Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-02-03


sirs; jewels, trinkets, snuffboxes, If of
gold; pins, fobs, seals-these are all the
toll l demand, and shall be forced to
collect IL you show any disposition to
deny"
/ 1t might be wisely argued that while
; this speech was being made any gen.
/ tleman might have either run the high
wayman through or put an ounce Of
lead into his heart, but the fact of the
matter was each gentleman found him
self face to face with another gentle
man who held blunderbuss up to
within three inches of his nose.
My lady's first thought had been that
Sir Robins men had not waited for
the Sunday night to come, but present
ly she recognized the truth, and, stung
by the fact that Sir Percy had put
himself between her and danger, she
was the only one of the whole company
who stirred in her saddle other than
to do the bidding Of Tom Kidde.
| While the rest were busily engaged
In emptying their treasures she, max
ing feint to do the same, says very low
and tauntingly to Sir Percy:
Had but one to show fight with me
I'd ne'er give in to these scoundrels."
Gas soon done us said, Sir Robin"
whispers Percy. mo man can say
Pm his lesser in couragew with which
he wrests his bride from the black
guard whose hands upon it, whips out
his sword with one hand, picks out his
pistol with the other, grips his reins in
his teeth and strikes with steel and
shot, both at once.
Pegs his match, initiating him with
such a will rs sets every gentleman
of 'em a-shooting, a-lungingeand a-curs-
ing with all the arms and breath he's
got, and sets the robbers for a second
to their wits, for they are not used to
any sort Of encounter save one that's
terror stricken and submissive in the
opponent.
IT'S bit Of melee quite in the dark,
slashing and pounding betwiXt the
branches, now man endorsed, anon
up again; shots resounding, powder
flashing, until in about ten minutes or
less the chief makes plunge for Sir
Percy, crying out:
$50 twas you said fight vast?
Have care! No man can defy Tom
Kidde and live to tell it!'
"Nay! shouts her ladyship, with
spurs all inches into the gray's sides,
making him rear MS she puts herself
between Percy and the highwayman.
"'Twas said .fightr"
Whiz! And ball intended for Sir
Percy strikes the gray dead under her.
Whiz! and her ball strikes Tom
kidde from his mount.
In less time than it takes to tell 1t,
| Peg was straight in the highwayman's
saddle. He was picked up by two of his
men, bleeding, set before one of 'cm and
off. My lords and gentlemen find them
selves once more alone in the midst of
Epstowe forest, a-crawling about on
tfeh. hands and knees a-gathering up
their spilled guineas and trinkets by
flash of finder box.
Sir Percy, trying to explain to them
who had been the means Of their re-
covering their valuables and of putting
the desperadoes to flight, cries out:
II tell you, we owe't all to Sir Robin
here! 'Slife, gentlemen, I'd not have
ventured to think of resistance had it
1'.st.a,,ssr,efy.'Arf., was ne .,ei ia, ts5.se
in my ear, Tight! and, by CAD, sirs,
he's lost more'n any of us-the horse
shot under him!"
1.-THE gray's well lost teaching Tom
Kidde he can't terrify all the men in
England" answers the Beau from his
sprawling search after his diamond
snuffbox.
"Ho, Sir Robin! Sir Robin! Sir
Robin!" Sir Wyatt shouts it out, and
the rest of the company take it up with
long, mellow cadence that echoes for
mile.
Answer, man, for, by the faith, if
we can't pledge you here in anything
but a lap of May dew out of prim-
rose leaf, we'll drink you such bump
er an we reach the White Horse as
never was filled before! London III
toast you at every dinner table in May.
fair. Odzooks, sir, were you the fash.
ion yesterday, what will you be tomor.
row?" This from Escombe
Where Is Sir Robin?" asks Percy.
HE was beside me not five seconds
since, but now, by my finder, nor yet
by the coming dawn, can l descry
him." shading his eyes with his hand
and peering about for of truth tits
close to o'clock, and, Notwithstanding
the heavy clouds. the east begins to
thrill with the touch of day.
robin! Sir Robin! Ho now! Think
not to play trick on us and presently
spring from greenwood tree" says
Wootton.
"Sir Robin" eXclaims Percy loudly,
Il pray you answer and leave not your
friends to imagine evil"
"rut, tut, evil" puffs the Beau, ris-
Ing from his knees EVIL III never hap
pen to him. POUNDS, but my legs ache!
He's laughing in his sleeve now hard
by. Robins not one to court notice or
praise-as modest youth as | ever
beheld."
WORTHY of Lady Peggy Burgoyne
even, supposed" says Mr. Chalmers
mischievously as lie adjusts his recov-
cred fob. 81 could embrace him for the
rendering of me back my watch, but
think him a fool to cscllew good com
pany and make home alone to town."
Jack" says Percy low, 81 like not
his quitting of us. Twas too sudden.
! believe I'll so a-hunting him." pull
ing his rein as tile cavalcade once more
prepared to start
"Wherc?" asks Jack. bah! Be not
such Il ninny! Belize he's off to his
lady to win kisses off her lips by the
rehearsal of his prowcss An Il man
chooses to flee me, ! let him Do you
the same, Percy. Ills good advice,
promise you"
but suppose those devils attack him
again when alone?" says this one, not
all reassured, as lie and Jack linger
bit in the rear of their companions.
| Go TO the DEVIL" remarks Mr. Cbol-