Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-11-13
The unfortunate queen. Hunker con


ton. Then when Henry made Il whole
sale contiScation of the church property
he created the baron Il sort of sheriff
to eject the clergy and seize their be-
longings. The commission that my no.
bic ancestor received for this amount
ed to Il large fortune and enabled him
to take higher rank. which was con
ferred Upon him in the title bear.
II have been some time getting to
the story of my immediate ~progenitors.
but Il candid statement Of the case has
rendered necessary the details l have
given.
Andrew Hunker made ducks md
brakes with his fortune, and his grand
son. Andrew. earl of ~FlammertOn. was
forced to take to the road to get a
living. Don't understand that there
was an especial taste in the family
for robbery. The calling was at that
time one that invited the more ad-
venturous young men. The earl was
II day riding alone near the estates
of a country gentleman named Forbes
when he met Il young lady, Elizabeth
Forbes. who was out hunting with her
falcon. This young robber. who was
more on the Robin Hood order, be-
came at once enamored of the young
lady. but unfortunately for the success
of his suit he had recently p%lundered
her home, and her father had sworn
to bring him to the gallows.
ION the occasion Of this first meeting
between the h%ighwayman earl and
Elizabeth Forbes he took a gold chain
from about her neck. saying at the
same time:
""Tell your father, who has sworn to
hang me. that l will return this chain
to you in his own home
with that he bent low before the
lady, took the tips Of her fingers in his
and kissed her hand. Now, this young
fellow was a handsome rascal. and no
calling was more popular with the
ladies of that day than the profession
Of highwayman. Mistress Forbes
straightway fell in love with the man
who had robbed her and trembled at his
boast that he would return her chain
to her under her fathers nose. Being
discreet, she returned to her home and
said nothing about the meeting.
"On the coming Of age of Robert
Forbes, E~lizabeth's brother, the old
gentleman gave a ball. the guests to
be dressed in fantastic costumes.
There was a man present who had
adopted the garb Of a headsman.
There is no dress better fitted to show
off a handsome figure than that of this
official Of that period. The man, in
stead of carrying a wooden ak, held
in his hands a veritable steel weapon
such as was used in looping off human
heads.
"The moment Elizabeth Forbes saw
this person she recognized in his figure
his face was masked-the robber earl.
He advanced toward her and, throw
ing a gold chain about her neck, asked
her to dance. She accepted the invita-
ton, trembling for him. for, though he
was armed with an ak, many Of the
men guests present wore swords OF
were provided with other weapons
suited to the characters they repre-
scented.
"The presence of this fantastic per.
sonage was noted by the guests, and it
was not long before the hosts atten-
ton was called to him. The robber
perceived that he would soon be
obliged to give an account Of himself
and in a few quick sentences begged
Elizabeth to fly with him. She con
sented on condition that he would go
at once. thinking to get him out OF
danger. and when they saw her father
advancing to ask who this unknown
guest might be she slipped her arm in
his, and the two we're passing out
when Forbes. followed by others of his
guests. pushed after them. The earl
turned and. raising his ak. brought 1t
down on the hosts head. splitting his
skull. Several men who wore swords
drew them. and there was a combat
in which the earl put them out of the
fight. Then. drawing Elizabeth with
him. he disappeared in the darkness.
There is no record of a marriage be-
tween Andrew Hunker. the robber
earl. and Elizabeth Forbes. but since
she was Il commoner and he Il noble it
is quite possible that she did not eX,
pect marriage. However. she had q
SONNY grandfather-who was declar-
ed legitimate by King Charles II. and
given his fathers title and property.
the latter consisting of plumber acquir-
ed on the road. 1t is quite possible that
the kings favor was gained from the
fact that Elizabeth Forbes became one
of his favorites. though she is not
given in the list by historians.
you see. my dear Mr.. Jones. that
beside the RECORD of my ancestors fol
c%riminality that of your great-grand.
father. who sold rum to the Indians,
was tarred and %feathered and hanged
sinks into insignificance.
"To return to my proposition. l pos.
sess valuable estates, but l need ready
cash. Your cash made by the sale Of
the Acme salve has been more honor
ably acquired than my estates. which
wore nartlv taken from tho church an(