was not quite correct.
lie was content TO be allowed 10 go
on his way rejoicing: but he was
man without fear. There were many
in the Yorkshire OF those days. as
there are now. He little thought. as
he galloped along towards Kirkstall
that his courage and his skill were
about TO be sorely tried.
Not far on the side OF the Abbey
nearest the high road two horsemen
had tethered their steeds under a
clump OF trees. through which the wind
moaned and laughed. now like some
hysterical demon, now like some hend
In an agony.
They were we'll trained steeds that
stood together like sentinels beneath
the screaming trees.
Neither OF them moved n muscle.
except when one OF the dismounted
riders came from the outer darkness
into the deeper gloom OF the wooded
cover. and. patting his gray mare.
took a brace OF pistols from her hol-
sters.
lie seemed 10 do this In n sly and
secret manner. The truth was. he had
engaged with his fellow-conspirators
not to use firearms In the enterprise
upon which they were engaged.
The two robbers had prepared n
surprise and a trap for the Squire.
which should have rendered him an
easy victim without the aid OF pls-
tolls.
Moreover. they had. by n clever
strategy, and with the assistance OF a
nefarious hostler at the 'Squlres pre-
vious hating place. had his pistols
emptied.
They had contriyed n method OF OH
struetion upon the road near the Alb
hey. an ingenious but cruel contrly-
ance OF rope and wire stretched across
the road that could not fail To entangle
the surest-footed animal.
The Squire was sailing along to-
ward the trap. and two men lay in am
bush awaiting the result. on this au-
tumn night OF our story. and about the
same time Mr.. William Taylor and Mr.
John Wilson arrived at the Star and
Garter inn.
Taylor was no stranger to the hos
pitality OF the old coaching house; but
Wilson was there for the first time.
They found several other customers
in the bar. and Morley. the landlord
holding forth upon the prowess OF his
Mary.
Wilson was n young fellow. though
an old friend OF Taylor. who lived al
Leeds.
Taylor had been telling Wilson how
beautiful Mary was. and Wilson was
anxious 10 see this paragon OF lowell.
ness and virtue. lie had travelled and
knew the world. His father and Tay.