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

horse scampering Off into the night,
and, after that remounted his own
mare and Joined his comrade.
quite slowly. Miss- Betty, standing
there ankle-deep in the snow, with
drippings of 1t down her neck, began
to realize the extent of her predica-
ment. There was an irony in the
mistletoe growing above her, for surely
she would be froze to death before help
or the Christmas morning came. And
before then-for a punishment maybe
she was to see her father held up by
these wretches. He would resist he
would receive the pistol shot she had
escaped for this more cruel fate. AL
ready she could hear the dull rumble
of the coach wheels crushing through
the snow, and she could see the mon
for her eyes were frce) making prep
arations to stop It. She was not sure
If II were a minute or an age before it
came into sight. Old John sat on the
box, the groom beside him, both un-
whiting Of what awaited them. Miss
Betty longed to cry a warning, but her
mouth was fast.
Next moment a pistol shot rang In
the air to give earnest to the hoarse
cry to stop. Old John pulled I'm at
once, judging prudence best. The two
night riders had beset the coach on
either side. one of them menacing the
two men on the box, while the other
broke in the rght-hand window. and
began demanding her fathers purse
with many threats.
The 'squire's voice came out in
lusty roar: Burn me, what's this?
ON the kings highway--do zee know
me? DO zee Know I'm justice % the
peace that can make zee swing as soon
as wink"
"Therell be a Justice o. the peace
shot tonight, so be ye are no quick out
WI the gold" was the answer.
The squire roared defiance and bade
John drive on. There seemed great
likelihood Of murder being done when
all of sudden the other man gave a
cry:
Ware rescue."
Miss Betty, craninG her neck. saw
that horseman at the galop was
coming down from the other road
Black Dick drew his head from the
carriage. cursing, and in the same
time the squire had let fall the left
window with crash and beloved:
Hi. sir, at en- ride the rogues
down."
The horseman never paused, but as
he rode into the moonlight. Miss Betty
saw him change his crop in his hands
and whack the heavy butt about his
head. as he charged.
There was a spatter of pistol shots.
and she closed her eyes in fear. Open
inn he,
that a change was come. One of the
highwaymen was down man and horse
having been cannoned athwart by the
stranger, Old John had taken advan-
tage of the occasion to whip up, for
the coach was swaying and numbering
down the road toward the Manor. The
rescuer had turned on Black Dick,
who let fly with a second pistol, and
missed, and the highwayman was in
full retreat down the road to London.
The stranger turned i'm his tracks,
Gisdaining to pursue, and Miss Betty
became aware that here was Mr.. Car
rington.
The rest of il was doubtless ordained
by Providence. How Miss Betty gave
a great struggle and slipped the kerr
chief from her mouth; how her faint
cry was heard and her rescue effected
is not for me to tell. Suffice it to say
that she told her story to Mr.. Caring
ton with proper shame, as he un-
bound her from the oak tree.
"You did not think much of me-
madam" he said, half reproachfully-
which was great daring.
"But | do" said Miss Betty. "and
will love you to distraction if you will
promise never to reveal my undoing
to any man alive" Her spirits were
returning fast, and she added: I'VE
are under the mistletoe, which belike
YOU were not aware of, sir. and you
my ratify the treaty, an 1t please
YOU"
Which was done with great circum'
stance. And they rode back to the
Manor together, she on his horse be-
fore him.--London King.