The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-03-16
/ SILVER SPUR
CHAPTER w.

over the bridge and climbing the high
ground beyond South Hincksey, with a
shrewd northeast wind at my back, could
! spare time for a second backward look
I pulled out the letter that Anthony had
given me. In the moonlight the brown
smear OF his blood was plain to see run
ming across the superscription:
To our trusty and well-beloved Sil
Ralph Hopton at our Army in Cornw al
these"
Twas no more than / looked for.
the sight of it and the Kings red la
Quickened my step as l set off again
And l cared not a straw for Dr.. Kettles
wrath on the morrow.
Having no desire to fall in with any
Of the royal outposts that lay around
Abingdon, L fetched we'll away to the
west, meaning to shape my course fol
Faringdon, and So into the great Bath
road IT'S not my purpose to describe
at any length my itinerary, but rather
to reserve my pen for those more moving
events that overlook me later.
Twas about 3 in the evening. and
still laboring along, when, over the low
hedge to my right. a man on sorrel
mare leaped easily as a swallow. and
aighted some ten PAGES or less in front
Of me; where he dismounted and stood
barring my path. The muzzle Of his pis-
tol was in my face before / could lay
hand to my own.
Good 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 / knew him
for Captain Settle; and in the sorrel
with the high white stocking I recog
nized the mare, Molly, that poor An
thony Killigrew had givel X , almost
with his last breath.
The bully did not know me, having but
seen me for an instant at ''The Crown,
and then in very different attire.
II have but a few poor coins,' I an
swered-
Then hand 'em over"
BE shot if 1 dor' said in a passion
and pulling out handful from my
pocket, dashed them down in the road
For a moment the Captain took his
pistol from my face, and stopped tc
clutch at the golden coins as they trickled
and ran to right and left The next
had struck out with my right fist, and
down he went staggering. His pistol
between my feet. I rushed to Molly
caught her bride, and leapec on her
back. 1t was a near thing, fer the cap
tain was rushing toward US. But at the
call Of my voice the mare gave bound
and turned; and down the road / was
borne, light feather.
A bullet whizzed past my ear; heard
the Captains rageful shout mingle with
A. - -
and galloping through the dusk.
Secure Of pursuit, and full Of delight
In the mares easy motion, I must have
Travelled a good six miles before the
moon rose. In the frosty sky her rays
sparkled cheerfully. and by them I saw
on the holsters the silver demi-bear that
I knew to be the crest OF the Killigrews
having the fellow to it engraved on my
sword hilt. So now was certain it was
Molly that l bestrode, and took occa-
sion OF the light to explore the holsters
and saddle flap.
Poor Anthony's pistols were gone
6lched, no doubt, by the Captain: but
you may guess my satisfaction when on
thrusting my hand deeper, / touched a
heap Of coins and found them to be gold
1t was certainly a rare bargain / had
Or six gold pieces 1 scattered on the road
I had won close OH thirty guineas, as
count ed in the moonlight; not to speak OF
to whistle gleefully, and taste the joke
over again and laugh to myself, as we
cantered along with the north wind al
eur backs.
AL the same, hau no relish for riding
thus till morning. For the night was
chill enough to search my very bones
and, moreover, l knew nothing of the
road, which at this hour was quite de-
serted. So that, coming at length to 9
tall hill with a black ridge Of pine wood
standing up against the moon like fsh's
I'm, / was glad enough to note below it
and at some distance from the trees, 4
window brightly lit, and pushed for
ward in hope Of entertainment.
The building was an inn, though 8
sorry one. Nor, save for the lighted win
dow, did it wear any grace of hospi
talityl Round the house, and into the
main yard the wind howled like a beast
In pain / climbed of Molly, and press
ing my hat down on my head, struck q
loud rat-tat on the door.
Curiously, it opened at once, and
saw a couple of men in the lighted pas
sage.
Heard the mares heels on the road
Cap Hillo! What in the tends name
y this?'
Said L: az you are he that keeps this
house, 1 want two things Of you-frst
q civil tongue, and next, bed"
Yell get neither, then"
''You keep an inn?'
'Aye-the Three Cups; bur we're
full"
Your manner of speech proves tina,
to be lie."
liked the fellows voice so little thai
It's odds I would have remounted Molly
and ridden away; but at this instant
there ioated down the stairs and out
through the passage a sound that made
me jump. Twas girls voice singing:
1 turned sharply toward the landlord
The second man, that till now had stood
well back in the shadow, was peerine
forward and devouring Molly with h;
taze Twas hard to read MS featur
hit then and there / would have W..
cred my life he was no other than Luke
Settles comrade, Black Dick.
Ny mind was made up. I'm not ride
4 step further tonight" said I
Then bide there and freeze"
- ECHAPTER ". -
TIE landlord was for slamming the
aoor in my face. when the other caught
him by the arm and whispered -.3rd OF
two. / guessed what this meant but