Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 284, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1911 — SALLY MAKES A CAPTURE [ARTICLE]

SALLY MAKES A CAPTURE

By ROGER BIRCH

-Robin, ’’ said Sally, her face close to mine. "Yes, Bally.” "Don’t go; everything is lonesome.” "Robin Cowper has given the word of an honest gentietnan of the road to meet the coach at 9 tonight.” Gently I put her from me. She brushed away a tear, then, brightening: . “i’ll go, too." 5 "A petticoat to fight the king’s guards?” "Petticoat, no; coat and breeches, yes.” "Too dangerous. Sally. Walt till the coach goes unguarded.” "Robin, you have taught me the sword; you know my mettle. If you think me a coward, go and —find a woman who isn’t.” a / • "Pardon me, Sally! Come along? I’ll get a horse. I borrowed a fine roan and we galloped, she side-saddle, to Forest inn. The lads wore serious faces. It was a bad job, yet, if we won; we could quit the road for a year, so great was the stake. ■--’*‘Our newest member/’ I said introducing Sally. Giles laughed: and welcomed her, but some sneered—until they caught my eye. Mine host, Harlow, found a cavalier’s suit that fitted Sally so she looked like a boy, but no boy ever showed fair face that valored me for deeds of such daring. "The best steel in the company, boy,” said Giles, handing her a blade, as a dozen of us galloped into Southcombe fore St. The lads caught the name "boy” and called her no other. Dud Hobart had been raised to command of the troops sent with the coach from Edencourt to guard the king’? gold. We would put a prank on him, so, at a spot buried deep in the gloom, we cut the trunk of a, tree tllF it was nearly ready to fall. We waited amid shadows. The riders came on. Our horses, Well trained, moved not an ear. The troopers had just passed the weakened tree, when a couple of lads put shoulder against it and it fell crashing across the highway, cutting off troopers from coach. You may believe there was scrambling. The troopers wheeled, but their horses would not go through the thick branches. The noodles tumbled over each other out of the coach. When they looked' into a dozen black masks they made dismalnoise. It looked an easy job. 1climbed into the coach and rolled out kegs of gold. , Now, it happened that some one (I can’t believe it was dullpate Dud) had put on .rear guard, which came dashing up and set up my cullies just when Dud’s fellows, having dismounted, came to the rescue of the gold. Outnumbered two to ohfe. my lads never had more furious fighting. Dud espied me and pumped fibr. the coach door to cut me through as 1 bent to pass out. Sally, quickeyed for my safety, engaged him. Too agile for him, she pricked him and got away from everwjriash. It could not last long. H> Aas. too ponderous, her sword arm 100 much a dainty woman’s. He saw me nearing, gave a savage lunge at Sally to make her skip back, then turned upon me.

Now happend a woman’s trick which I still laugh aL Sally’s arm weary, she cast down weapon, and being behind Dud, next instant had both hands in his hair —woman’s most natural way of fighting. Men brave to face death cannot endure being pulled bald. Sally jerked sharply with one hand, then the other, and every jerk made Dud wince. ' He backed and she steered him toward the trees, where Kit and the ro*h stood. Gripping a . keg under each arm, I followed, ready to use sword if Dud broke away, • • ■ ' I signaled a lad to grip more kegs, then whistled them all into the forest Three had been cut down. Half the king’s men were on the, ground. Once we were among the trees, the traps were afraid to follow. "Let go Dud’s hair, boy,” I said ? ‘"T "He’s my prisoner." , "Where with him’ “To Forest inn.” “And then?” "Petticoats for him.” Sally and I escorted Dud back to Bdencourt, he strapped to his horse and his hands tied behind. Boldly we dashed into town at full gallop, hitched his horse to a post in the public square and sped away, leaying townsmen and girls to make merry at his plight. < - To this day Dud is hunting tor the boy that made him into a woman. Prepared for the Worst. “Good gracious, old man," exclaimed Aseum, "what prt of a suit is that?”. "This,” replied Dtngiey, who was attired in a combination of football, gold and riding clothes, “to what you might call a nit for damages. I’m going np to ask aid Roxley tot his daughter.’ ‘-r-'i-.,' Find Use for Peat Gaa. H Consul-General Robert J. Wynne es London, reports that before a given of tho* scheme for establishing in Ireland a new electric supply generated by pest gas. the first of ths kind In Great Britain.