The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-02-02
RoMANcEs OF THE RING
True Tales of Hard-Hftting Heroes OF
Past and Present
(By Tirnnl
The Highwaymen's Nemesis

The time was the early morning of
a winter day in 1899, The place was
a country. road in Yorkshire, Eng
land. Old Sol had not yet risen to
dispute the supremacy Of the geld
moon which, riding high in the heav-
ems speckeld with stars, cast its re-
fulgence. as the poets say, upon a
coach and pair which cIattered swift
~ down the frozen road. The vehicle
was a. gorgeous affair, drawn by two
magnificent horses, and quite evident
R IyA the equipage of persons of quality.
In the coach, bundled in furs, her
face lighted with a droWsy smile of
happiness and content, was a woman
of rare beauty. Erect on the box
seat sat a giant Of man clad in the
uniform of a coachman. a handsome
fellow, worthy to play the role Of Je-
hu to the goddess of the chariot.
Mile after mile sped the coach
along the lonely lane. The lady of
the coach was Mrs. Richard Sykes
the young and beautiful second wife
of the famous and wealthy Hull mer-
chant. In his old age the man of
much money had taken to- himself
this feminine treasure, the loveliest
girl in all Yorkshire, and had INSTALL
ed her in a fine mansion at Sledmere
There she had at her command all
the luxuries that wealth could pro-
vide, with servants ever at her beck
and call Yet. she was not always
happy.
Old Richard Sykes was jealous, or,
if not that, at least extremely careful
He feared the effect that association
with young and elegant men might
have upon the heart of his bride So.
castle. and forbade her to participate
in the social festivities of the coun-
tryside.
As a man with great business in
terests. Mr.. Sykes was often called
to London and other cities, and was
frequently absent for weeks. At such
times he entrusted his treasure to
trusted servants, who were supposed
to guard her with assiduoI1s care, but
who, the moment their masters back
was turned, gave the young woman
every liberty her young heart craved.
On the night in question Madame
Sykes was returning from a ball held
at mansion ten miles distant from.
her own gilded do1micile. She had
danced through the greater part of
the night, and in the small hours, re-
fusing the proffered escort of many
enamored gentlemen, she set out on
the return journey.
MY coachman is quite protection
enough, the lovely woman told those
men who had offered to see her safe
1y home Her confidence was not
misplaced. for George Stevenson, the
man on the tDOA, was not only a giant,
but a famous athlete, whose claim to
the pugil1stic championship of York
shire none dared disput.
Young Stevenson had entered the
employ of Richard Sykes as a stable
boy, and at twenty was elevated to
the position of under-coachman The
head coachman usually accompanied
Mrs. Syes on her nocturnal jaunts,
but on that winter night he was i'll,
and Young Stevenson acted as substi-
tute.
1t was a fortunate circumstance for
rnilady, for when the coach entered
through a small forest their Journey
was interrupted. Out of the darkness
rode three men on horseback, and
George stevenson did not need the
proof of their drawn pistols and their
masked faces to know that they were
highwaymen. A hoarse command to
stop brought an instant response from
the coachman, but not of the sort the
gentlemen of the road expected.
Grabbing the big horse pistol at his
side, Stevenson fired at one of the
from his saddle. While Mrs Sykes
screamed in wild fright, the two re-
naming highwaSmen b1azed away at
the brave coachnnan. A bullet agrazed
his arm, but it only aroused young
Stevenson to greater fury. He lash
ed the horses of the highwaymen un-
til both were thrown into the road
Then, jumping down from his box
the coachman used his pugilistic
nowledge with such effect that both
highwaymen were soon stretched
senseless on the ground.
Jumping back to the box, Steven