The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-23
On the Kings Highway.
BY SAMUEL CRUMMlCK.

road at night with such a dread?"
He saith he did lose his way and did
wander for many miles in the darkness
and in dread before he saw our light
Stay, here he comes,"
Then did the man appear. and David did
note that he was of fine stature and OF
some gailantry of air. which did not bear
out the report Of such unmanly cowardice.
But the stranger entered into converse
with David. and told him, as 'twere a Sc
cret. that he was burdened with much gold
ana papers or great import which he car
rled in his charge for Others and craved
the company OF one who bore such an ap-
pearance of spirit and valor as did David.
Though the stranger spoke thus and
fairly. David did have his own thoughts.
Especially that the stranger did hang upon
his heels. ne'r letting him out of sight.
and did want TO see his pistols and exam
inc them, to compare with his own.
And while ne was about this. the land
lord as BIZ chance, did call David out to
the door of the inn. 10 show him a double
yoke of oxen that did pass that way and
was the talk and admiration of all that
country.
Then VIXEN David did get his pistols
back, with stealth and circuuspection
press his little finger up into the muzzle
and behold there were no bullets within.
which David had looked to with care in his
chamber that morning
But David held his peace. and did
straightway agree to give the traveller his
company TO Cambridge. Then did they set
forth, after good repast, and rode upon
their way, until they came to an open
country, where no house was seen nor
any traveller before or behind
"Methinks it is here" spoke the strarg-
er, that our dreaded foe, as rumor hath
1t, IS wont ofttimes to appear"
'Methinks," quoth David, I'VE shall
know somewhat more of him before an
other quarter hath struck in the steepIe
at Puckerbridge.'
Say you SO? And wherefore"
BY certain signs and auguries which
the moon hath given me-"
Il am not skilled in these mysteries.
and I would fain know by what means
one of your youth can divine, as have
oft heard OF, these wondrous revelations
from nature"
Nay, to one unskiIled by study in these
arts, the means is not to be thus lightly
told and comprehended. Let the results
suffice. Even now. know that this viii
lain is at hand"
rs it so? Then let us look to our
arms"
mine are ready. Look. Do you not
see him."
THAT l do not, nor YOU
AYE, but do
"Where?"
''At my side-and you are hei'
Now did the countenance of the stran-
ger turn, and he did look surprised and
of visage most menancing. And he did
exclaim an oath and dash forward TO bar
the way for David.
And if l be he he cried, stand and
deliver,'
Stand will mott" cried David in turn.
But for the delivery, it will be of thy
body to the sheriff of London town..
Then did the robber see that David had
purpose to make il an issue, and he did
draw mis- pistol.
But David had unloosed his cloak and
held it loose before him, knowing full
well that a curtain of such unstable sub
stance were oft better than bulwark OF
wood against a bullet. Then did he also
draw his trusty dagger and set his horse
a-tilt at the man full bravely.
The man did fire, and the ball pierced
David's cloak, SO that he felt it strike
against his coat Of mail.
But David laughed and ran his horse
upon the man with a mighty shock and
plunged the dagger into his side full to
the hilt, so that the man fell and moved
no more after IittIc while.
Twas then David made search upon his
person and found many things to show 1t
was even he of the black mask; ave. it
was the mask itself he found, with many
trinkets and articles of value which had
been proclaimed as taken by this man
Awhile and n carter car1e that way
whom David persuaded by promise of
piece of gold to turn himself toward Lon
don; and they did take the body up and
that none might see; and so they jour-
neyed 10 LONDON and TO the Sheriff CT that
place, where David did get his hundred
pounds and much praise from them which
had found loss by the man.
And among such there were some of
high station who took interest of David
aCkshaw for what he had done, who pro-
cured TOR him a place in the Kings Foot,
whereby David went to the wars with
many adventures and hard knocks. which
were much to Davids taste-which for
me, do not envy him.