The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-15
DICK IURPIN, FAMOUS HIGHWAYMAN


cpArse hinds who dropped their h's ana
probably we're not above eating GARLIC
with their food. got bead on them. and
was riding on with his customary grace
and eclat. when up came an especially
ofncious arm OF the law named Patter-
son. accompanied by lawyer. They
recognized him right away, and set out
Ia pursuit Dick gaiioped blithely along,
holding In bis mare 50 that they wouldn't
lose sight of him completely, for he
really enjoyed a chase. And so they
clattered along. A turnpike keeper ran
out and shut a tollgate across the road
Black Bess Ieaped II, and Patterson and
his companion wasted valuable min
utes arguing with the keeper, who
wouldn't let them by unless they had
paid their toll.
Patferson's Vain Pursuit.
Now and then a fock Of squawkins
ducks tapped wildly out from under
Black Besss hoofs as she rolled along:
now they were come to a village, and
men and boys. running out to throw things
indiscrtminateiy at pursued and pur-
suers, saw Dick riding low in his sad
oie. pistol In one hand. and scattered
as wildly as the ducks.
Inc country lay shimmering In the soft
ofoes ana Greens of the late afternoon. a
gentle haze upon the farther hills: Pat
terson saw the bandit slack the mare a
Dit strike nre with nint and steel ana
light his pipe, turning to wave encour-
asement to the hot, breathless men
pounaing aooriousiy along a quarter
mile behind him.
He had one more disgusting giiupse.
too. when he Numbered down a long
stretch Of road toward an inn set in
greenery. he saw Dick Turpin hand an
empty tankard back to waiting boy.
toss him a coin. mount Bess and spur
away.
And then came night After that Tur-
pin seems to have made the ride more In
pure deviltry than because he feared
pursuit It was a splendid night, the
moon was up. his mare was going well.
the roads were firm Black patchy
shadows lay athwart the patch: there
was the fragrance and the GOODNESS of
spring dusk wrapped all the world.
Twice he stopped, more from considera-
ton OF his horse than for himself. rub
bed the mare down with brandy and
water, eased the bit, and was on. The
beast herself would not be headed now:
the magic of the night and of the spring
was in her blood.
And so they came. worn out and gaunt
at last. in sight of York Just as the sun
was flooding the tree tops and the church
spires all with gold. and the mare STUN
bled. crumpled. and died in the road.
Dick Turpin had made the ride. almost
800 miles. in fifteen hours-and lost the
creature he loved best They say the red
bearded highwayman sobbed once or
twice there in the road beside her; then
he vowed the mare died as she would
have chosen, and that 1t was better So
than that she should survive to lose
him, and be driven to a cart in her old
age.
Dick himself. after q varied career.
in the course Of which he masdueraded
as a gentleman for several months. was
on the best Of terms with the fox-hunting
owners Of a number of north country
estates. and outrode them all. came to
the gallows In 1873. II didn't seem to
bother him much; he had written a
couplet once prophesying that he would
Die not other men. by degrees.
But ut once. without vinens and quite at his
And so, neatly dressed and with his red
beard combed. he clambored up the steps.
made a brief speech to the hangman.
stamped his right leg ansriIy because it
trembled. and jumped resolutely out to
the end Of the rope.