The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-03-21


'Hush. man. said !, rs the officer
gone? lie looked at me dubously and
trembling. Come" said /, for I
knew the reputation Of those parts, Il
am from Shorcham Gap yonder, and I
was near taken for an offense against
the revenue"
You are smuggler?" said he anx-
iously. They said you were toby.
man"
"They will take away any decent
mans name," said |. Come, want
my horse. You have no fancy for pre-.
ventive men, I'll guess"
And this was true enough, for he
had mine OF cellars under his inn
and in the roadway.
But your friend?' said he, still wa.
vering. Him that is dead"
"As good man as ever rolled bar.
REL" said I.
He relaxed his grip on the door.
"'Tis a sore business for me this
night" he complained
Nay" said ], for | will rid your
premises of myself and friend, by your
leave, or without IT," says I.
He seemed relieved at that. and I en-.
tered. The horses were safe, as |
discovered, for Grubbe must have been
too full of his own prime business Ia
make search, and getting them out,
made my preparations. | strapped the
lads body in the stirrup so that he
lay forward on the horse with his
head a-wagging, but God deliver him)
his soul at rest. And presently we
were on the road, and threading the
wilderness of the black pine woods for
the vale below towards London.
The moon was a glmmering arc
across the Hurtwood, as came out on
the back of Shere. and pulling out oi
the long lane that gave entry to the
village, reigned up by the White
Horse. From the inn streamed a clam
or of laughter and without the door
way, and well-nigh blocking 1t was
| drawn up carriage with coachman
| In his seat that struck my eyes dimly
| in the small light. ] was not for
| calling eyes on me with the dead man
astride his horse, so | moved into the
yard. thinking to drain a tankard OF
ale II no better before | took the road
over the downs to Bingham But
| was scarce turned into the yard ere
i light flung through the window peered
on a face that changed all the no
tions in my skull. Twas Grubbe!
Leaving the horses by | went back
to the front of the inn and says | tc
the coachman that waited there as
raped loud on the door:
"Tis shrewish tonight"
"Ay," says he, In grumbling, surly
voice, Il would the country were IN
h-ll."
why, so twill be in good time,
said /, cheerfully; and then to the
man that came: Fetch me two quarts
well.laced with gin," said /, for tC
keep the chill O. the night and tn,
fear of death"
The coachman laughed little stout
ly, for he knew that this was his invi
tation.
| Whence come you them" said
delivering him the pot that was fetch
ed out.
| He threw an arm out. "Lewes,
said he, under charge with tobymar
that was for chains yonder"
He nodded towards the downs ant
drank. cast my eyes up and tn,
loom of the hill just t'other side of tn,
| village was black and ominous.
| "oh." says ], "he hangs there?"
"At the top of the London road,
says he, dipping his nose again. "Ther,
stand the gallows where the road
cross and near the gate"
| "Gallows Gate" said /, laughing
"Well, twas a merry job enough"
| "Ay," says he, but this we nigh
have been far towards London town
whittier most OF us are already gone
But twas not his meaning. He mus
come back with the Lewes sheriff ant
drink him farewell"
Leaving a poor likely young maj
as yourself to starye of cold and al
empty belly here" said l.. Well,