The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

years afterward, a highwayman whose leeds rang through all the country and became the subject of ballad and tale that often entranced the unsuspecting ears of the bereaved Piggy.
 Captain Lovett, said the tales, could cutride, outright and outgeneral any man in England. Captain Lovett, alias How ard, alias Jackson, alias Cavendish, alias Solomons, alias Devil. admitted the thief oatchers reluctantly, was certainly at the head of the most daring and successful band of gentlemen of the road that ever operated.
 The ballads told how he had danced measures with great ladies on the road, who had then though he refrained from robbing them, begged him to accept a gem as a token. He had despoiled wealtht and solemn travellers, and had returned their goods to them as payment for doing some ridiculous thing to amuse him and his roaring men. For one that he robbed he had succored a score; so that for one thief-catcher who was after him there were a hundred devoted post boys, stable men and other adherents and spies to warn him and hide ms trdll.
 All these stories fell on greedy ears in so professional place as Mrs Margery Lobkin's. The old lady shook her head in respectful and appreciative homage and applied herself more assiduously than ever to the gin bottle, until, becoming maudlin, she would break out into loud lamenta- tion over the disappearance of her little if..,-t -to.J her rudely and none of them dreamed that the gay Captain Lovett was the little Paul Lobkins.
 Captain Lovett took good care that none should trace him. He had seen too many instances of loving pride betraying men who were safe against treachery. He had left Paul I.oblxins" behind in his first and only jail; and the few of his present associates who knew of his past were bound by a sacred oath not to re- veal it.
 Gallantly he had held the road. Great men whom he had robbed forgot the theft in the courtesy with which it was done. He charmed distinguished travellers with his conversation and manners, so that  and deliver they hardly felt the sting. The tongue of rumor said that more than one beauty had faller in love with him, de- spite his mask, crediting his graceful per son with possessing an equally admirable countenance
 One day there came to Captain Lovett, taking his lordly ease in his inn, spy who reported that the great Lord Maul- everer was to travel over a certain road 50 miles from London. Lord Mauleverer, high In the councils of the King, luxu- rious to proffigacy, was sure to carry with him rich prjse of jewels and cash. Se- lecting his two most trusted men, Captain Lovett rode forth.
 Arriving at the scene of their opera lions a day ahead of time, his companions found need to amuse themselves by reliev- ing a country parson of his coin. Captain Lovett came to his rescue and accompa- nied the frightened old gentleman home. There he met the girl whom he had seen at the theatre when he was arrested Lucy Brandon
 There was no danger of recognition, even had Miss Brandon noticed the lad at that far-off time. Little Paul'' had be- come a tall and sinewy man, erect and bold in air, whose handsome and even chivalric face was framed by glorious curls, while a small black mustachio heightened the resolute expression of his { short, curved lip.
 He wore a frock of dark green, edged with narrow silver lace. short riding cloak. clasped across the throat with silver buckle, hung picturesquely over one i shoulder, while his legs were encased in 1 military boots rising above the knee.
 That evening he accompanied Miss Bran don home in Warlock Manor; and when he rode to rejoin his comrades 1t was with a heart tumultuous with love and brain that thought neither of lords nor robber- ies. but was occupied solely with plan hing ways to see the girl again.
 However, despite the new and over wheming interest which had come into his life Captain Lovett conducted the cer- emony of robbing his lordship with all perfection. As Mauleverer had just been made Lord Lieutenant of his county and l was on the books for still higher non ors. the affair caused a great hue and cry to go out; but, as usual, Captain Lovett disappeared as effectually as the devil. whose name he bore occasionally.
 The robbery had been forgotten by all except Lord Mauleverer himself when an old aunt of Lucy Brandon died and left the girl her entire fortune of 96OO0O. The news gratified her ambitious lawyer-uncle immensely. He decided at once to intro duce his nece into society in the hope that she would win Lord Mauleverer, who had already expressed himself as gra- ciously charmed by her beauty and man. ner.
 The Honorable William Brandon opened a fine house in Bath and invited his niece. with her honest. simple father,
 Squire Brandon. The latter accustomed to go through life good naturedly, sus-
 pecting no man, accepted his brothers sudden hospitality as a simple matter oi family affection They had drifted apart
 many years before, and the country
 squire did not dream of the passionate
 ambitions that famed in his learned
 brother.
 It was more than rumored that the lord
 was to be made Knight of the Garter
 and chamberlain, while Mir. Brandon was , to be made judge, with the certainty of
 becoming Chief Justice and Chief Baron.
 So society gathered around them eagerly,
 and William Brandon began to think that | Lord MauIeverer vUas a,rro If L,,cv xvhen