The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-05-11
SILVER SPUR

Captain"
heard the boat pushed of, some good
nights called, and then the voice Of my
Della lifted in entreaty. As guessed,
she was beseeching the sailors to take her
back to the sloop, nor leave her to these
villains. There followed, a short scrim-
mage, and at last, above the splash of
the retreating boat, came the tramp OF
heavy feet on the road below.
So fired was / at the sound Of Delia's
voice that 1t was with much ado l kept
quiet behind the bush. Yet I had wit
enough left to look to the printing Of my
pistol and also to bid the captain shout
again. AS he did so a light shone out
down the road and around the corner
came a man bearing q lantern.
Cant be quicker. Captain" he called.
THE jade struggles so that Dick and
Jeremy ha' their hands full"
Sure enough, after him there came in
view two stopping forms that bore my
dear maid between them-one by the
feet, the other by the shoulders. 1 ground
my teeth to see it, for she writhed sore
~. On they came,i however. until not
more than ten PAGES off; and then that
traitor, Luke Settle, rose up behind our
bush.
'Set her here, boys" said he.
SWELL met, Captain said the fellow
with the lantern-Reuben Gedges-step-
ping forward; ''give US your hand"
He was holding out his own, when
sprang up, set the pistol close to his chest
and fred. His scream mingled with the
roar Of it, and dropping the lantern. he
threw up his hands and tumbled in a
heap. At the same moment out went the
light, and the other rascals, dropping De-
LA. turn'd to run, crying, "Sold-sold!'
But behind them came now a shout
from Billy, and a crashing blow that
almost severed Black Dicks arm at the
shoulder; and ct the same instant I was
on Master Toys cellar. and had him
down in the dust. Kneeling on his chest.
with my sword point at his throat, 1 had
leisure to glance at Billy, who in the
dark seem'd to be sitting on the head Of
his disabled victim. And then / felt a
touch on my shoulder, and dear face
peer'd into mine.
rs it Jack-my sweet JackT
ITO be sure" said /; "and If you but
reach out your hand, / will kiss it, for
all that I'm busy with this rogue"
"Nay. Jack, I'll kiss thee on the cheek
so! Dear lad, 1 am so frightened, and
yet could laugh for joy!"
But now l caught the sound of gallop-
ing on the road above, and shouts, and
then more galloping; and down came a
troop of horsemen that were like to have
ridden over US, had 1 not shouted Justify.
"Who in the fend's name Is here?'
shouted the foremost, pulling in his horse
with scramble.
Honest men and rebels together" l
answered; "but light the lantern that
you will find handy by, and you shall
know one from t'other."
By the time twas found and lit, there
was a dozen Of Colonel John Digby's
dragons about us; and before the tv o
villains were bound, comes a half doz IN
more, leading in Captain Settle, that had
taken to his heels at the first blow and
climb'd the hill. all tied as he was, and
was caught in his endeavor to Chamber
on Molly's back. So he and Black Dick
and Jeremy Toy were strapp'd up; but
Reuben Gedges we left on the road for q
corpse.
But as we were ready to start, and /
was holding Della steady on Molly's
back, up comes Billy and bawls in my
ear:
There's a second horse, IL wanted,
that l spied tether'd under hedge youn-
der"-and he pointed to the field where
we had first found Captain Settle-"in
color a sad black, an harnessd like as if
he came from a cart"
1 look'd at the captain, who in the
| light Of the lantern blink'd again. Thou
bloody villainw muttered l, for now ]
read the tragedy of the wagon beside the
road. and knew how Master Settle had
provided horse for lis own escape.
But hereupon the word was given, and
we started up the hill. / walking by De-
LAS stirrup and listening to her talk as
if we had never been parted-yet with
a tenderer joy, having by loss Of il
| learn'd to appraise my happiness Alright
CHAPTER XXI.