The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-02-16

TN THE good old days when highway
assaults were rife, and solitary post
chaise travellers never jonrneyed with
out pistols in their pockets, and tremor
at their hearts; when strange feats in
the shape of starlight robberies were
boosted of and u knight of the Road"
aspired to be called a gentleman, the
following incident occurred:
One afternoon in carly autumn, close
upon sunset, couple OF well-lressed
men, driving light gig in which was
poor, jaded-looking horse, stopped at
a waysde posting inn, not hundred
miles from Bath, and requested accom-
mediation for the night. They were
fashionably attired, and spoke in con-
descending tones to the landlord and
servants, using few words now and
again of town slang, as young bucks of
the first winter were proud to do in
that day.
Giving the horse and gig over to the
care of the ostler, they adjourned to the
public room and called for some light
refreshments in the shape OF drink, or
dering supper to be served later.
whats this story about great high
way robbery near here last night, land
lord 2" questioned one. 1--WE heard of it
On the road coming along. Is it true 2"
"Quite true, sir. All, gentlemen, it is
a dreadful thir~, though clever, must
say. My Lady ~Cantifere, with her two
daughters, was driving home across the
heath an hour or two after midnight,
having been to a ball, when their car
riage was stopped by four mounted
horsemen with cooked pistols. The Old
lady screamed and tainted; the young
ones screamed and kicked and the gen
t,emen, those audacious robbers, pro-
ceeded politely to rife the ladies of
every ornament they wore"
"Scoundrels!" INTERCEPTED one OF the
guests.
"More than that, your worships
What should those bold blades do but
invite the damsels to tread measure
with them? 1t was a fine night, as you
may perhaps remember, srs; the moon
beams shining bright on the bare heath
Out Of the coach they handed them and
footed it in minuet, dancing, it is said
to perfection, as though they>were USED
to lead out the kings own daugh tcrs
every night of their lives. The young
ladies' screams ended in laughter; the
baroness woke up from her faint anc
abused them all, robbers and daughters
together. Oh, they are bold, these gen
tlemen of the highway" 1870.
"And the upshot?'
''The young ladies were bowed into
their coach again, all with stately cere
mony, and the robbers, after wishing
them very courteous goodnight, rod
off at canter, with every jewel they
had possessed. small or large, costly O.
simple, and my lady's purse into thu
bargain. They may well boast tina
they lead merry lives-those men! Fin
commotion the news has caused rount
about us to-day, as you may imagine
gentlemen. Every body's talking of it,.
The landlord, being called for else
where, retired; the travellers slipped a
their glasses, laughing away and con
versing with one another in an under
tone. Dusk came on and the elder an,
taller of the two addressed his friend il
different tone.
"About time to see after the horse
isn't it, jim? It's dark enough
II was just going to- answered jim
and draining his glass, he went ava
to the stable-yard.
Looking about him with the air of
connoisseur, after watching his hors
eat up its oats, he made himself az
quainted with the arrangements of tn
stables. Some five or six horses wer
in them. In the box next to his ow
stood a splendid animal, evidently va
liable.
"a better steed nor yourn, sir!" erie
the ostler from behind him in a qus
voice, and the gentleman gave a star
not thinking anybody was near.
"Aye; mine has seen good service
and he has been. worked hard lately,
answered the stranger, gooG-humoret
ly. "A very fine animal, this, as you oil
serve. And yet" stepping back to loo
critically at it, "were my horse in goo
condition it might not be much inferic
to this. They are not altogether III
like-about the same height and niue
the same in color-brown."
With the last words the strange
went back to the house whist,ing. TT
ostler peered after him through tt
dusk while he made his comments.
"You have got cheek, master, witt
ever you may be, and an impudeI
cheek ii is, going and comparing of I'll
two bosses like that-this 50-guine
: beautiful animal and that thel
wretched old hack o. the;rn! Wh'
next? wonder who they be when this
be at home?" And with that he locke
the stable door.
"Well?" cried the elder travele
when the other one returned. "Ar
chance?"
"Neyer had a better chance in all OF
lives" was the answer. "In the me-
box to ours stands one of the grande
animals you ever saw-same cole
same size, or about it wortha little fo
tune. And a set OF silvermounted ha
ness hanging up by him."