Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-18
She Hrgus Daily Short Story
When Lady Betty Held the Gand1e.-By Ormond Grey.
copyrighted
Copyrighted 1908, by Jessie Morgan.)

Inc members of the profession. Our
two merry thieves Were to abduct the
Lady Betty and her jewel box and
hang on to them until meeting me on
foaming steed, and l was then to drive
them away in short order with pistol
and rapier and rescue tie damsel all
forlorn.
In her gratitude and admiration, how
could she say nay when | asked that
the marriage day be named and that
thereishould be no more trifiing?
Fate ordained that my horse should
cast shoe and that / should be an
hour late at the rescue, and even then
1t was to learn that the Lady Betty,
suspecting my plans and determined
to balk them, had actually remained
behind at Featherstone and sent only
her maid forward in the coach. Sir
Hugh and l had planned according to
military tactics, but simple maid
had brought our endeavors to naught.
/ The weather had changed, and the
rain was pouring down, and yet
must ride back to Featherstone and
secure confederation of the maids
story before could feel at ease. Back
rode to be told that when the coach
left the inn Lady Betty had taken to
horse to complete her journey by an
other road.
If she had accomplished this without
adventure. then l would have been a
butt of ridicule indeed. Fate was wait
ing to play her shabby trick, how
ever.
The highwaymen who had stopped
the coach on the east road had gallop-
ed away to the west by a crossroads,
and as she reached this in her ride she
fell into their hands. \ hut in the
woods, in which they were making
a temporary home, was close at hand
and thither they conducted the fright
ened and lameEting maiden, to shut
her Up in the back room while they sat
down in the front one to eat, drink and
make merry over their plumber.
Flowing my way over the eXecrabe
roads amid the downpour, my eye sud-
denly caught the twinkle of a light in
the forest, and | dismounted and ap-
preached on foot. Through the open
windows | heard the talk of men.
Passing to the rear of the hut. drew
| myself up TO n sashless opening and
softly called to know if any one was
there.
THANK heaven, it's thee, Jeffry"'
came the voice of the Lady Betty in
| prompt response. 81 am in the hands
of highwaymen and almost dead with
fright. Hast thou sword and pistol
with thee, dear boy:'
'1n truth have but as you have Oft
asserted that the former is but q toy
and the latter danger for a youth to
! experiment with, | know not how such
| arms can aid you in this emergency"
| Nay, nay, Jeffry. l may have spoken
| slightingly, but it was only the way
| of a willful maid. However, if thou
| hast taken it too much at heart. or ii
thou doubtest thy courage or skill''-
| Then | was beside her and my arm
around her. 1t was well that | had
not remained longer outside. OF sud
+, den the men in the front room rose uI
and flung open the door between US
one of them having flaring candle il
! his hand, and at the sight of them the
/ girl moaned and covered her face with
her hands.
4 The ruffians started for a moment
and then drew pistols from their belts
| The three of us pulled triggers togeth
err, but our powder was damp and
there was no explosion. Then one
| sprang back and possessed himself OF
| their swords, and next moment l was
fighting the pair of them.
1 love to look back on that hour. The
glance that my sweetheart gave me
would have put heart into a coward
She stopped and lifted up the candle
and backed into corner and held il
| during all the fipht | tool, the Corner