Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 131, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1911 — HAL O’ THE HIGHWAY [ARTICLE]

HAL O’ THE HIGHWAY

By George Bronson-Howard.

Copyright, The Frank A. Munsey Co. CHAPTER m. .'•*» ———- A Wish Come True. In .the shadows of the road the Arundel coach was moving with stately and impressive dignity. As the moon shone from between the interstices of the burgeoned trees of the Ufayside, two negro outriders, clad in the livery of the ducal house to which the Arnndels belonged, rode at a'hand-gal lop, every now and then casting fearful glances on one side and the other, and wondering what manner of elves, hobgoblins, and voodoos were hidden in the forest shades. Ahead their eyes sometimes traveled momentarily expecting the vision of the dreaded highwayman. They were visibly afraid; and they knew it. Dangers both physical and mental lurked for them. A few rods behind came the coach, lumbering along at a pace which was deceiving, when one considered its clumsy build and lack of easy motion. In the coachman’s seat sat the faithful Augustus Caesar, plying whip and dexterously manipulating the reins. Beside him dozed another negro, the door-opener and general utility man.

The windows on either side of the coach were closed, for the night-air was very keen; and the thin snow of early March, sifting down through the trees, blew into the cracks and crevices of the woodwork. The moon every now and then gleamed upon the Arundel crest and motto blazoned above each window.

The occupants of the coach had watched sunlight drift to twilight as they rode; and after resting at the Queen’s Cup, an inn not far from Wico, and partaking of a large and satisfying evening meal, they continued on their way for the night. A number of bags, boxes, and other paraphernalia were stowed away on top the coach; hut there were quite a number remaining that had been deemed too precious to be risked to the weather. On one of these Anne’s pretty feet were now resting, while, with chin on hand, site stared out of her window into the deepening shadows.

Across the coach, her mother had made an attempt to stretch at full length for the night; and propped up with pillows and rugs, she presented a very comfortable spectacle, breathing gently and with satisfaction,*' and smiling in her sleep. But there was no sleep for Anne nor was there any for Miss Alice Calvert, who shared Anne’s seat and who stared with her.

“Suppose he should come?” said Alice, fearsomely. “Well, booby, what if he does?” retorted Anne, who was not at all averse to such a happening, but would rather have confessed to anything save the desire. “He won't hurt us. Mind you his song—and his reputation. ‘I have never seen one of his ilk. But I fear no man.”

Alice giggled. “Small fear, Anne. But men fear you, dear. 1 mind now—” Anne held up a protesting hand. “Mind what you will so long as it is no affair of mine. Sleep, Alice, for I misdoubt me that you’ll see a highwayman this night” Anne wrapped her shawl closely about her.

But Alice was not to be so easily gainsay ed. “You have not told me of Pulvey Littleton, coz," she reminded her. "Shall you take him, this Pulvey?"

Mistress Anne refused to answer. She only drew her cherry lips closer together and stared more intently at the evergreens by the side of the road. “Tell me all of him, Anne,” Insisted Alice. “Where met you him first? How came he to Baltimore—and what will you do with him? Dost love him, Anne?” °

Anne gave vent to a word which was highly improper for a young lady of distinction.

“A pest on you, Alice!” Bhe said. “Wop have worried me nigh Bick of Pulvey Littleton. Qome, wilt have him for yourself? You’ll be quite welcome. Take him. He comes tomorrow night to the ball.” ‘"Then you care nought for him?” asked Alice in amaie. Anne sighed wearily. “Listen, Alice!" she said. "Pulvey is charming—immensely charming, would do well for a house ornament and a leader of the minuet His clothes are beautiful; and he has good looks and good manners. But plague take him—he is Pulvey Littleton, and not exactly a man—he Is a weakling, you see, this Pulvey; and I could not love a weakling.” The coach struck a stone and bounced in air. Anne recovered her seat and continued: *T met him in Philadelphia at the Morris ball. And he was a most attentive cavalier. But I save him no

reason to believe that I loved him. Then he came bere to Baltimore to continue biscuit— and I know not that I should not like an end at it ‘This Pulvey is charming; and to have him with, one is also charming. I like him well. But marry him—nay, Alice, 1 would fain have one who would give me my will, but be ever ready to force his own upon me. Who—” She broke off suddenly. “What’s that?” she asked. L _ Alice clutched her hand. “Listen!” —* -->•£ : - —— ’ r . \ *- 'v- ; The clatter of horses’ hoofs came out of the distance,, the sounds growing more and more distinct every second. The coach almost stopped for a moment, then started off with a convulsive jerk. A sudden jar as the wheels struck an uneven place sent Alice and Anne each into the arms of the othel*, and unsettled Lady Mary, who yawned, opened hsr eyes sleepily, and relapsed into slumber again. “Some one is riding hard tonight!” breathed Alice.

“Well, what of that?” Anne demanded with an outer coolness -which she was far from feeling. “May not one ride post-haste on the King’s highway It may be the King’s mail, or a despatch bearer ” “Or a highwayman!” supplemented Alice, shivering.

The sounds of the galloping horses were more distinct now, and the riders seemed to be very near. With a sudden movement Alice threw up one of the windows, and peered out and behind her. The snow fell in he»* black ringlets, and the wind blew the rose-blush into her cheeks, and scat tered the little curls about her forehead. “I see them!” said Anne. “Two of them ” suddenly she shrank within. “They are masked!” “Masked?” cried Alice with a little shriek. Before Anne could say more the horses had reached the coach, and a heavy, muffled voice broke the stillness of the forest. “Hold up there, nigger on the box! Pull in your horses or ” Anne, peeping out, saw the speaker reach up and place a large horsepistol in close proximity to Augustus Caesar’s ear. The coach was still jolting along and the highwaymen, for such they seemed to be, still rode easily beside it. “For de Lawd, Mars Boss,” cried Augustus Caesar. “I ain’ done nuffln——” “Pull in your horses, Sambo!” directed the man with the horse pistol. “Quick!” Without more ado, Augustus Caesar submitted to fate and pulled in the four horses gently and with delicate regard for their tender mouths. The coach came to a standstill. The negro outriders had disappeared around a bend of the road. Anne put her head from the window, that pretty head with the snowflakes blowing their spotless white against its glossy black curls. The moon shone upon her, and she looked at the highwaymen, their horses champing froth and perspiring freely. The highwaymen themselves were in great buff coats and plain beaver hats, with masks hiding all save their chins. Their hands were in riding guanlets, and each man held a horsepistol. “S —sh!” said Anne. “Mr. Highwayman—” The two men stared at her with one accord. “My mother is asleep,” said Anne. “You would not wake her—so make no noise—is it my jewels that you want?” The first highwayman doffed his beaver and knocked away the snowflakes with his pistol. “Mistress,” he said with stately courtesy, in a voice that was quite gruff and certainly feigned. “Mistress, you have nought that we envy so much as those bright eyes and raven curls—and nothing that we would sooner have ” Anne pretended a little shudder. “But surely, surely,” she said with her roguish smile, “you are not savages to tear out mine eyes, nor barbers, to cut my hair?” The second highwayman shifted in his saddle, and laughed slightly, but he remained silent as before. The first highwayman cleared his throat. “Mistress,” he said, “I would fain have you step from the coach, that the matter may be discussed with you.” A tremulous band caught Anne’s. “No, no!” breathed Alice. “Pshaw!” retorted Anne ' lightly. “They mean no harm, these pretty gentleman of the road.”

She unfastened the door with a click and stepped, bare-headed, into he drifting snow. With her back to the coach and leaning against ft, she regarded her interlocutor. “I am ready for the discussion, Master Turpin,” said she. "And I pray you let it be short, for though your discourse is most charming, the night is cold.” “We seek no gold or Jewels,” went on the men in the saddle, his voice

vey husky. “But the fame of Mistress Anne Arundel has spread even to us, humble collectors of toll that we are. And we would fain see more of her.” With a sudden movement he . urged his horse forward to Anne’s side. His pistol he shoved intd his belt “Keep the niggers covered, Dick!” he said, and his strong hand clutched Anne about the waist and his arm encircled it. Bending forward in his stirrups, he lifted her to his saddle and held her there. For the moment Anne was too dazed to make either struggle or outcry. Before she got her breath, the man had dug spurs itfto his horse, and was off up the road.

Anne’s hair streamed out in the night wind, and her teeth chattered But she was not the young lady to very long remain passive under such treatment. With a sudden movement, she freed herself from the highwayman’s grasp and dropped to the

ground. ' I The fall did not hurt her, but it shoook her up a trifle badly, and she lost precious moments before she rose. Down the road she could hear the frenzied shrieks of Alice, and she rose just in time to see the second highwayman come up and draw his pistol oh the returning negro outriders. ’N

“Get back to the coach!” he ordered them stridently.' The negro outriders need no second command. They fled down the road at the best rate their steeds could manage. Meanwhile the first highwayman and would-be abductor had reined in his horse and returned, and Anne fled for the woods. Her frock caught on a brier-bush; and she could not shake herself free. She turned and looked into the eyes of the first highwayman. “You coward!” she said clearly. “Is this your way of treating women without means of defense? I took you upon honor and came from the coach. What would you do with me?” Her eyes were blazing. She put up one cold little hand and brushed her curls from her eyes. The red on her cheeks deepened. Anne was horribly afraid.

“I am no coward, Mistress Anne,” said the first highwayman. “But one who has most ardently admired your charms. I mean you .no harm. You are to go with me to a chapel where a priest will make us twain one.” Anne bit her lip. “Indeed—and I know you not, sir! I must decline the honor you would do me. I am but plain Mistress Anne Arundel; and care not to change my maidenhood for the Queenship of the Highway. A poor robber’s bride —I give you warning sir, no priest will unite a man to a maid when the maid does not will it.” “Then ” said the man ominously —and stopped. Anne realized the unspoken words. With a little cry of fear she turned on him like a wildcat “Let me back to my coach! Go sir, go!” “No fear!” laughed the highwayman, and his comrade joined in the laugh. “Hurricane Hal doesn’t give up what once is his, and you are mine Mistress Anne, and I love you! Come ” The girl waved him back. “You—are—Hurricane Hal?” «he asked wonderingly. The man bowed ironically. “My fame has reached you then?”

“Your fame lied,” said Anne slowly “What of your song—what of your reputation for never harming women —you lie —you are a cad and a coward—don’t touch me, sir ” The man muffled an oath and urged his horse forward. “This time there’ll be no easy escape, mistress ” he said. And his arm reached down, again. Anne’s nail tore it. “Hurricane Hal!” she cried in contempt. “Coward, le't me be ” The man caught her up, but she tore herself loose. There was a slight sound as of crackling in the brushwood. All three turned suddenly to confront a tall figure on a black horse, who rode with his reins loose and his knees guiding his horse. Each hand held a heavy pistol, whose polished surface gleamed in the moonlight. The man was gotten up in a way to impress attention, and with strict regard for the details. He was entirely in black, with great heavy boots that buckled over the knee, the buckles shining.

His coat was adorned with a number of capes, and he wore a great silver star on his sword-strap, which was slung over one shoulder. His belt was adorned with a silver buckle, and the hand of his sword was silver also. A large, black, three-cornered hat, the foremost lap pinned back with another silver brooch, rested on his head, and his face was masked from view. He seemed tall because of his excessive slenderness; but his build was athletic for all that Although the figure was one of elegance combined with sinister power. “Some one call my name,” he said cooly. “Can I be of service? Drop that platol!” “Who art your gasped the girl.

“I call myself Henry Eager,” replied the man in black. “But the country-folk around here have recognized my ability to ride and have dubbed me—hardly euphemistically—Hurricane Hal —at your service. Forgive my not removing my hat, but my bands are too fully occupiqji.” (To be continued.)