The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-03-21

flush. man." said l, SIS the officer
gone? He looked at me obviously and
trembling. Come" said /, for
knew the reputation of those parts, Il
am from Shoreham Gap yonder, and l
was near taken for an offense against
the revenue"
You are a smuggler?" said he anx-
iously. They said you were toby
man.
They will take away any decent
mans name," said l. 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"
las good man as ever rolled bar
REL" said l.
He relaxed his grip on the door.
"'Tis a sore business for me this
night" he complained.
Nay" said /, ''for will rid your
leave, or without it." says l.
He seemed relieved at that, and en-
| tered. The horses were safe, as ]
| discovered, for Grubbe must have been
| too full of his own prime business to
make search, and getting them out, l
made my preparations. l 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 glimmering arc
across the Hurtwood, as came out on
the back of Shere, and pulling out of
the long lane that gave entry to the
village, reigned up by the White
Horse From the inn streamed clam
or of laughter and without the dor
way, and well-nigh blocking it was
drawn up a carriage with a 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 tankard OF
ale If no better before took the road
over the downs to Efiingham. But
was scarce turned into the yard ere
light flung through the window peered
on a face that changed all the mo-
lions in my skull Twas Grubbe!
Leaving the horses by / went back
to the front of the inn and says l to
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
hill"
why, so twill be in good time,
said l, cheerfully; and then to the
man that came: Fetch me two quarts
well-laced with gin," said /, for te
keep the chill O. the night and the
fear of DEATH"
The coachman laughed little stout
ly, for he knew that this was his invi
tation.
whence come you then?" said I
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 and
drank. / cast my eyes up and thu
loom of the hill just t'other side of tn,
village was black and ominous.
"Oh." says I, he hangs there?"
"At the top of the London road,
says he. dipping his nose again. "Ther'
stand the gallows wher the road
cross and near the gate"
"Gallows Gate" said /, laughing
well. twas 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 an,
drink him farewell"
Leaving poor likely young mai
as yourself to starve of cold and al
empty belly here" said l. Well,