Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 128, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1911 — HAL O’ TIE HIGHWAY [ARTICLE]

HAL O’ TIE HIGHWAY

By George Bronson-Howard.

Copyright, The Frank A. Munsey Co. CHAPTER 11. Mr. Heyward Plans Boldly. “And so,” said Mr. Thomas Heyward, with considerable heat, ‘‘and so I was Jilted —thrown over. I, Tom Heyward, was shown the door for that whey-faced Pulvey Littleton. And am I to sit calmly under it? Am I, 1 ask you, am I?” “Ask away, my buck,” replied Mr. Richard Boyce, removing his churchwarden from his youthful lips, “ask” away.” Heyward brought his fist down heavily on the table and seemed about to deliver an impassionate oration on the rights of man. Thinking better of it, however, for want of words to express himself adequately, .he relapsed Into moody silence and kicked a bit of blazing log back into its place on the hearth. For several minutes be seemed to be intensely absorbed in the mural decoration of the room; this decoration consisting mostly pf pewter mugs hung on hooks, a rifle suspended from a beam, a'powder-horn near-by, two large pistols, resembling blunderbusses, which lay on an outstanding shelf, and an enormous broadsword, with basket hilt, which mine host MacCulloch had carried at Culloden, resting on hooks over the fireplace.

The Black Boar Tavern consisted of eight sleeping-rooms, a tap-room, a dining-hall, and this particular room, which was set aside for the youthful bucks of the town, who used it for card-games and drinking-bouts. At the present time, however, it had served simply for the consumption of a mid-day meal by Mr. Thomas Heyward and his crony, Mr. Richard Boyce. The remnants of a huge venison . pie and the dregs in two hugh tankards showed that in spite of his lovelorn state Mr. Heyward had ably assisted his friend in matters of eating and drinking. Heyward was a large fellow, of good features, which, however, were a trifle bloated from overindulgence in spirituous liquors. His face had stamped plainly upon it signs of the exercise of too much power over others and too little over himself. The heir to the vast Heyward grants, Tom, an orphan, and but recently of the manly age, had been able to indulge in whatever pleased him most, and upon his return from Cambridge, over the water, he had ardently desired Miss Anne Arundel, .who would have none of him. Failing iiji persuasion, Mr. Heyward had attempted force, and with poor results. “The jade led me on,” he said presently, scowling, “and then jilted me —jilted me!” Richard Boyle knocked the ashes out of his pipe. “Mayhap," he volunteered, “she is but inflaming your ardor, Tom. A woman likes devilish well to play fast and loose. And a pretty baggage she is, that Anne Arundel. Worth a man’s trying for, and trying like the very old Harry.” “Pulvey Littleton—” began Tom Heyward. “Oh, Pulvey be damned!” said Boyce.' “Pulvey’s an ass. Every one in Philadelphia knows what a blithering ass Pulvey is. Anyhow, he’s not the sort a fine filly like Anne’s by way of taking for a husband. God’s truth, Tom, you’re a faint-heart! Pulvey’s a decoy— a snare; he’s a plaything! Mistress Anne’s never thinking of him seriously—” “Well, look you here!” Tom Heyward rumpled his hair with one hand and pointed at his friend with the other. “ThiSL Littleton’s following her to Annapolis to the State ball. That means something. She’s told him to come. That means more. Odsounds! it’s the ball of true lovers—Saint Valentine’s Day. Why, every lad and lass in Maryland will plight their troths." Boyce sneered. “Why don’t you go, then, and plight yours, Sir Faint-Heart Stew me if I’d let that Littleton boy snatch the game from under my nose. If it were me, I’d find a way to bring Mistress Anne to her senses—”

“Damme, you’re wise, Dick. Ob, most extraordinary wise. A man s always wise except when he’s in love, with a woman. I know women—l flatter myself— ’’ “You do flatter yourself," Interjected Mr. Boyce. Heyward ignored the insinuation and went on. "I know women when I’m not In love with one, hut with the woman a man loves he is a fool. He knows nothing. He’s not even able to use his knowledge gained with other women. 1 tell you, it’s different—it’s different—” , Mr. Heyward puffed out enormous clouds of smoke, and continued to glare at Mr. Boyce. "She left for Annapolis an hour ago,” Heyward continued, glancing the hugs clock that tiaked at one and

of the room. "She will reach Annapolis tomorrow at mid-day if not before.” “All night on the road?” queried Dick Boyce significantly. The other looked up, startled. "Eh?. What d’ye mean?” Mr. Boyce laughed, and began to hum. very softly: For a beggar shall ride, such a beggar as I, And ask for alms from the passers-by.' He shall ask for alms on the King’s Highway, With never a person to say him nay. But never a penny from woman or gal— A gentleman born is Hurricane Hal! “What In seven furies has that to do with Anne Arundel?" asked Tom Heyward. “A highwayman’s song! If ever I meet this Hurricane Hal, he’ll sing his song in hell.” Dick Boyce laughed uproariously/ “A pretty boast, Tom! There have been nine and twenty hundred who have sworn as much, and yet with every red-coat and police constable In Marylrfhd on his heels, with every sheriff and king’s officer to hunt him down, Hurricane Hal’s still riding the highway and taking his toll.” He smiled rather ruefully. “The rogue got two and twenty guineas of mine own, as I remember right well. But that aside—” “I would fain know what this has to do with the matter in hand,” asked Heyward. “I care naught for your highwayman, nor for any other thief.”

“ ’S truth, your senses are numbed. You are witless. Your head needs to be shaved.” Mr. Boyce got up and relighted his pipe. “Cannot you see that a highwayman might very well hold up such a coach as the one in which travels Mistress Anne? And if he had the mind, it would be no hard task to carry her away and force the marriage bond upon her —" “Heyward leaped to his feet, his cheeks ,aflame. “By the Trinity, Dick, you task my patience sorely! An such a thing happened, I would pursue him to the epds of the earth, and—” “Ninny!” Boyce said scornfully. “What cares the highwayman for Mistress Anne Arundel? He harms not women. But perchance another might assume the garb of a highwayman so .* his especial needs, and carry away a maid with whom he chanced to be in love.

“Half-way between here and Annapolis is Edgecombe Hall, which is yours. There is no one there save your negroes and your overseer. There is a private chapel there and a priest. Rot me, Tom, but you are a dullard, God knows.” With wide open eyes, Heyward stared at his friend. “You mean that I —■” he gasped. “Why not?” asked Dick Boyce airily. “You say you love Mistress Anne. You are of mind that she loves you. A few days’ confinement, and she will, wed you an she care at all.” “But an she does not love me,” breathed Tom Heyward. ~ “Then you have risked all. Hut, loving, you should be willing to risk. An she will not marry you after a week, release her and take ship for England until the thing hath blown over. It Is absurdly simple, in faith.” His friend seemed to be meditating. Presently he looked up with troubled eyes. “But there might be bloodshed. I care not to do murder in such cause. It would seem unholy.” Boyce shook his head.

“There is little chance of that! Sir John Arundel travels not with them, but after. There are but three women —Lady Mary and Mistress Alice Calvert, besides your divinity. There are two negro outriders —slaves; and the coachmen and footmen are slaves. What chance have they to resist? But as you like—” Tom got up and laid a hand on Dick Boyoe’s shoulder. “Will you go with me?” he asked quickly. “It is much to ask, but—” Boyoe clapped him on the back. “The comedy appeals to me,” said he. “In truth I’ll go, and gladly, too. I would see you play highwayman-*" “Then.” said Tom Heyward, “tonight we’ll hold up the Arundel coach —and Aid Mistress Anne’s mind. Will you Bhake hands upon it?** Which they proceeded to do. (To be continued.)