Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-05-30
-. Fl: 81 Il. b - -. -.

with a humorous twinkle in his sharp.
black eyes, "mine Is. as you see. a
most desirable beast, especially as 10
his GAIT"
II am sure that il you consider him
desirable you had better keep him,
remarked Mr.. Burns, his ow- grave
aud wrinkled face relaxing little, 81
should not wish 90 relieve you Of him.
NE. j no wish re good 'orse az all.
dis one suit me var we'll" said Vas
scur.
The young preacher chncklcd and
F turned quarter about IN his saddle.
SO that has weight was all on his left
stirrup.
suddenly he lei fail she bridle-reins
and. with lightning celebrity. suatchcd
both the pistols from the saddie-bow
Buras ansi Nasseur founl them
selves loo King each into the vawuinC
muzzle OF a weapon held by a hand %
steady rs a stone wall.
"Dismouut-botho on the same side
therc. gentlemen" came the cold. dc
termined order. land hold up your
hands, or TN bore you. center through,
before vou can wink"
Then aud there the young preacher
robbed Nasseur of his money. a dagger
and his horse. and. after placing the
lno bride and saddle upon the latter.
mounted. and. with a hooking laugh,
rakish bow and kiss of the fingers.
rode away. He had touched nothing
belonging 20 Mr.. Burns.
IL Is not known whether or not NIr.
Burns vas taken by surprise when
NesscCr BEGAN 20 rage aud swear
and curse like buccaueer. his
expietivcs ranging through the scale
of three or -four languages. but that
he stood quietly by. his face inscru-
tably mournful Units expression. his
thin. bony hands hanging a. his sides,
Is we'll authenticated.
\asscur exhausted himself n pro-
family, and then was fain 20 put has
own saddle and bride on the stranger
lame horse i'm order 60 proceed on the
journey.
Burns objected 70 this
Take my beast. he said. est viii
serve your purpose better. brother.
The lame one viii be good enough ,or
me- "
Nasseur looked abashed, for the
thought had flashed into his mind
that very second 20 do FOR Burns
what the other preacher bad done ior
him.
''You need this strong beast o..
mine" Burns urged. ''to carry ont
your plans. Do not hesitate; he is
yours, take him and welcome. cau
get on with the other"
Tho little Frenchman was inwardly
startled. What did Burns know o,
his plaas? lad he suddenly OWNED
them?
''loI have undertaken q difficult.
! an almost impossible thing, brother.
d aud You caunot afford 20 be poorly
2 mounted Ia case OF need" went on
the old man. This is = good, strong
d horse. and, although he does not loob
SO, Is very swift one Take him.
give him 20 you
Ii was while they we're parleying on
7 this subject, Nasseur pretending thai
; he was objectingt % Burns's generosity
p that the old man stopped and picked
D up a folded letter. the seal of which
p had been broken. lie opened il with
out hesita,iov, and found il TO be :
q short note addressed 20 John A. Muir
p rell-a name which, a few years later
u was that Of the most desperate aut
enterprsing outlaw ever known il
J. America.
D. Is would have been better for Vas
II seur had le accepted the proiere,
e horse at oice: then he might hav,
q escaped tie unpleasant ezDerienc,
< which soon followed.
l. Like msny another pretender b,
l. fingered too Ions TO accentuate anl
collaterally reinforce his assumed sin
IS cerity
Y Ii may have beenthe steady, search
y ing gaze that Burn. bent upon him. j
y may have been the Did mans singular
y expression of kindness, or il ma,
ID have been the PECULIAR turn of tn,
e adventure Just passed through; az al
events, influenced by some power
Ii Vasseur stood hesiating and demur
d ring until three clipping horsemer
Sc armed 10 the teen were close upol
Sc them.
Burns saw the Isw-comers first sn(
H. with a spasm-hke movement he tixeC
n. his eyes anon i.e leader, his fac,
~ shriveiing and bleaching IN = startling
oy manner.
Nasseur turned uickly as the some
id Of horses feet BEND him shook hin
out of his insinceity, and it was nov
Il bis turn 20 show nazement, surprise
as and despair all codensed in a singh,
OF stare.
The riders reisd in their horses
at and halted a rodiistsnt, forming
rs finely picturesqu group set agains
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