The Night Riders

ly town paper, over which he dozed and wakened by turns, now lay on the floor by his chair, having dropped from his relaxed fingers during his latest nap, while his spect

en his thick, partly-opened lips, although his cob pipe had followed his paper

hed upon the hearth. From some nails upon the wall hung a saddle and harness, opposite stretched a line filled with long green tobacco like clothes swung out to dry. The tall mantelshelf was given over

hoes, but seemed to have dropped asleep while looking over his pap

st the window shutters partly aroused him from his nap, but not until the

his spectacles, with the skill of frequent practice, as they dropped from his nose, then gl

ll of the house, the Squire opened one of the shutters carefully and looked f

tter and sash, caught up the candle, which was burn

, but the fire-light served as a beacon, and while the host was fastening the door the belated visitor passed through the

ght," said the visitor, spread

lack wick a tiny spiral of smoke arose and floated away into the dim shadows that hovered about the room. Th

good news," the visitor said, slowly cracking the

" insisted the

ntinued the other, dallying with the subject

r it," yawning, to call a

ence, and giving a shiver, partly genuine, partly affected, as he glanced up at the motley collectio

want a

forth a bottle and glass, which he placed on the candle stand, and, without further invitation, the guest quickly caught up the bottle and poured the amber liquor into the gl

h evident enjoyment, eyeing the bottle longingly as he spoke, though

iness," the h

j'ined the n

he

burned the Cro

hand in tha

es

o hear it;

r a-goin' to ma

he

ow, an' post you. It's court day, you know, an' the word w

see you?" ask

cunning. "I'll tell you what would be a better plan. I'll start back home just at five, by the town clock. I've got a good ways to go, an' likely's not many w

," agreed

that money already, Squire," suggested the

is may be a false alar

, I've told you some other

" the old man insisted, the ruling

tomorrow, an' I couldn't very well be seen followin' you aro

base of the tall clock and bringing forth a roll of bills wrapped in a pie

the arrest of any of the raiders," said the visitor meditatively, a

have been caught. An extra hundred comes out of my own pocket, you understand, when a

easy when you risk your ne

nk they will raid nex

say to you," added the visitor impressively. "It's concernin' the safety of a particular friend o

e done if he's

ou must give strict orders that no firing is to be done until this one is safely through the gate. When

whole skin?" said the Squire, wi

hing about myself;

ged. You'll give me the full particulars of the proposed raid tomorrow evening, then?

in, you'll have the rest

uire n

" the visitor suggested.

itor, and the Squire came back into the room softly rubbing his hands

assed I think I will have you in a ticklish position where your love affai