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Show lTr;r ' .By jj. MIA-..- . WTSOiV' I ftgg "This is where I. live." said he, ami would have descended; de-scended; hut I was Ik fore him. and took him out of the saddle myself, leading him to tlu (Joor He opened it. and, still under my hand, fumbled fqr a Hint and stock, and so struck a light The room in Which we found ourselves was large and gloomy, with flagged floors, and an old table with (wo chairs stood befor: a dying lire. I looked on with a grin while he made his preparations) which he did with a shaking hand. He went to a clipboard, and not knowing what he would bring forth thence, I caught hold of his arm, at which he turned in a frenzy. ' You will get nothing more. Tis all hid." he cried excitedly. "Know this, tb.it tf you ransacked this house from floor to garret you would find nothing." "Pooh!" said I, "'tis the dice I want, and let's sec v. ho is master." Twas the dice, after all, that he was searching tor, and when these were gotten out wc sat to table, the light between us. "Faith, old man," said I, 'tis cheerless ho-pilahty Where is your bottle?" He rose mumbling, and went to the cupboard again, whence he took a bottle and classes, and poured forth some eau de vie. He tumbled with the dice. ' 'The first throw, my nobleman." said I, "and if ye win here's your guineas" I s t 'cm on the table, and his eyes greened O erwith delight. But his fingers still shook 1 rattled the box, and threw two four- ( ut "Sir," said lie eagerly, "wc will have one more throw. Sir, the dice be ready to hand. And you shall wager your winnings and all against my lovely daughter, the beauteous innocent. " . I was taken aback in fair amazement at the old goal proposal, but 1 was not the one to stay at a good hazard, no, nor one to buy a pig in a poke. So says I "Where is this daughter of yours whom you rate so highlv ?' He stared about the room, as if listening. "She should be in bed," says he. "Oh, she is a pretty innocent, inno-cent, a lamb, and gocth early to her sleep. She should be in bed above." hor a moment I said naught, looking on him and wondering. 1 was not in need of his gold, damn him "What looking maid is she?" said 1. "As like her daddy as (wo peas." said I, jeering. "Kip me, am I to risk a golden fortune for a girl with a parsely face anil carrot:. ?" "Sir, she hath a skin like a peach, she hath blue eyes; her face is cream; iter hair is like waving amber," ays he, with enthusiasm. "But 1 swear you shallsec her, if you will consent ' Again was 1 silent, whistling a stave unto myself, but, sink me, i knew not what to make ol it. Yea I was in the mind to think shame of this unnatural father that would bat ter his daughter for his gold Ww r-v-w-w-w w-v vrwv-rNw 'f Episode in the Life and Fortunes of Rlchdrd Ry cr, Otherwise (Jallopini Dick, Sometinu GenWeman of the Road. n OVE laughs at locksmiths, they say; and, Ej faith, 'tio trtiCj as 1 have usually found in p my experience. When a wench wills a ra man will discover a way, and 'tis a pretty an frer;t!'.r.i tri!: they have of willing, even despit i ' ir parents and their guardian: I have an eye for a lover, and, if J cannot be he, I am content to let him be himself, more especially if the maid be not (oo mil .It to my fancy. But there is no denying but what the g;rl I raw at the 'Green Man" out of Shrew-bury was llty taking creature She was a slim pretty wench that knew how to use her clothes, and that a nod and a toss were not all the weapons that a girl needs to her hand. She sighed and smiled hkc any angel at the young oaf at. her side. Well, it was not that he was an oaf, tor 1 am only calling him that in that he was of a rustic habit. He was passably well-jointed, well-jointed, and had a smooth ingenuous face that was ripe, you might think, for sheer folly. But he was tolerable, though the wench was loo handsome for aim with her style And yet with the perversity of her sr., 'twas plain her heart was set on him. and that she would not merely ogle him, whatsoever she might do to others, She sat ('other side of the room, eating of her food, and casting mc mild glances now and then, in part of wonder, no doubt; but 1 am not unaccustomed to the batter of female eyes. So I gave her back her shot with interest and presently, as if she thought she had done enough mischief, she turned t her man and gave him her attention. She hung on hint, (he swectling, till I was driven to believe she was maybe as innocent of heart as of eye; and so 1 fell, too. and, having gotten a quart of good wine under my jacket, 1 mellowed towards 'cm. Lord, they were turtle doves a-cooing, and the one helped t'other with a titbit, ?.-. I t'other would and would not. 'Twas pretty enough for idle eves. But 'twas (mc I was away, and so I rose and made for. (he door; (he which I had no sooner reached than there was a (ap on my shoulder. "The devil!" says I, whipping out my sword. But it was only Master Turtle with a kerchief that had fallen from my pocki t "We're a pleasant friendly youth, lad," said I, "and your sweetheart would tempt a monk.' I said "Lord love these innocents!'' says seating myself, and staring at the girl with admiring eyes She was fair like a May flower and dainty as blue skies in Spring, and it was a little time 'ere she could recover from her confusion. "N'amc (lie day." s: ad I, "and I will make free (o send a wedding gift." They looked on each other, and says the man, "Sir, yon arc good, but 'tis not determined. " "What!" cried 1, "with that eloquent piece befor'-me, befor'-me, you bae not settled? If I waited a sennight I should deserve my peepers blinded," 1 scid, "and not (o tell black from white, or beautv from a beast?" "O, sir, you mistake," he said, showing some earnestness. earnest-ness. "The fault lies not with me. " 'Tis my father," she panted, speaking for the first time, and in a prettj rural accent 1 nodded "Ay, old hunks I sec well. 'Tis often so. They will not remember youth and roses and the bloom of May. Rip mc, 1 would learn him had I the old tiling here" "Joan's father," says the young man, being (bus encouraged, "is of an ill name." " Well, Joan's a pretty one to make up," I said, laughing. "Nay, but sir, 'tis a hatd situation,' he went on carncsdy, "and as you arc so kind ou may like to hear it " "Say on, my hero," said I, ordering another bottle, and crossing my legs under the table there was a light on the stairs and behind the light a figure of a woman, robed in some white night-rail, and a white and frightened face above it, crowned 'with golden hair 'Damn my boots"!" said I, open-mouthed at this apparition. 'Joan! Ah, Joan, my dear!" cooed the old ntan. "S'lifc'" cried !, and gaped again, for, if you will believe mc, 'twas no other than the girl I had met in the tavern tha( had looked so sweetly on me, and was v. ith the young school-master. 'Father, what is this ? Arc you ill?" she asked, and then her eyes travelling across the intervening space (o mc. she cried out in fear. "Mistress Joan,' said I, recalling my wi(s, "you need fear naught from me 'Twas a point of argument your father and 1 had together. I pray you, go back to your slumbers in security, my pretty." 'Ah, is the not pretty?" whispered the old fiend, near-ing near-ing me. "".ct you gone," said I curtly to him "Get you away, Ies( I forgc( your age, and strike you." "What is i(, sir?" says the girl Joan, coming down a step into the room. "Why speak you so roughly to ray ' father?" At that a notion came to me. seeing her there in her beauty the more enhanced by her nocturnal habit; and aid 1 with a sharp cunning to old hunks. "Get you away, fool. 1 would have some talk with 1 her" "Yes, yes." said he eagerly, as if seeing his wishes' carried forth, and the gold reclaimed; and he made oil.. But I was wise enough to sec him locked safely in a further room. Then I came back to Miss. "Oh, what is all this sir?" she demanded fearfully. "My angel, 'tis a clear case of rum-padding," said I briskly with a long congee to her. "But I swear you shall si( in Paradise, and be no worse for it a whit only old stingy sobersides vonder." "I do not understand, sir," sas she, looking puzzled. "Have you robbed my father'" "You may call it that." I answered. "All that he hath is mine. But '(is you 1 want," 1 said. "You with your pretty eyes and little smiles, and cajoling humors." '"Sir," she drew back af right. "I do not know I 'Tis but a jest. Oh, ou cannot mean it." "Why, 'tis all agreed '(wixt old hunks and mc," J said, encouraging her to lose her fears. She leaned back against the wall as if in a faint-"But faint-"But I am promised, sir, to oh," she wrung her hands. "I cannot understand this. I tear you And I thought you had so generous a face!" Now this touched me on the raw, and 'twas plain also tha( I had mis(ook her, and that she was other thau her smiles and glances would prove her. Lord, 'tis as hard to know women as 'tis to win a battle. But 1 have sharper eyes than most men. and 1 soon spied what was wrong. She was indeed the innocent her miserable father had proclaimed her And, faith, she loved young Sheep-face and was true to hint But that i the silly way of women. So said I, in a whimsical voice : "Well, maybe. I know when a bargain should be dropped, and 1 11 keep that face you speak of, Mistress Joan " ' What bargain?" she asked, opening her eyes. ' W hy, 'twas an exchange of beauty for gold, and well worth it; so you can keep that for smiles in your mirror." 'With my father? You' A hargain?" she exclaimed, ex-claimed, her face moving with wonder and then dismay dis-may ; and then, as I was silent, she (lushed red, and buried her face in her hands. ' Oh, he hath outrage I mc," she cried. "Oh, 'tis the last, the very last and wont that I could bear!" It was like the cry of a child that is hurt and hath no refuge from hurt. "He is a d'ing-fork no( worth tears." said I. consolingly. con-solingly. But she wept on "Look you here, mistiess." I said, "there is this schoolmaster of yours, and damme, I will set you up with your father's gold. He has lott his all to me, and I will exact it from him to the uttermost utter-most farthipg." "My father's gold'" she said, and stared. There was a change cn Iter face, and she drew back. "The gold ou have stolen from him!" she exclaimed. 'Rot mc, 'tis better with you than with him," 1 said, with some impatience at such scruples. She shook her head. "Perhaps you mean mc well," she said dolefully, "I know not. But I may not :ake that which is wickedly taken." The girl put mc out oi temper, and I saw now pretty clearly that she was not such a doxy as would have served me. But she was handsome enough, ami appealing ap-pealing too, like-a helpless kitten. An 1 I was come to an end of my endurance. "Oh. well," said I, taking a sudden resolution (o be quit of all a( a blow, "have i( your own way But I am master of the situation, and w ill do what I will with my own." I went to (he door of (he room where (he miser was-, and unlocked it Tome forth,' I said. "Wc may now come to terms.'' He came out, with a brightened face, looking at one and the other of us. "You will take her?" he hoarsely whispered .. "Aye." said I, "1 will give yc back your money for her, and here 'tis " I slapped the purse and the bag upon the table, which he greedily seized on. " nd now the girl's mine." I said "Yes, yes," he assented, counting up his guineas to sec if they were right; but Miss looked on with a mighty scared face. J 1 ji 11 lltsfllSS! ' ; ' 1 j ML ; i she sat t'otiw.1? sidl. or the room, e.t:xc of m r iood and casting me mild glances. j I : no less than thirty pounds a year, he refuses, sir, his consent and grudges his daughter as he doth his hoarded wealth, and will not suffer me in his house, desiring a wealthier suitor for her that shall oav him for the bridal. "So that yc arc driven to meet thus?" 1 put in, with a smile at the girl t!:at was as good as words, for I Was by this wondering what in the devil's name had made her take up with this long-winded, church-jabbering, mim-tnouthed son of a curate. "YpU have guessed rightly, sir," sas he, "though I deplore the necessity." "Deplore your wig and waistcoat," said I. "You should thwack old hunk, until he cried for mercy" "Sir1" he cried, in surprise. "There is only one way with fools and madmen,!' 1 said, "and that's the cudgel. There be som.' that add women to the list," 1 said, giving the maid a Ifcok, "but not I I am of another kidney. 'J fear v. e have taxed you with (he idle talk" begins this sacristan, but 1 stopped his mouth. h. drink," says , "drink to a better sense end more spirit, and confusion to old Ih.uks, the Miser" I winked at Miss, and tossing off mj lienor, ro-- to go. If I was to reach my destination that night I ciusi ! ahorse, and, to say (he truth, I was weary oi tin-parsonical tin-parsonical youth, though 1 should have liked well enough to have had the girl for company longer, lb rose and gave me a bow, this icw-opencr, and I doffed to Miss, and so got forth. Twas a line night, ami, though 'twas late f"- my errand, I trotted gently forward along the lanes, pretty content in mind, and singing like an innocent child at nurse. I had got a mile or so away when f descried against the twilight of (he sky a rnan jogging along (oward me; and at the same time I caught (he measured (ramp, tramp, tramp, tramp of a horse's pads, on the highway I reined in, and waited, with the sii'y wine in my noddle: and of a sudden I burst out on the tracllcr as he reached the tttrti of the road where 1 stood Lord, i( was like roampadding of a sheep for all his squeals. He w.-s an elderly thin man, something lanky, but lowcd in l is shoulders, and he carried a bundle mid a great blunderbuss. This latter he slewed round about towards me with a cry of terror as I biune up, as if it swung on a swivel, and ban.: went the contents right across the marc's crupper, startling her. "Damn your silly had," said 1. "D'ye think that is the way barkers should be used? I have half a mind (o give you a lesson and take you for a tar.'.ct Meanwhile Mean-while and whilst 1 ponder it, friend, out with purse and baubles." And thus, despite his protests, I ransacked his pockets, poc-kets, and found therein a purse of good yellow guineas, the which did please mc. But ;;il the time he shifted about in his saddle, moaning and bewailing hia hard fate, and I saw that he held a hand behind him. says 1, suddenly reaching out and catching at this: "Shake hands on it, old friend," I said, and pulled his arm forth. He uttered a howl of misery, for what was clutched in his talons was a bag, and in that bag, slit mc, was i pile of goldfinches. "Ho! llo!" sa:d I, but ere I could say more he had begun on his old note, crying that he ws a poor man, that these were his master's, and that he should die dishoncred, and the like of that I stowed the bag about my waist, and was for giving him some lessons in truth and honesty. "This learns us, old gentleman' I began solemnly, when he broke in. paying no heed, and, to my surprise in quite another voice "Sir, yoti arc a man of your hands," he said, "and one that takes the hazards, I suppose." "All arc one (o me," I said merrily. "Then," he said earnestly, "here is something for your digestion. You have a small spoil there, wrested from mc, after hard years of labor and toil But what if you had the chance to double, nay, to quadruple, quad-ruple, it?" he asked, pushing his nag close to min. in his anxiety to lc understood. "What mean yc?" I asked. " Tis trtii ," he said, "that I am a poor man But I have labored hard and have co)lcc(cd SOtnc few pieces of gold. I should lose tb-em with a:t ill mind, Yet I have, like yourself, a heart for hazards, and I will make you an offer," he says. I stared on him in wonder. "You shall come with me," he pursued, catching my arm eagerly, "to my solitary house, and there you shall dice against me; and. if so be I lose, you shall have not only what you hold now, but all that is mine therein, which is four times this little. But if so be the lot falls to mc, then you shall surrender what you have, and leave mc in peace." Xow 1 sat looking on (his s(range crcadire with his strange proposal for some minutes in silence, for what he suggested perplexed me. And yet it tickled my curiosity. I could sec the perils of it, but if he played inc fair, there was something attractive in the notion. 1 am not a glutton for a guinea, but I like a game of chance. And so, said I, at last, revolving it all in my mind "Lead on, old beetle, and I follow. But beware lest you play me false." "Sir, it shall be as I say," he answered, not without some dignity. And so wc jogged along together in tin-direction tin-direction he had pointed, but, as you may suppose, with one eye upon the lank old rogue. Presently a twist of the lane brought us to an open green, in which twinkled a few lights, and I now pushed my mare abreast of (he other nag and redoubled my watchfulness of my shifty companion. "Sir," says he now in a trembling voice, "we arc nearly at our destination, and I am obliged to you for your court j I "You may quit civil terms," 1 said shortly, "until this occasion is celebrated. Where is your house?" "Straight across the green.'' said he mildly, and we turned the horses thither. i was not afraid of a mere village, let alone a pul ng hamlet, but somehow I distrusted my companion, and 1 was not for being tricked by an obi knave So 1 was not taken aback when, our horses swinging into a lane off the green, wc came abruptly under the lights of a tavern. "Joshua! Peter! Help ! Thieves !" s reamed the old man, suddenly seizing my leg. But the old villain had reckoned without Dick Ryder, though there are plenty that would have been riut about by the unexpectedness of the (rick- I Seiied his rein swiftly, leaving him to pinch my leg as he willed, and, giving h.; nag the tip of my boot simultaneously, simultan-eously, in a moment we were in a sharp canter Th : tavern li-.'hts slipped by, and though 1 could lu:;r the tramp of fec( and the sound of voices, and guessed th tome within had responded to his shouts, I had old bag of bones safe and sorry Well, I will own it was an odd business, this eomnjK t with the old trickster, but I was in a gamesome moo'!, and cared not. And. moreover. I was assured that h-had h-had had a lesson in conduct and would not attempt hi; treachery again. In this ! was ripht. for there was nothing' happened until wc had pulled up before a house in a lonely road. ,. s 7 t- ..m-m.. went his talons greedily to clutch the box, and he rattled and rattled till I thought he would never cease "Come, venture," I adjured him. "Launch your ships I" There was a gurgle in his throat, and spasmodiYalK the box went over, e had ast a ou r arid a three. A scream escaped him, and he sat leaning against the tabic like a palsied man. "You have no luck," said I grinning. "And now for the coffers !" H made no move, so I clapped the pistol to his head. "On my o.th. 1 will fire," said I, "if you do not carrv il our word, like a man of honor," "Stay, good sir," says he, quavering and clutching of (he (able. "I have .another course (o propose a njcrry course." "Give up Concede!" I threatened. He clasped at my arm with his ciaws tr. tnuloiisly "I will give up. You shall have all," says he, gasping, "but there is something better " lb .u-d wildly about the stone room, and his eyes lighted on something thit seemed to itir him to speech "I have, good sir." h-went h-went on iii a u-hcedlintr. e irnr . i - voice, "God IkmIi blessed mc with a lovely daughter a beautiful inno-cent inno-cent " He held up his hands r . though in admiration. "The more is she to be pitied for such a father," said I. COPYHICMT, 1310 "Well" 1 began at last, taking up the dice, but in good sooth I scarce knew what I vyould say , but he, whose (ace bad been waking all the time, and at the luck of whose sordid brain the thoughts and fears had be ii driving like mice in a wainscotting, broke in rtuickl) . X i, nay; I will exchange," he cried feverishly. "I w ill not toss 'Tis unseemly, ami against law," he-says, "to put all fortune to the fall of a die. But I will make a bargain with yc. You shall take my daughter, exchange ex-change her against the gold." "Bah!" said I, throwing flown the dice, so that they scattered on the floor. "Bah, you limb of Beelzebub! Yon would sell your own flesh and blood, four own innocent lamb, your ewe-lamb, your lambkin that dances among the flowers. Pah, you old satyr, there's none so foul as you, III warrant, even in the purbeus of London town !" "You will not!" he cried. "You refuse?" "Aye, a thousand times, you muck-worm !" I. said, and rapped on the table loudly with my barker. "Forth, then, with your treasury. Disgorge, old satyr, or I will bli u your carcase into slithers. Up, man, and deliver !'' I ,'ioutrd this loud in my anger at his baseness; and ihe;: turned my head sharply, tor a noise Caught my . r . It came frem a door t'other side of the room, ami I fastened my eyes on it. As I did so it opened, and W hy, then, said I, if she be mine, sbe is mine to do what l will with." "Yes, yes," said he, still counting "You shall set that down on paper," I said, and forthwith forth-with made him furnish the implements of the craft. "Sir!" began the girl, trembling, but I hushed her with my hand "Mistress, by this token, duly signed, ye're mine." I said, lifting the document. "And so I can dispose of you as I will So go you to your jackanapes of a Schoolmaster, and weep on his bosom," I said. She gaped ; and the old man's jaw dropped. Tis a trick," he began in a shrill and wheezy voice. "If you shat not your mouth I will close it by other means." I eried "You have your money, which is more to you than flesh and blood And the innocent beautv is mine to bestow. She shall to her lover, if I say so.' He was silent, and then resumed furtively on his guineas But the girl came towards mc, white of face. "1 misunderstood you, sir you are" She stopped "Here's your liberty here's your warrant," I said, giving her the paper her father had signed. M nd what happiness you may get by exchanging a skinflint for i popinjay (ake a God's name." nd with that I went to the door, leaving her dazed, and the old man hanging over his treasure I mounted the marc and rode off. tickled with myself at my neat behavior; for I have never gotten out of a dimcidty with more grace than on that occasion; and 1 have been in many a one in my time. 0 UK HAD CAST A TUL" It AMJ THRI . "Tis this way." said he, eagerly, "Mas(cr Applc(ou took a wife when he was grown thin of blood and all that was human in him was burnt like a savaged heath in Summer." "He should ha' known better," said (', burying my nose in the pot. "And as he grew older his blood ran thinner. ' said the youug man, now fairly taken up with his story, to that his riches became to Kim more than wiie or child." "Riches arc good," said I, "but I have known women I liked bettt r "then. sir. you will see how tragic this grew," says he mournfully: Tor the nioih--. died, ' n I the child lived on with (his boarding miser, that would not use her as his own JV-.sli .-:. i u, , ; - "An old skinflint!" said 1, "i would J had him .u the tip of my toa-it::- fork'! "So that his happin . . is ,. . ht to him." MJ'S this crpinomous youth, "and though I can ottef her an honorable place, bving schoolmaster to the village with |