Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-09

time one that invited the more ad-
venturous young men. The earl was
one day riding alone near the estates
of country gentleman named Forbes
when he met a young lady, Elizabeth
Forbes. who was out hunting with her
falcon. This young robbe-, 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 plundered
her home. and her father had sworn
TO bring him to the gallows.
ION the occasion of this first meeting
between the highwayman earl and
Elizabeth Forbes he took gold chain
from about her neck, saying at the
same time:
Tell your father, who has sworn to
hang me. that 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.
"0n the coming Of age Of Robert
Forbes, Elizabeth'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
of handsome figure than that of this
official Of that period. The man. in
stead Of carrying n 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.
1.-The presence of this fantastic per
sonage was noted by the guests, ans Il
was not long before the hosts atten.
ton was called to him. The robbei
perceived that he would soon be
obliged to give an account of himself
and in a few quick sentences begged
Elisabeth to fly with him. She con.
scented 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 were passing out
when Forbes, followed by others Of his
guests, pushed after them. The earl
turned and. raising his ak, brought It
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 marriage be-
tween Andrew Hunker, the robber
earl, and Elizabeth Forbes, but since
| she was n commoner and he a noble it
is quite possible that she did not ex-
pect marriage. However. she had n
SONNY grandfather-who was declar-
ed legitimate by King Charles l.. and
given his fathers lite and property.
the latter consisting Of plumber acquir-
Al 49, L. Ia Al
the kings favor was gained from the
fact that Elizabeth Forbes became one
of bis favorites, though she IL not
| given in the list by historians.
"You see, my dear Mr.. Jones, that
beside the record of my ancestors for
criminality that OF your great-grand-
| father, who sold rum 10 the Indians.
was tarred and feathered and hanged,
sinks into insignifcance.
"To return to my proposition. pos
| sess valuable estates, but need ready
cash Your cash made by the safe OF
the Acme salve has been more honor
| ably acquired than my estates, which
! were partly taken from the church and
| partly from unfortunate travellers,
many OF whom were doubtless tnhr-
dered Nevertheless the two together
will enable me and my wife to main
tain a high social position. and fortu-
nateiy am rot Judged by the deeds OF
my ancestors. On the contrary. ! live
in the glamour of what is supposed to
be their greatness"
Mr.. Jones views having been altered
by the man who would become bis
sonin-law. he consented. and the earl
and Sophia became engaged. few
months later the London society papers
printed a notice OF the wedding which
occurred in a fashionable church be-
tween Andrew Charles Dudley For
| tescue Blake Hunter. Baron Warning
ton, Earl Of Flammerton. OF Finmmer.
ton castle. etc. and Sophia Ann Jones,
daughter OF prominent American
citizen. There wns no mention of
how the title had been obtained or OF