Show I 1 8 1 3 U a J J A DICK RYDER TALE by II 11 10 WATSON 9 copyright by joseph bowles late of night when I 1 reached wimbledon Wimble don common out of the west where I 1 had been patrol mg ahe roads for some two months or more and with mighty little success as it chanced that year I 1 loe the west countr not only because I 1 have as a rule found there fat pockets jogging home nn timely on a nag or fine noble men in rich chaises very proud but tender to pick but I 1 have also a senti mental leaning towards that part and that s the truth I 1 will not deny there Is some that hanker after the great north road and boast that there Is no better toby ground than twixt steven age and grantham while I 1 have even known em to set up finchley common or hounslow for choice old irons who never had much self respect and was not above turning common foilb cracker it it so served him was wont to go no further than finchley when he was lacking a goldfinch or two but the west Is after my heart be ing big and populous and swarming with squires and comfortable warm folk I 1 know the north road and was once very well known there myself and celebrated on the yorkshire moors a confounded cold uncivil place indeed there are few parts of the kingdom I 1 have not traversed in my time well I 1 was newly out of the west that may night but on this occasion in no very good humor as you may imagine when I 1 say that I 1 had been forced to leave a belt of guineas behind at devices devizes so close upon me were the traps indeed I 1 was very nearly taken in the night all owing to the treachery of an inskeep er roast him a fine mild night and I 1 was jor lying in Cler kenwell at a house I 1 knew but I 1 had reached no further than roehampton Roe hampton lane when of a sudden I 1 reined in for I 1 kemem alered an ina there that I 1 had some times used and to say the truth I 1 was thirsty well thinks I 1 maybe I 1 will lie and maybe not I 1 will let fortune decide and I 1 was turning the mare into the lane when something comes up quick in the thick of the darkness and rushes upon calypso s rump the mare started and backed into the hedge and I 1 raised my voice and cursed as you may guess why says I 1 you toad you muck rake you dung fork and the lord knows where I 1 should ha gotten to it a gleam of white in the blackness had not in that instant disclosed to me the blunderer a woman or at least a slip so young and silly that maybe she should not be so styled and I 1 had no sooner made that out and ceased in the middle of my alons than I 1 made another discovery it was her voice that did it for no doubt she was mightily in terror see ing me so wrathful and the night be ing so black and lonely oh sir she calls in a trembling voice I 1 did not see I 1 and here she broke sweeping well dick ader is not the man to stand by while a pretty woman weeps tor I 1 could have sworn she was pretty enough and so down I 1 coped off ca lapso and approached her why said I 1 I 1 love not to see a miss like you in tears and as for my words pray forget them I 1 thought you was some blundering hulking bully that was meant for my bodkin or my whip it no more but as it is say I 1 there s no more ado so dry your eyes my dear for I 1 am no ogre to eat pretty children oh she says with a gulp I 1 was not afraid of you I 1 only feared I 1 had lingered you j estly I 1 am thrown out into the night sir I 1 have nowhere to 60 now you may imagine how this touched me and what I 1 felt but she was innocent as a lamb and as foolish s you might detect voice to nothing of her face the which I 1 taw later so I 1 considered a moment that s just my case said I 1 and t was going to wake up some fat vil lain to take me n and sup me but says I 1 it you will find me the bartic ular villain fat or lean and cock or cockatrice that has thrown out a ba iamb like you miss well be or he have awake and out and some thing more besides rip me if I 1 dap t I 1 had put her down as a child from her stature which was small and her body which was slight but I 1 was to be undeceived in that presently my uncle she sobbed he this pretty lady has shut the door on me he will not 14 me hi he vows he has done with me maybe said I 1 he has some cause lor his anger but uncles are not hard masters even to young misses that know not the world nor their own minds nay she says he has a reason for his anger and he will not relent he wll not have me back she said in a voice of hesitating timidity and ludden to have taken in r situation she bagan ht madam said mares leg 1 believe and I 1 must have a talk with you the reason says I 1 she paused and then in a tremulous quick voice sas he will not hear that george riseley shall marry me oh ho said I 1 I 1 begin to smell powder and he has turned you out of no she faltered he would admit me I 1 begin to see beyond my nose I 1 said you were walking with this george afeld returned latea she hesi fated why come I 1 said rallying her I 1 d ha done the same myself although you would not credit it of a prim and proper youth like me was back latea yes says she in a low voice well said I 1 old hunks shall take you in never fear so come along of me and show me where lives and fumes and fusses at hat I 1 threw calypso s bridle over m arm and began to go along the road the little miss walking by my side something reluctant as I 1 guessed but ch eTing as she went her uncle says she was a draper in the city with a good custom and a deep purse while this george was but a prentice with small prospects well I 1 have no prospects myself said I 1 but I 1 warrant I 1 can get what I 1 want in the end the same with george let him worry at it as a dog a bone wager he Is a handsome fellow to have taken a pretty girl s eyes he is very handsome says miss with enthusiasm and he is the best judge of calico in the city D me says 1 smacking my thigh as we walked on together quite friendly d me that s the lad tor my money and I 1 don t wonder at you said I 1 whereat poor chit she brings me forth tales of her blessed george s goodness and estimable virtues and bow his master trusted him and how his neighbors loved him STAND ROGUE OR I 1 well I 1 said best let em not love him too much or maybe this par agon will slip you and on that she came to a halt and calling very tremulous again pointed at a house my uncle s she says but there are no lights and he is gone to bed so shall you said I 1 and forthwith went up and banged upon the door ow I 1 could guess very much of what had happened in that house and how old hunks had taken a fit of choler and choking on it bad sent his niece packing for a peccadillo to be sure she was out over late for virtu ous maids but a clock in the balance with lovers and it any was to blame this same george that should have been not pretty miss like a dove the door opens sharply and the e was an old fat fellow with a candle in I 1 is hand glaring at me who are youa sas he for my ap I 1 barance took him by s n prise well says I 1 in a way I 1 m not old rowley nor am I 1 the but something bet veen and what that is matters nothing but I 1 found a poor maid astray on the heath and have taken the liberty to fetch her home safe and secure he pushed his head further out holding the candle so as to throw the light into the road it s you nelly said he sharply have I 1 not said I 1 have done with youa go to your lev er you baggage and he made a mo alon to null to the door but my toot ft as inside softly said I 1 softly gaffer this is your niece I 1 believe nodding over my arm to miss well he snarled as she is mine and not yours I 1 can do what I 1 like with her oh Is that how the wind said I 1 then sink me but I 1 shall haie to go to school again to learn morais but there is one thing I 1 have no need to learn again and that s how to knock sense and diacre alon into a thick head said I 1 mean angly and at the same time I 1 threw the bridle over calypso s ears and tree before the old villain he looked at me a moment the flame of the candle wagging before his face and the grease guttering down the candlestick you do not understand sir le said in a quieta voice I 1 have to give my niece les sons I 1 1 ave to tea h her by severity but since it is probable that she has been sufficiently frightened by this night s adventure and come to rea sor let 1 er enter and so saying he shepred back and held the door aside that he was of a savage ancon troll able temper was evident but I 1 had not reckoned with the old bear s cunning and I 1 vow I 1 was to blame tor t so old a hand as dick ryder should not have been caught by so simple a trick yet he was miss s uncle and how was I 1 to suspect him so at any rate the facts are that on seeing him alter so reamona bay and step back with the invitation on his lips and 1 his bearing I 1 too stepped back from the doorway to leave way for miss to enter then of a sudden bang goes the door to cehak ing the very walls of the house and a great key is turned in the inside groaning I 1 will confess I 1 felt blank but I 1 re covered in a moment when out of the window above the old rascal stuck his head let her go back to her lover he says with a sneer or maybe you can take her yourself I 1 want no soiled pieces in a christian house and the head was withdrawn the win dow shut tight and the house was plunged in darkness you may suppose how this usage annoyed me who am not wont to be treated in so scurvy a fashion or to come out of the contest so shabbily I 1 was on the instant for flying at the door and employing my barkers and point forthwith but it Is not wise to leap too soon with your eyes shut and so I 1 held my temper and my tongue only showing my teeth in an bugl grin as I 1 turned to miss nelly why says I 1 the old buck has said the truth And there Is some thing in his whimsies after all it seems that george and I 1 must fight or toss for you my dear you must remember Ye member that I 1 had not seen her face all this time tor all the streaming can die the old gentleman carried but I 1 gathered that she was in distress from the note of her voice which trem bled you cannot mean it sir she cried and shrank away into the darkness whence I 1 caught the sound of sob bing why bless you child said I 1 touched at the exhibition of her weak ness and innocence such as you are not tor pretty as you may be swear no you re for george or I 1 may perish sir says she staying her tears and speaking with an air of dignity vastly entertaining I 1 am past 18 well says I 1 if you are so old as that I 1 would I 1 had a mother like you granny but as tor old suet yonder rip and stab me if I 1 do not pay him back in gold coin before two hours is out and in the meantime you come along with me ghansam I 1 think she was contused and flut to be so addressed not under standing my sarcasm but she fol lowed me obediently not having any ideas of her own poor soul I 1 led the wa to Roe hamton where I 1 had made up my mind she should lie meanwhile in the care of the wench I 1 knew at the inn I 1 was fashioning in my mind a plan for the confounding of the old ti b of lard as I 1 went for I 1 never lose time but am speedy at no aim yet all the same I 1 talked with miss pretty jovial for she was a shrinking slip of a girl who was be ginning now to get scared and 10 wonder when we got to the tavern I 1 came into the tap room and called out for costley who had the house then but is since dead of gool 1 quor and out runs he in his apron with a lively face for he was in a merry state ano agh the hour being late wl at dick ryder says he in ur prise yes dick ryder says I 1 and he wants a bed along of sally for a little madam ai d supper for both unexpected orders captain sas he at least put in an amazing odd way but he cries out bursting with his news old irons is hare what that old cut purse said I 1 annoyed for I 1 was no friend of old irons yes said he eagerly you 11 sup along of hima D me I 1 won t said I 1 I 1 want no cutpurses in my company come captain said he protesting for ho had a tear of me and knew of my repute of many roads fair play and quality in a trade says he I 1 was on the point to give him the rough edge of my tongue for it was like his impudence to try cozening me when down the stairs into the pas sage came a man walking very stiff ly with his head in the air I 1 stop ped at once for I 1 knew not who he m be and down he steps into the light showing a foi sort of a face hair very particularly curly and a becoming dress io sooner did I 1 clap eyes on him than I 1 knew what kidney he was and that he was not worth two blinks of ogles as they say so I 1 turned my back on him and was beginning on coatley again when I 1 was surprised by the girl s voice crying out from the entrance behind me what the devila says I 1 flying about for I 1 thought she was insulted maybe by some of costley s fellows and I 1 ran to the door but there was she with her arms about the neck of this jack a dandy this missa said I 1 begin ning to think there was some truth in old words after all and at that she stepped into the inn in her excitement and I 1 saw her plain ly for the farst time lord lord there was nothing in her face that would not have convinced any court at old bailey forthright she was prettily handsome like a doll that turns eyes up or down and smiles out of pink cheeks in which were two dimples mighty enticing up she comes in a rush almost breathless and breaks out to me he Us he sir who the devil Is hea said I 1 sharp ly mr riseley she sas some what abashed he has been sup ping here and is setting forth for his lodging I 1 commend his discretion I 1 said dryly an excellent good place for supper so it is especially for young bloods like that well says I 1 since oure content as it seems I 1 will leae you and young cupid and be about my business at this she looked dumbfounded but she begins stammering and paused I 1 threw a glance at riseley who stood by with an air something twixt arrogance and uneasiness I 1 plumbed his depths for I 1 have come across many such as he in my time fine feathers enough and nothing behind them but it was true that the cox comb s appearance did not better her case beyond that of mu affection so I 1 considered and the idea I 1 had taken suddenly bloom ed forth in my mind there was old irons and here were we I 1 could have laughed aloud to think how I 1 was for binding all the threads in one to say nothing of bunkey s on the common so I 1 turned about to cost ley I 1 was wrong says I 1 I 1 will do capt irons the honor to sup with him and this young gentleman I 1 make no doubt will join me I 1 beg your pardon I 1 I 1 have sup ped he stammered a friend I 1 heard her whis per if it were not tor him I 1 know not what must happen to me well says I 1 miss here will sup at any rate at which I 1 saw his color move I 1 will take the pleasure myself to keep you company sir said he and forthwith we marched into the room here was old irons rude jovial and blatant as ever but happily not too far gone as yet he stared at my guests hard enough but seemed to be at a loss what to make of them or how to deal by them so that he was for a time pretty silent casting glances of perplexity at me and frowning as it he would invite me to say what I 1 was doing he was drinking however of humpty which soon loosen ed his tongue what cock and pullet have ou got here dicka says he in a loud whisper friends of mine says I 1 oh says he and stared passed off into a chuckle and with his eyes twinkling on miss at which my apprentice in the fine clothes not knowing poor fool what sort of a man he had to deal with fired up and demanded haughtily why he laugh ed at a lady but irons only roared the more paying no more heed to him than it he were a babe in arms shut your mouth says I 1 to him seeing the girl s color fly about why says he on the grin still youve turned anabaptist dick what fads thise I 1 will say its as toothsome and sweet mutton as it you close not your cheese trap said I 1 sharply I 1 |