The times., 1901-04-21
ug them in bewilf f7rr4ent. not knowing

ton of the gentleman. He was young. it
appeared lie was,fediin the face. He
| looked masterfui He cursed the chair
men in a very free 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-
He was not only here, but he danced
| with the lady.
rs 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
| about the doors.
Where does he lodge? Let some one
| go to his lodgings
| with submission, my lord" said an
other. 1T is not at his lodgings that ne
Will be found. After the assembly he goes
70 the Rose Tavern, where he drinks all
| night"
'Let some one go to the Rose Tavern.
| then, and quickly. Captain Crowle. we
| will so TO the Crown while inquiries are
| made. Gentlemen, there is great suspi-
| ciOn that an abominabe 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 |
ask your help for the honor of the spa
| and the company
a dozen gentlemen stepped forward and
| offered their help and their swords, II
| necessary. Among them was Colonel Ian
| 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
u know my girl" said the captain. 1T
! is not one man who can daunt her, nor
| l,r-f1I hor IN ma RI
| 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 was taller
| than the average. Now, Rising Tom was
| six feet. at least.
At the Crown. in Lord Fylingdale's
room they held a Erief consultation, after
| which the gentlemen who had volunteered
! their help went out into the town TO
make ENQUIRIES.
| In 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 Rls-
ing had promised his friends that he
/
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 a meaning. Where was Tom Rising?
Another discovery was that of the two
men belonging to the chair in which Molly
was carried off. They were found in one
! Of the low taverns by the riverside drink
I ing one of them was already too far
gone TO speak; the other, with stronger
hoo, al. syfxy form
! he was quite ready.to do. a gentleman.
he said. had engaged the chair and had
given them guipea 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 tall 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
and carried it of.
| 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
for MS to find the road which he has
| taken"
They fell to considering the various
| roads which lead out of the town. There
! London, but TO carry a chair with an un-
/ willing lady in 1t on the highroad. fire.
quented by night as well as by day with
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 gen
! 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
J is almost as strong as any man and quite
/ as rcsolute. There will be murder if this
| villain attenptS 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 themi'
Quick, quick said his lordship.
Where are they? Where are they?"
The captain sprang up
They are on their way. They cannot
be there yet
But where? Where?"
! Mr.. Rising ordered a post chaise to
| wait for him at IL o'clock"
| He left the gardens, said his lord
ship, about that time. Go on"
He ordered it at the Dukes Head. The
| postboy told the hostIer his orders He
| was to wait for Mr.. Rising at the Trav-
| eler.s Rest on the way to WoOtten.'
The Travellers Rest? What kind of
1T is bad place my lord-a vinainous
| place on a lonely road up and down which
| there is little travelling. It is a resort of
! peddlers. tinkers. and the like, gypsies,
| vagabonds, footpads, and rogues. 1t is
no place for young lady"
| 1t is not, indeed said one of the gem
| tIemen.
Gentlemen" the Iandady repeated.
| ride after him, Ride after them, OH
| the sweet Miss Molly"
! Are the horses ready?'
They will be ready in minute"
Gentlemen, there are hear, eight
horses. Captain Crowle will take one.
! / viii take another. The remaining six are
/ at your disposal. | shall feel honored if
! you will accompany me. but on one condi-
tion. 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 overtake Mr..
| Rising you will leave him to me. That is
| understood? %
| My lord, 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 l assure
you. Meantime. If fail, | name Colonel
! Lanyon to succeed me. and after him.
! should ne too unhappily fall, you will
| yourselves name his successor. Gentle
| men, we must rescue the lady. and we
| must punish the abductOr / hear the
| horses Come"
| The postbOy foreseeing events which
| might require clear stage, Wariy 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