Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-22
The Daily Story
TEE HIGHWAYMAN- EpNA L. .swIF


one evening IN the year l6fS coaCn
numbered along the main highway be
tween Glasgow and Edinburgh to-
that Oliver Cromwell, having closed the
war with the parliament. defeated the
Scotch royaiists at Preston and end
ed the war. In those days the roads
were unpaved and, being the only
means Of land transportation. were
much used and consequently in the
worst condition possible. Two per
sons within the coach. a gentleman and
his daughter, were tossed about as 1t
lurched in the ruts and mudholes which
the driver could hardly have avoided
even had there been something better
than an oil lamp on each side OF the
vehicle to light the way. Presently a
rear wheel went down to the axle, and
the coach. careening on that side, came
to stop. For some ten minutes the
driver dashed the horses in a vain eff
fort to force them TO pull it out and,
after rest, was about 10 begin again
when by the dim side lights the trav-
elers were able to discern the figure
OF a masked man on the road beside
them.
That he was a highwayman was evil
dent from the concealment of his fea-
lures, but his first words were not in
the least terrifying. wait bit" he
said to the coachman, Till bring a
lever with which to get the wheel on
to dry land" And with that he disap-
peared in the darkness. returning in a
few minutes with a fencepost, one
end of which he placed under the rear
axle and the other end on his shoulder.
Then, calling on the driver to again Sp-
ply the lash, the coach was lifted on to
firmer ground.
Now" said the man who had secur.
ed this result TO the gentleman in the
coach, the laborer being worthy of his
hire, l shall have TO trouble you for
your valuahles. 1t pains me to do this
but the war being over and the king nc
longer able to pay his soldiers, l must
needs get living the best way l can
Alas" replied the gentleman in the
coach, that is a case of one beggaI
calling on another for help. The Duke
of Hamilton in order TO pay the troops
that Cromwell had so ably defeated
has taken everything | possessed ex
Cept my home. | am on my way t
Edinburgh to try TO make loan or
that which will tide me over these
strenuous times
I'm that case" replied the highway
man. please accept my services
gratis"
While this brief dialogue was being
spoken the lady in the coach sat con
cea!ed in corner so that the highway
man did not see her But as he. hav
ing mounted his horse. was about t,
ride away she leaned forward and. tax
ing a bracelet from her wrist. EXTENDED
it toward him. saying:
1T is not meet that one of the king
defenders should 90 unrewarded 70
Il service. Take this. and may the da,
soon come when his majesty shall b.
able to take care Of his own"
There was sufficient light from tn
coach lamp for the man to see that sh
was a young girl and beautiful n
sat so absorbed in the vision of love
liness before, him that for a moment h.
did not heed her words; then, takinj
the bracelet. he said:
81 shall return it i'm person"
IF ven do said her father. "yOl
shali-be hanged for what you are
robber My daughter and l are no
agreed upon these tTOublous times
am with the parliament. | understan,
that many of the kings hirelings. nov
that their occupation has gone hav
taken 70 She road. Cromwell vii! sool
he our ruler and he will then clear on
highways of these gentlemen robbers
Kindly tell me who you are" SAT-
the other. that may give Old Noll a
opportunity TO stretch my neck. II
will doubtless bring his sovereign t
the block. and ! would not deprive hir
Of the pleasure of bringing one Of hi
maiesty's loyal subjects to the halter
that is, if you can turn me over t
him"
II am Donald MacIvor. and my HON
- w NiiH iDdl runway between " las
gov and Edinburgh But ] warn yo
TO keep away for I shall surely tur
you over to the hangman If you com
upon my grounds"
The hiGhwayman made no reply I
this. hut. lifting his hat to the lad
disappeared in the darkness Thi
was his first attempt at robbery, an
it I'D accorded with his rank or his II
clinatiOns He was younger son Of
Scotch laird who in order to save ht
estate had taken neither the side {
the king nor the parliament He LEI
the travellers. but felt very despopden
for his first effort at a highwayman
career was not to his liking. and b
, knew OF no other occupation unless /
went to France and became a hirelin
soldier Of the French king One thin
he was decided upon-that sooner
later he would take the bracelet /
had received and clasp 1t with his ov
hands upon the wrist from which
had been removed
King Charles !. was brought to tri
and beheaded mt the beginning of ii
following wear The fortunes Of Il
g