The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-01

still laboring along, when, over the
low hedge to my right, a NAL on 4
sorrel mare leaped easily as q swallow,
and alightcd some ten PAGES or less in
front OF me; where he diSmOulted and
| stood barring my path. The muzzle Of
bis pistol was in my face before could
lay hand TO my own.
Coed evening" said I.
You have money about you, doubt
less" Growled the man CURLY, and in
a voice that made me start. For by
| his voice and figure in the dusk l knew
him for Captain Settle: and i'll the sor-
rel with the high white stocking I
recognized the mare Molly. that poor
Anthony Killigrew had given MI al
most with his last breath.
The bully did not know me, having
but seen me for an instant at 1.-THE
| Crown ard then in very different
attire.
81 have but a few poor COINS" I an
swered.
Then hand 'em over"
"Be shot if 7 do" said l in a passion;
and pulling out q handful from my
pocket, i dashed them down in the
road.
For a moment the Captain took his
pistol from my face, and stopped to
clutch at the golden coins as they
trickled and raj to right and left. The
next, I had struck out with my right
fist, and down he went staggering.
His pistol dropped out of his hand and
exploded between my feet. / rushed
to Molly, caught her bride, and leaped
on her back. 1t was a near thing, for
the captain was rushing toward me.
But at the call of my voice the mare
gave a bound and turned; and down
the road I was borne, light as a
feather.
A bullet whizzed past my ear; ]
heard the Captains curse mingle with
the report; and then was out of range,
and galloping through the dusk.
Secure of pursuit, and full of delight
in the mares easy motion, l must have
travelled a good six miles before the
moon rose. In the frosty sky her rays
sparklcd cheerfully, and by them I saw
on the holsters the silver demi-bear
| that l knew to lie the crest of the XII
!igrews, having the fellow to it en-
| graved on my sword hilt. SO now l
| was certain it was Molly that / be-
| strobe, and took occasion of the light
to explore the holsters and saddle
flap.
Poor Anthony's pistols were gone
fIchcd, no doubt, by the Captain; but
you may guess my satisfaction when,
on thrusting my Land deeper. touched
a heap of coins, and found them to be
geld.
1t was certainly a rare bargain / had
driven with Captain Settle. For tie
five or six gold pieces 1 scattered Oh
the road. / had Won close on thirty
| Suincas. as ! counted in the moonlight;
not to speak of this Incompatible
Molly. Ard l began TO whistle glee-
fully, and taste the joke over again
and laugh to myself, as we cantered
along with the Forth wind 1T our
backs.
All the same, l bad nc relish for rid
ing thus till morning. For the night
was chill enough to search my very
bones after the heat of the late gallop;
and, moreover, l knew nothing of the
road, which at this hour was quite de-
serted. So that, coming at length to
q tall hill with a black ridge Of pine
wood standing up against the moon
like q fish's fin, l was glad enough to
note below it, and at some distance
from the trees, q window brightly lit,
and pushed forward in hope Of enter
tainment.
The building was an inn, though a
sorry one. Nor, save for the Lighted
window, did it weir any grace OF hos
pitality, but thrust out q bare shoulder
upon the road, and a sign that creaked
overhead and looked for all the world
like q gallows. Round this shoulder
of the house, and into the main yard
| Chat turned churiishly toward the hill
| side), the wind how!ed like a beast in
pain. I climbed off Molly, and press
ing my hat down on my head, struck
a loud ratt-tat on the door.
C~uriously, it opened at once, and l
| saw 4 couple Of men in the lighted
passage.
Heard the mares heels on the road,
Cap Hillo! What in the fiend's
name Is this"
Said I: IF you are he that keeps
this house, l want two things of you
first, a civil tongue, and next q bed"
yell get neither, then"
"Your sign says that you keep an
inn"
"Aye--t the Three Cups but we're
full"
Your manner OF speech proves that
to be a lie"
l liked the fellows voice so little
that its odds l would have rcmounted
Molly and ridden away; but at this
instant there flUated down the stairs
and out through the Gark-smelling pas
sage 4 sound that made me jump.
Twas 4 girls voice singing:
Hey nonni-nonni-no! e
Men are fools that wish to diei
Js't not fine to laugh and sing
When the bells of death do ring"
There was no doubt upon it. The
voice belonged to q young gentle
woman l had met at Hungerford. I
turned sharply toward the landlord,