Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 132, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1911 — HAL O’ THE HIGHWAY [ARTICLE]

HAL O’ THE HIGHWAY

By George Bronson-Howard.

Copyright, The Frank A Munsey Co. CHAPTER 111. CHAPTER IV. i. The Battle Te The Fair. m All four stood quite silent In the drifting snow. The newcomer with his back to the evergreens, Anne, a few feet Horn him. The first highwayman, who uad“ dubbed himself by the name the newcomer claimed, leaned forward in his stirrups, his hand holding bis pistol numbly; the second highwayman was quite silent, as before, and seemed to be amused. “But,” stammered Anne, “this man —claims to be—he said that he—was —Hurricane Hal ” “He lies,” said the newcomer calmly. ”For it is well known that Hat Eager has never yet harmed a woman. 1 did not intend to eavesdrop, but the sounds of hurrying horses forced me to take shelter beyond yonder oak. 1 have heard what passed between you.” He turned his head toward the first highwayman. “You, sir, had best begone, or I m»y remember thut my reputation was slandered and make an end of you—and 1 care not to spill blood. But yours I would spill without compuction for your deed of tonight ” “Not so fast, Master highwayman!” said he. “Perchance you have forgotten that 1 can fire as quickly as you, and that my pistol Is aimed in your direction. You have come into a situation where you have no place. It is for you to begone and leave me with this lady.” Hal inclined his head toward Anne. “That is for the lady to say. Would you have me leave you, mistress?” “No, No!” cried Anne quickly. “I would return to my coach. “Protect me. Master Hal —if that is your name.” Hal nodded.

“It shall be as you say.” His tone grew brisker. “Come now, begone—o” must I teach you manners?” "1 shall remain!” replied the first man. “And ” There was a quick report, a burst of flame and a horse gave a quick whinny of pain. Before the first man had time to shoot, his steed toppled over and rolled upon him quite dead, for the highwayman had aimed at its temple. Hal's horse shot forward, and his second pistol threatened the other man. —“Drop it!” warned Hal, and the second man let his weapon slide from his hand into the snow. Hal reached over, swinging from one stirrup, and stuck the pistol in his belt. The next moment he was upon the fallen man and had swung from his horse the 'ground. Slowly the fallen one disentangled himself, and rose to confront the highwayman. Hal’s foot was on the pistol lying in the snow, and his own threatened the man who arose. “You and your precious friend had better go,” said Master Hal Eager. "There is no more for you to do. 1 regret that it was necessary to kill the fine animal —which so much surpassed its master.” «• The last man spat out his words furiously. “You dirty thief! You robber! You led-captain! It’s well enough to threaten a defenseless m&n.” His hand was clapped on his sword. “You ” And the insult he breathed was a very foul one. “You oatry a sword. I will forget that you are not a gentleman. Will you fight?” “I will fight,” he said; “and your life is quite utterly in my hands. You are a brave man to call by such a name one who might kill you without a fight. But that aside ” He turned to Anne Arundel. “You had best return to your coach mistress. The lesson I shall serve out is not one for you to see.” The first man brought his teeth together with a snap. “Shall I fight without a prize?” he asked. “This lady shall be the prize if I worst you—as I shall— or perhaps you fear to risk aught on your skill, my led-captaiu?” Something very like a snarl came from Eager, but he restrained his anger and turned to Anne. “It is as you say, mistress,” he told her. “Will you risk your liberty on my sword? 1 would not have you incur, ’’ *

Anne’s little head went up proudly. “I will risk It—for it is no risk, Mr. Eager,” she said. Sbe breathed heavily, and chafed her cold hands. The wind blew her rebellious balr into her eyes. Eager looked at her with a fine appreciation, and swung off his haL ■ “You shall have no reason to regret your decision, mistress!" he said, and stuck the horse-friatol into his belt He stepped back several paces and tlje moonbeams ran along his sword-blade as it came out —a line of thin silver is seemed. "On guard, my impudent friend!"

be said. The other man was not slow to accept bis challenge, and their swords clashed together. He came at Eager furiously insistent en beating down his guard. His blade wormed and twisted like a spitting snake. He disregarded the ethics of the rapier and used the broadsword tactics alternately with those of the fined method. Hal gave ground quickly. The unknown man followed him up, his jaws working as he mumbled oaths and threats. He would kill this highwayman. There was too much depend - ing on it. For only by putting him out of the way would the rair onlooker be his. He was conscious, too, of the sorry figure he had cut before the highwayman's energy, and was anxious to redeem himself as a man of deeds. That this petty thief of the road — whom he had so arrogantly declared his intention of putting out of the way, should they ever meet—should have balked his game was gall and'wormwood to him; and he hated Hal fiercely, with the hatred of an unblidled will thirsting after what has been denied it. Hal’s tactics of fence deceived the man, who did not know that the highwayman was endeavoring to spare his life when he might have taken it at any time. For the man left himself so recklessly open to a home thrust that it was a test of patience and skill to avoid giving him his death wound. This Hal had no intention of doing. It was to disarm the dashing fighter that he strove; but the man’s grip on his rapier was, contrary to the laws of fence, a very tight one, which, while interfering with wrist flexibility, made the disarming of him a difficult task The other man was plainly tiring.' He was breathing heavily and pursuing his antagonist in a circle, but despite his rough and burly mode of attack, he could not get past his adversary’s guard.

The steel, apparently so carelessly used, confronted him on every thrust, and while Hal did not follow up his success, it was plainly evident that he might do so. Gathering his strength, the man made another onrush. Hal retreated. His heels already caked with snow caught a slippery surface, and he staggered back. The next moment he was down, but before the other could bring his rapier to the highwayman’s breast. Hal was up again and their swords met horizontally. Hal dropped to one knee. His sword turned like a key in a lock, and under the lever impetus, the other man’s blade shot over his head and he stood disarmed and quite at the mercy of his antagonist. But the third man had dismounted meanwhile, and, unobserved had crept forward and possessed himself of his friend’s fallen pistol. He stood with his hands behind his back when the end came, and Hal, with a little laugh, sheathed his rapier. “Come now, the lady is free to go,” said Hal. And he turned to her and looked into the leveled postol of the third man. “Pdph!” said Hal lightly, and he brougth his fist down upon the man’s wrist. The pistol fell to the ground. Hal picked it up. “Honorable men!” he said. His tone was contemptuous. “Very honorable men, both. I’ve spared your fool lives —and little thanks. You” —he looked toward the swordsman—“ I might have killed innumerable times, but I kill not calves. Come, I have a fancy to see the faces of such honorable men ”

His fingers tore the mask from the face of the man who had fought him, and Anne turned to gaze into the eyes of Thomas Heyward. She did not give him the honor of recognition. Her tone was ice. ✓ “The honor is stamped there, as you see!” she said. “Conduct me to my coach, Mr. Eager!" she begged, Without more ado, Hal Eager took his horse’s reins in one hand. Then he remembered and stopped. With % practised hand he snapped the lock of the pistol he held and threw it at the second man’s feet. Although the latter was still masked, Anne knew him to be Richard Boyce. The other pistol Hal took from his belt and performed a like operation upon it, throwing to Heyward. Holding the reins in one hand, he offered Anne his other arm, and very silently both turned their backs upon the vanquished twain and made their way back in the direction of the Arundel coach.

A bend in the road soon hid their late antagonists from sight; and when Anne glanced back and saw that they had disappeared, she remembered for the first time that she owed a great deal to this gentleman of the highway. Had it not been for him, Tom Heyward would have been able to tahe his own way; and she knew enough of Heyward's bull-dog obstinacy to realise that once at his mercy she would have been in sore stress to prevent becoming Mrs. Heyward. - Tom’s strength had ones appealed

to her, and she had made him welcome at Arundel House for the primitive force of his manhood. Love had seemed a remote contingency where he was concerned. She would have sooner fallen In love with her great Dane. Yet she shivered, and her eyes held gratefulness in them when they were turned to Hal Eager. (To be continued.)