The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21
ing them in bcwilf 1r4ent. not knowing

| He asked them next for closer descrip-
ton of the gentleman. He was young. il
appeared. He was, red i'm the face. He
| looked masterful He cursed the chair
men in a very freei and noble manner
One of the chairmen gave him his sword
to wear, which is-not- permitted in the
assembly. He was soaring all the time
| as if in great wrath
My lord" a gentleman interrupted
| the description fits Tom Rising"
Has MIR Rising been seen-in the assem-
| bly, this evening"? arr
He was not only here. but he danced
with the lady
is he here now? Let someone look for
| Mr.. Rising
There was no need to look for him. be-
cause the rooms, even the cardroom was
now empty. all people being crowded
Where does he lodge? Let some one
| go to his lodgings.
with submission. my Iord" said an
other. 1T is not at his lodgings that he
| VIII be found. After the assembly he goes
20 the Rose Tavern. where he drinks all
night
Let some one go to the Rose Tavern.
| then, and quietly. Captain Crowle. we
| will go to the Crown while inquiries are
| made. Gentlemen, there is great suspi-
| ciOu that an abominable crime hath been
| committed and this young lady hath been
| forcibly carried away for the sake of her
! fortune. | take blame to myself for not
! making sure that | was placing her in her
| own chair This is my business. But L
|
| and the COMPANY
| a dozen gentlemen stepped forward and
| offered their help and their swords. If
| necessary. Among them was Colonel Lam
| yon.
Come. then; let us adjourn to the
| Crown and make enquiries. Be of good
| cheer, captain. We will find out which
| way they took. If they have nothing but
| the chair to carry her way, We can easily
| catch them up
! Il know my girl" said the captain. 1T
| is not one man who can daunt her. nor
! will a dozen men force her to marry
| against her will If they try. there will
| be murder.
IF we cannot find the way they took.
we must scour the country
AT the gates of the garden they learned
| that the keeper had seen the chair go out.
and observed that it was closely followed
| by a gentleman whom he could only de-
scribe by his height. which taller
than the average. Now, Rising Tom was
| six feet. at least.
At the Crown. in Lord Fylingdale's
| room they held a brief consultation, after
which the gentlemen who had volunteered
their help went out into the town TO
make ENQUIRIES.
In a few minutes they began to return.
1t was ascertained that Tom Rising was
not at his lodging. nor was he at the Rose
tavern, nor could he be found at any OF
the taverns used by gentlemen. This
strengthened the suspicion against him.
Then one remembered the strange words
of the early morning In which Tom RiS-
ing had promised his friends that he
would before the next day was done be
the richest man IN the country-rich
enough to play with them until he had
stripped every man as bare as Adam
Those words were taken as mere drunken
rawlings. But now they seemed to have
had meaning. Where was Tom Rising?
Another discovery was that of the two
men belonging to the chair in which Molly
was carried Oft They were found in one
Of the low taverns by the riverside drink
Of hen
gone to speak; the other, with a stronger
head, was able to give Information, which
he was quite readEto DO. gentleman.
he said, had engaged the chair and had
given them a guinea TO drink If they
would suffer him TO md his own chair
men. His description of the gentleman
corresponded with that already furnished.
He spoke of a tail gentleman with flush
ed face and rough manner of speech. He
knew nothing more except that two men.
strangers to himself. had taken the chair
Gentlemen" said his lordship. there
can be. | fear. no doubt. The abduction
Of Miss Molly has been designed and at
tempted by Mr.. Rising Fortunately he
cannot have gone very far. 1t remains
taken
They fell to considering the various
roads which lead out of the town. There
is the highroad TO Ely Cambridge and
London, but to carry a chair with an I'M
willing lady in it on the highroad. fire.
travellers Of all kinds and strings of pack
horses. would be ridiculous There was
the road which led to the villages on the
east side of the Wash. There was also
the road to Swaffham and Norwich
Il am of opinion" said one of the gem
tlemen. that he has fixed on some lonely
place not far from Lynn where he could
make her prisoner until she complies with
his purpose and consents to marry him
Captain Crowle shook his head She
would never consent" he said. My girl
Is almost as strong as any man and quite
as resolute. There will be murder if this
villain attempts violence"
Just then the landlady of the Crown
threw open the door and burst in. "Oh,
gentlemen, gentlemen, she cried, Il have
found out where they are gone! Ride af-
ter them, Ride after them quick before
worse mischief is done. have ordered
all the horses in the stables to be sad
died There are eight. Quick gentlemeni
For the love of God. ride after them.'
Quick, quick said his lordship.
Where are they? Where are they?"
The captain sprang up.
be there yet
But where? Where?"
Mr. Rising ordered a post chaise to
wait for him at 10 o'clock
He left the gardens" said his lord
ship. about that time. Go on"
He ordered il at the Dukes Head The
postboy told the hOstler his orders. He
was to wait for Mr.. Rising at the Tray
elers Rest on the way 20 Wootten.
The Travellers Rest? What kind Of
place il that
1T is bad place, my lord-a villainous
place on lonely road up and down which
there is little travelling. 1t is a resort of
peddlers, thinkers, and the like, gypsies,
vagabonds, foOtpads, and rogues. 1t is
no place for a young lady"
1t is not, indeed said one of the gem
tlemen.
Gentlemen" the landlady repeated
ride after him, Ride after them, OH
the sweet Miss Molly
Are the horses ready"
They Will be ready in a minute"
Gentlemen, there are. you hear, eight |
horses Captain Crowle will take one. |
will take another. The remaining six are |
at your disposal | shall feel honored if |
you Will accompany me. but on one condi- |
ton; The man will fight. l SUPPOSE"
Tom Rising" one of them replied, !
would fight the devil"
One could desire nothing better. The |
condition is that when we overtak. Mr.. |
UNDERSTOOD
My lord We cannot. by your leave, al |
low your valuable life to be at the hazard |
of . duel with man both desperate and |
reckless.
Il shall take care of myself | assure /
you. Meantime, IL / fail | name Colonel |
Lanyon to succeed me. and after him, |
should he. too, unhappily fall. you Will /
yourselves name his successor. Gentle |
men, We must rescue the lady. and we |
must punish the abductor. 1 hear the |
horses. Come"
The pOstboy. foreseeing events which !
might require a clear stage. warily drew |
his chaise off the road which here wild
ened into small area trodden fiat by !
many feet into the grassy field at the /
side and stood at the horses head in
readiness.
The men on the ladder. who were pull
ing away at the thatch with zeal. stopped
their work. What's that. George?" ask
ed one. Seems like horses. They're