Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-01-10
HI HICHWAYMAID
A Tale of the OLden Time
BY Julia Downing

BY Julia DOWning

QooTED and spu.red. and sa,bed as a
way In the winking starlight. With
the old hunting-crop in one hand. and the
the soft night gloom 70 the ground: Il was
q moment Of hesitation. Then Tom flung
up bis head and neigned his plant against
warm stable in midnight hours to the labors
OF the saddle. The sound filled her with
swift alarms. and the hesitation fed in q
and Tom sped through the darkened village
street. between the rows OF dim windows.
behind Which the good folk snored the sleep
rible clatter on the road. and she was glad
way beyond. where his hoof-bs.ts became
without pause. then suddenly Tom was bid
den be wary: and guided to the grass at
the side ss,s Of the sn : .n;m., IL y; ;s;s,';s.n dsin thy
knowing the hand upon the rein perfectly.
Afsr on the air came the beat of other
Tom anne to a standstill obediently. and
stood with never so much as a paving OF
the ground. The hoof-beats drew nearer
IN a the feeble sta starlisht.' The hand upon
the rein quivered one brief instant ere Tom
felt himself hurled forward. to intercept the
PROCESS 81 the approaching cavalier.
Y The newly arrived horse SHE'D. and would
have skirted about Toms nose and escaped
Uut IL "a wan hot " ~ II loku
neatly prevented the nervous movement hav-
ing its effect.
Tom smiled the air: his mistress voice
IN those threatening tones rather puzzled
'Deliver your bag" she demanded next.
bag. friend!"
I'VE l0 isrdsP,p, DF, was the hs'' ses, Question.
Don't handy words, my fine fellow"
Pardon me. have no bag" was the re-
Instantly the others arm was raised. and
there was a faint outline Of a cooked pis-
eS'; shs. w WOW sr' tSen You my 70 1 sSnr the f%s1I bag.
at your quickest!"
81 protest; you are mistaken in your
and one but poorly equipped for gentlemen
OF your profession to attack. I haven't the
price Of a nights lodging upon me-, for.
ready. and but escaped with my life and my
horse. Your confreres have been before
bah, A pretty tale. but one you'l not
bag from under yon cloak
"How shall l give up what ! do not pos
"Give UP what you are carrying you are
but a servant. and need fear nothing II you
The other did not answer at once; then
II judge by your voice that you are but O
slim slip OF a boy to be engaged In this
"Tis your hasty judgment that calls 1t
unworthy" was the retort. Look you now.
I'll be honest with you. I have no desire
to hurt you. and II you give up what ! am
otherwise" and the arm went up again
with the cooked pistol In the hand.
We'll, having admitted that l am, un.
armed, you certainly have the best Of It,"
said the other. "But I repeat. ! have moth
self asking me-"
II do not want to connscate the bag. but
only to extract from 1t a certain document
and my business will be concluded
Again the stranger h~esitated ere speak
ing. and leaned a little towards his neighbor.
II get the idea that you are not a we'll
DDS are-weii. scarce peremptory enough"
"Oh, l can be peremptory enough. ! warn
you." was the quick response. 81 but give
you the chance Of settling my demand with
"And IL can't. or wont!"
." have already shown you that I am
Hin, And you want q certain bag. and
out Of that bas a certain documentT'
"But how can we sort papers to discover
the particular one you seek In the dark
"No trouble about that" came the swift
reply. II have q lantern and finder box
among my equipment"
y see you are prepared for all contin.
.esdy the light whil' ! loosen the buckles
No sooner sussssted that she dismountsd
and began to unfasten the lantern from the
light aso1 ou seem tr e aye r: : : . As sSs s oss.r'
| Judging by the airiness OF your flight from