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TEMPLESTOWE, I A STORY OF…

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TEMPLESTOWE, A STORY OF THE DAYS OF D 0 K TURPIN. By J. SKIFP EORLASE, AUTHOR OF H Loved by a Lord," "Who Killed John Cameron P" Both Princess and Police Spy," "Nina the Nihilist," "The Black Hand," &o.,&c. CHAPTER XXVIII. "I'M BEAUTIFUI. ENOUGH FOR ANTI ONE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH." In conversation snch as this the entire day was beguiled, for Ann Monday's history had brought dawn with its close. Dick Turpin said all that he could think of to break down the strange girl's extraordinary determination, but it was not of the least use. She declared that society had always been at war with her, and now that the opportunity bad at last come, she longed to strike back as hard as she had been struck, and would do it to," with a great deal more to the same effect. Dick then endeavoured to persuade her that a young girl's muscleless arms and deli- cate frame were not fitted for the dealing or the receiving of hard knocks, but his pretty auditor retorted that there were several well- authentioated instances of women not only entering the army, but also marching and fighting through several campaigns and she next (reminded Dick that "White Mask," one of the most celebrated Knights of the Jtoad during the preceding reign, had been discovered to be a woman, and, to certify it to tho incredulous, had been hanged in female garb of the most costly and fashionable style. But this relation made our hero more loth than ever that his pretty companion should xiak so terrible a fate in turn, and he assured lier that he would work for her much more willingly than he would work with her, and that it would be his greatest pleasure to endeavour to provide her with every necessity of life, and perhaps with some of its luxuries in addition, if she would only settle down in tome quiet and respectable home where her safety would be secured for the future. "Whilst you nightly risked your neck to minister to my comforts and wants! Thank you all the same, Dick, but you shan't per- suade me into being so intensely selfish. If you won't be my comrade, I shall take to the road on my own account. Nothing shall stop me from carrying out my resolve, for it is a career which I have ever yearned for, and if I lose the present chance, 1 may never again possess a horse to commence operations on." So our hero had at last to give in and promise that he would be her comrade and her brother; that he would try to forget al- together that she was a girl, and let her do b,-y full share of everything which had to be dene, even down to grooming the horses, and soforth. w But remember that should you ever bo lOft enough to fall in love with me, or any nonsense of that kind, our partnership will be dissolved, and I shall leave you at once," said Ann Monday, warningly. Oh, there isn't the least fear that I shall do so," retorted Dick, more emphatically than politeness altogether warranted. II I'm not so certain as you won't, some day or other, for I'm sure I'm beautiful enough for anyone to fall in love with. I'm warning If>U not to do so, at your proper peril-tbat is all" M I daresay I might fall in love with you, did I not, as I have said before, love another. Not that she will ever have anything more to 147 to nie yet, despite that, I shall love her, and her only, as long as the breath of iife re- mains in me." "I've no doubt that she is much more lovely than I am p" observed Dick's com- panion with a half pout. .1 I'm not so sure of that. Your beauty and bar's are so dissimilar that they cannot be ownpared. I may liken her's to the loveliness of a bright summer morning, whereas your's more resembles that of a glorious starlight B?ght," said Dick. And I intend io be Queen of the Night, was the impassioned retort, and you shall be the first subject in my realm," "lather more romantic a relationship than -two boy highwaymen, don't you think?" asked our hero dryly. Rather more absnrd, you mean. yes, I was a little bit off my head for a moment, but it shan't occur again, I tell yon what, com- rade, I'm very muoh afraid that I'll always be feminine enough to dislike hearing another girl's beauty lauded to the skies, so please not to do it again, for I'm downright ashamed of the weakness, and yet I can't overcome it. P, c. Well, I'll remember and never more offend." 01 Good. Oh, how I wish that night was lere." It won't be long in coming now." Rave you thought over the direotion in which we had better go ?" Well, I have fancied that it would be a wise plan to cross the Tees, and work Durham and Northumberland, but I do wish, and from my very heart, that we oould both of us get an honest living." "My profession is chosen, and nothing shall induce me even to consider any other." U Ah, weIl, then the matter's settled, and it only remains to get you male aLtire, a braoe of pistols, a sword, and a different sort of uddle, as quickly as may be." Three hours later the youthful pair, thank- ful that the time had at last come for leaving St. Robert's cave and all its horrors behind them, saddled and bridled their horses, and led them into the outer cavern. Dick then crept cautiously out of the cave to ascertain whether or no the coast was clear, and presently returning with the information that it seemed to be so, the two mounted and issued forth, both riders and steeds bungry and thirsty, yet not knowing how soon or in what manner they would be able to satisfy their really urgent needs. No opportunity arose for the satisfying of Dick and Ann's want's until about six o'clock on the following morning, when they were about a dozen miles to the northward of Northallerton. There they mc-t two labouring men pro- ceeding to their early and arduous work in the fields, for whioh the average w'age at that time wtis a shilling per day of fourteen boors. « Havp yon got your dinners with you r" asked Pick, thinking it very probable, inas- much as one of the louts carried a small wooden keg, doubtless containing very c. small beer. Well, it's not what the quality would call dinner, but it's what we poor devils have got to eat as such, or go without anything; barley bread and third-rate cheese," replied one of the fellows rather surlily. I "As you seem to set such little store by good food honestly earned, I'll give you a crown piece for your entire stock, inolndiny the contents of that wooden keg, and yen shall see us enjoy what you despise," an-1 gwered Diok Turpin, producing and showing j to them the coin ma earnest of his good iaitb. I v liie two labourers were jutounded at tbfl' ,Ai offer, but were shrewd enough to close with it at once. Darned if it won't pay for a fortnight of such dinners 1" ejaculated one; whilst "Oh, lud 1" was all that the other could exclaim, so profound was his astonishment. However, in a minute more cur hero and bis pretty girl comrade were pegging into the coarse fare as only a twenty-seven hours' fast would have enabled them perhaps to do. The great cubes of cheese and hunks of stale barley bread disappeared as though by magic, until not a crumb of either was left, and then the overplus of the beer that they couldn't consume they poured down the throats of their horses. After they bad parted from their early morning acquaintances the best of friends, Dick Turpin observed- Now, in the words of the immortal bard, 'Richard's himself again.' How do you feel, Tom ? More comfortable in body by far, but I should feel more easy in my mind if I was more like a Tom and less like a Jenny," was the reply. Well, and to tell\he truth, so should I, but the opportunity seems long in coming. Another hour now should see us in the county of Durham, and our horses still seem as fresh as when we quitted Knaresborough, thanks, I suspect, to the hour's tug which we treated them to at somebody else's hayrick, whilst we ourselves took our rest on the sheltered side of it out of the wind. I hope that we'll leave all our troubles and perils behind us in the shire,^ Yet, for all that, I shall be glad when you're outwardly converted into a boy, and also wh-m I find myself clad in rather less attention-compelling apparel," said oar hero. Why, your dress is rather conspicuous,! certainly. It is rich and striking, but not of a kind that is worn nowadays. 1 thought it might have been your idea of a dashing- looking High TobymanV rig-out." Ie No," answered Dick gloomily, as he thought of him by whose desire he had worn it, and also for what reason it had been donned, I did not choose the costume for myself, and the fashion is an exploded one, as are the hopes which I became possessed of with it. When I cast off these clothes i shall cast off my entire past along with them, and, thenceforth, live only for the future. And for me ?'' asked the lovely girl archly as she looked into her companion's faeo with a half-longing and half-defiant expression. "And for my comrade Tom, certainly," responded our hero. The young lady bit her lip somewhat petu- lantly at the stress which Dick laid on the two words comrade Tom." At their first acquaintance the comradeship was what she had expressly stipulated for, and it was all that she really wanted still yet, nevertheless, it piqued her to discover that her beauty did not even yet seem to infatuate her companion in the least. Void of passion as a marble statue, and with no love in her nature save and except telf-fovet Ann Monday felt that she had a kind of prescriptive right to be loved, or rather adored, without rendering anything in exchange therefor, except, perhaps, now and then a smile or a gracious word, such as a queen might bestow upon a faithful snbjeofc, The reader may think—" Surely neither her workhouse training nor her after experience had been at all calculated to fill her with notions of this kind?" to whom we reply- No, but every looking-glass she had ever peered into had." She was, therefore, "tiffy" for a little while, and felt all the more indignant because her companion was evidently quite unconscious that he had said or done anything to displease her. But when presently, as they were riding slowly along, they beheld a young man get off a bora" in front of a boose standing a little way back from the road they were following I northwards, secure the reins to the lintel of the door, and then enter the habitation with- out knocking, Ann Monday said to Dick— He's just about your size and build, and his clothes are such as you stand in need of. Hadn't we better make him exchange them I for those you have got on?" Well, it mightn't be a bad more. T fancy he's a doctor, and so if be could, moreover, attend to my arm, which begins to trouble me again somewhat. But it's a more urgent matter for you to change your costume than for me to alter mice, Tom." Thank you; I mean to wait until 1 come across something a deal more beooming than the suit that it struck me would do well for you. Why, I should be lost in it. I'd as soon put on three sao!rs—one for my body and one for each leg, and then fill up all the spare space with turnips and putatoes out of the fields, thereby beooming your travelling larder as well as your comrade." I'm afraid, Tom, that you are neither very wise nor very good-tempered," ejaculated our hero somewhat orossly. And I'm afraid that you're somewhat slow to avail yourself of a good opportunity when it offers," was the quick retort. You shan't blame me on that score twioe, Tom, so just ride slowly up and down until J return to you," I'm not going to abandon a comrade in that fashion. No, I'll go with you to the house. Yon may find me a deal more useful than you imagine. At the very least I can hold your nag whilst you go inside." Ah, so you can. Well, come along." They turned their steeds up a lane, and in a few minutes bad reached the front of the house. Hardly had they done so when they heard a horse galloping along tho road which they had just quitted as hard as it could lay hoof to ground. and glancing somewhat curiously in the direction of the sounds they bebeld a black boy, perched atop of a gaunt, roan-coloured, Roman-nosed, rat-tailed Bace- phalus, into whose Rides he was continually digging his heels, whilst his head and elbows were all on the move, the latter going up and down, up and down, and the former rolling between his hunched-up shoulders like those funny toy men or birds whose bodies termi- nate in a ball. "Sambo Twigg!" exclaimed our hero in- voluntarily. "Now, I wonder what devil's errand that imp of Satan is bent on ?" Have yon anything to fear from him F" asked Ann Monday. n I don't think so, once rid of these clothes, replied our hero, after a moment's thought. I'm a very different-looking fellow to what I was when he saw me last. I hadntred hair, a sallow skin, and freckles then. I was. in fact, what most people would have called a very handsome lad." "Then are your present ugly looks a dis- guise, and you may or.e day grow pretty again ?" demanded Ann Monday almost breathlessly. Members of ray sex are never pretty, and most of us would scorn to be anything 80 girlish, but for all that I hope that with each succeeding day I shall be something less of a fright, and that in less than a month I shall be as good-looking a fellow as most that are going," answered Dick. CHAPTER XXIX. "THAT G rRL WILL MURDER YOUR MASTER." The conversation between Dick Turpin and his companion was at this point interrupted by the owner of the horse which was fastened *High Tobymao is professional slang for high- wayman.; to the lintel of the door coming out of the house, apparently in a great hurry. Diok's and the young lady's appearance evidently astonished him considerably, for he exclaimed, Bless my soul and body 1" as he stood stock still on the door step, with his mouth as wide open as his eyes, which were gazing at each of them in turn. He was a fat, florid young man of about 25 years of age, and whilst looking at him Dick could give a very good guess why his pretty girl companion had no desire to dress herasif up in his clothes, for they would certainly have made her look a perfect figure of fun. Feeling himself called upon to say some- thing our hero exclaimed-" Even at some distance off we concluded you to be a doctor, sir. Should we not be mistaken, I've an injured arm that I would like you to look to, and 1 shall be happy to pay you your own price for your services." "My dear sir, will you dismount and come inside the young lady likewise? I am quite free to give the invitation, I do assure you, for the good folks who live here are personal friends as well as patients of mine." "Thank you all the same, but I'd rather remain in the saddle," Ann Monday at once made answer for herself. Here, give me your bridle," she added, as Dick dismounted; and then, when he had approached close to her to put the reins in her band, she whispered to him-" If there are any other men in the house don't risk the exchange of clothes, and beware of the doctor in any case, for I feel sure that he suspects us as much as I suspeot him, which is saying a good deal." Thanks for your advioe, which I'll bear well in mind," replied our hero, and the next instant he and the medico had disappeared indoors. "Be good enough to take me into a room from which I can keep an eye on the horses, for mine is somewhat skittish, and were it to get into one of its playful moods I doubt whether my com-my sister could hold it," y as Hick s request as they entered the house, and with an Oh, certainly," the medico com- plied with his wish at once. The apartment they entered lay to the right of the little hall, and through a half-open door opposite Dick had glanoed, en passant, into another chamber, and beheld a very fat old gentleman reclining in an easy chair, with what was evidently an extremely gouty foot resting on another. He isn't capable of doing me any mis- chief, that's very clear, and at the same time of the day (it was by then about half-past nine o'clock) it isn't at all likely that any younger'men will bo indoors." I believe, from your dress and manner, that I've the honour of devoting my poor ser- vices to a young gentleman of rank and posi- tion p" exclaimed thedoctor unotuously as soon as he and Dick were alone together in the opposite apartment. "Oh, for that matter, fine feathers make fine birds," responded our hero frankly; and then he added, fancying that a better oppor- tunity would not be likely to oocur-" By the bje, I want to exchange my bright plumage for feathers of a more sombre hue, such as you yourself wear, for instance. What do you say to an oifer of five pounds for doing me this favour, including the doctoring of my arm, eh ?" J say done, inasmuch as my suit of olothes, hat and boots included, are not worth more than four pounds, and I daresay that yours would fetch ten, even second-hand. If it pleases you, we will make the exchange at, once. See, I have locked the door." Dick was nothing loth, and in less than five minutes he and the medico had, to all outer seeming, changed their identities. Stay," exclaimed the latter suddenly, having finished dressing first, before yoa put on my oowt, or, rather, your coat, I'd better see to your arm." Ah, to be snre," assented Dick. "Oh, I am not the first to attend to your hurt, I perceive/'said the doctor, as ha rolled up Dick's shirt sleeve. What, a strip from a girl's skirt for a bandage ? That looks as though you got your wound in the service of Cupid, young sir." An altogether erroneous conclusion, though, for the bandaging was. my sister's handiwork," responded Dick curtly. Well, you've a nice, plump, round arm, that's as white as any girl's, and the bullet has driven a red furrow across it of at least half an inoh in depth without touohing a bone. It only wants a cool ointment dressing to allay the burning pain, and it won't trouble you much three days from the present, believe me. Excuse me for a minute or two and I'll get what is needed from good Mrs. Porter, who always keeps a stock of ointment, unguents, herbs, lint, bandages, and such like in the house." He had left the room almost ere he bad finished speaking, and hardly had he gone when Dick heard a tap at the window. Glancing in its direotion, he perceived that his girl comrade had done it with her riding- whip. She and the horses were close up to the casement, and she was evidently signir.g to him to do something, and also mutely bidding him to take heed. She isn't half so plucky as I thought her to be," reflected our hero as he noticed the pallor of her face and how her bosoms were heaving and falling inside the tightly-fitting bodioe of her habit. At that moment, however, he heard a seem- ingly asthmatical voice exclaim in the next opartment-the back onp, "You don't mean it, doctor, the hussy! But what do you want me to do ?" Hullo," thought Dick, this may be worth listening to," and he immediately crossed the room and laid the side of his face against the wall in time to hear the medico make answer— II Let yonr servant maid run for the men who are working in tha nearest field, and tell them to bring their spades and their hoes with u"' .J8 then capture the pair and rewar<? between us. The sword ,ffellow's got now he won't be a we to draw in a hurry, for it was mine, and it's got fixed in the sheath, whilst his pistols he's left in his holsters. I can take a quarter I of an hour fini "hmg off his arm, and surely some ot your farm hands can be got here before then." In ten rrrnntes, but not I fear, io mucn less," responded the woman's voice. That'll do, only don't let it be over ten minutes, The girl is the horsa-stealing party beyond a doubt and is worth twenty pounds, and I Wouldn't wonder if her companion was r°^v. 1'te a hundred, for birds of a ea er flock together, and he looks woundily « «? ^?un2 highwayman to my mind." bally ruD| run for y0ur ]jfe> Tom, &I1rr are three-aoro turnip P 0 • I ell'em that there's plenty of beer to be got, aye, and brass as well, for the job they're set on now," gasped the asthmatical female voice, and then he heard the doctor coming away, and so got back to where be had been standing when he had left him. "ey oaQ't be here under ten minrtes, the o d woman said, and, by George. I'll make the scoundrel do my arm in five, whether he likes it or no. I'd g0 -with it undone, only I want it to be of use to me again as goon as possi- •x n'iu W?° 04D te" ^ow" soon I may require t an(^ ^eo'^e(^ and then he sent his girl comrade a re-assuring nod «>nd smile through the window, and also called out to her that he wouldn't be many minutes more. The doctor heard the promise given as he re-entered the apartment, and perhaps that was why the smile wherewith he greeted his patient was of rather a Mephistophelean nature, though he certainly had no knowledge of the fact. But Dick read it as such, and at once ex- claimed, Come, doctor, set to work if you please, for I am in a hnrry to be off. Less than five minutes will suffice for such a little job as you've on hand, and in ten I mean to be a good mile away." Hardly, however, had the words escaped his lips when, evidently to the doctor's sur- prise as much as to his own, there was a sound of heavy hurrying feet in the passage, j and the next moment there rushed pell-mell into the room three burly farm labourers, armed, two with pitchforks, and the third with a hoe. Sally had not had to go so far as the three- acre turnip patch in order to fetch them, because they had finished their work there, and got almost back to the house for fresh orders, when she met them. The medico was naturally delighted at their so promptly turning up. "Two of you rush out of the front door and secure the girl on the brown horse, and don't hesitate over a blow or two if they must be given; the third stop with me to help secure this young rascal, whose arm is hurt so that he can't do any harm," he exclaimed, at the same time drawing the sword which had come into his possession along with the rest of Dick's belongings, who ere this had managed to get on the doctor's coat and don his plain, blaok trip!e-cock hat. Finding that he really oouldn't lug the sword out of its sheath, which he had accepted in exchange for his own, Dick made for the window, hoping that there was still time to escape through it. He made a desperate effort to throw up the sash, but failed. Then at last he began to realise the faot that he was caught in a trap which there was no way out of, whereupon he shouted at the top of his voice- Tom, away with you. I'm nabbed; yes' for heaven's sake, don't think of me, but only of yourself." His pretty girl comrade beard, but bad not the least intention of obeying him. Ere this (dreading peril, though she knew not why) she had got Moonbeam close up alongside her own horse, and managed to draw a pistol out of the nearest holster, so that when the two farm labourers rushed out of the house to make her their prisoner she not only drove them back into it, frightened out of their wits at her levelled weapon and the threats which she didn't scruple to make use of, but next she rode close up to the window of the room in which she knew that Dick had now four foes to contend with in lieu of two, and pointing the long, glittering, silver-barrelled horse pistol in at the casement she vowed that she would dis- charge it unless her "friend" was immediately set free. She'll do no such thing, for fear of killing him, instead of us and, besides, who ever heard of a woman being able to hit anything smaller than a barn door at such a distance ? exclaimed the doctor. Now, lads, fling your- selves upon him, and bind him seourely whilst I go out and tackle the wench single-handed, he added. Ann Monday heard every word he said, and for a moment it seemed to her as though the position was really desperate, for even if she shoots the doctor as he comes out of the house it will not bring Dick a step nearer to freedom, and her single-barrelled pistol once discharged she bad no means of reloading it, whilst to get its fellow out of the holster on the off side of Moonbeam's saddle she feels would be a feat impossible of accomplish- ment. Suddenly, however, a bright idea struck her, and she at once proceeds to act upon it. She rides, still leading Moonbeam, close np to the other front window of the house, just within which she knows that there is an old invalid gentleman sitting tied to the spot and to one posture by a gouty foot. Smashing the glass with the muzzle of her weapon just as the doctor rushes forth from the house to make her his prisoner she says sharply to him "Look here, my fine fellow, Ire-gain my comrade or you lose your patient. I don't want to kill this poor, old gentleman, but he's so near to me that I couldn't possibly miss him, no matter how bad a shot, were I to fire at him, and, by heavens, I will so fire unless my companion is in the saddle before I have counted a hundred, or if you dare to approach a single step nearer to me than you are now." I; Young woman, just listen to reason," began Dr. Lancet. "I've something else to do. I'm busy counting. You've still time to save your patient. Harle how he's roaring in his terror. Come, don't be a fool, or in a minute or two you'll be a murderer in addition." For God's sake, stay, hold your band. and I'll bring your friend out to you," gasped I the doctor. Very good but I shall hold that old man's life in my power until he's in the saddle, at which instant I shall fire point blank at whoever else is outside the door. On that last aocotint you will be prudent to let him come forth alone" replied the beautiful amazon, sternly. The doctor shot a hasty glance at her, and saw in her flashing eyes and flushed cheeks ample evidenoe that she was in earnest, and thoroughly resolved to do what she had threatened, so he ran indoors, exclaiming— That she-fiend will murder your master nnlcss we let this young sooundrel go. She's holding a pistol within a yard of his head. Listen to his cries of terror. Unhand him. That's right. Now, sir, d -part at once, if you would save an old man's life." Diok Turpin didn't for a moment hesitate to do so, for he knew very well that it was a case of preserving his own life at the same time. Half a minute more he was out of the house and on Moonbeam's back. (To be continued.)

A TOWN OF MUSHROOM GROWTH.

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