The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-08-19

after learning their secret A second
lantern twinkled in the barn; somebody
was saddling horse for pursuit.
of whom he had read trooping about
him. He was alone in the night. If
once Matthew Knolls overlook him,
Uncle Geoffry would never know. A sob
rose in his throat; he was in the clutch
of brutal men afraid of his revelations.
The sound of horse -hoofs struck sharply
on his ear; he glanced wistfully toward
the nearest house. Should he rouse the
inmates Instead, be ran on, hiding in
a thicket as the horseman galloped up,
and doctors gig passed.
" l am looking for lad sent to us"
said Matthew. "He's fighty sometimes,
and his friends want it kept quiet. If
you see him, pick him up, DOCTOR"
"Dear me /" said the doctor, and
drove away.
Geofry's heart stood still The rider
went on slowly and cautiously, thus
checking advance. Would Matthew
Knolls ride between him and the lake
until daylight, when he could be recog-
nized ? If he was pronounced crazy in
advance, the other would surely claim
him. Seven miles becomes pilgrimage
when one is on foot and tracked by a
mounted man. Geoifry knew that he
must make the distance before dawn.
He became an elusive pllrsuer, walking
on when the horses steps were distant,
and yet this measure required great
alertness, for the rider paused to listen,
and occasionally dismounted to examine
the ground. .
Oh, the darkness, the frightful loneli-
hess, the danger lurking everywhere !
A misstep might hurl him into the ravine
below; fall reveal his proximity y to the
enemy. Once Matthew wheeled about
suddenly, and waded his horse in the
rivlllet to drink Geofl'ry clrng to the
plank of the bridge, thus outhanked,
within reach of his whip.
Dawn, cold, pale. yet deepening, with
the village and lake close at hand. A
tavern on the edge of the wood lured
the rider the keeper, Just then, accost-
ed him. Five minutes for liquor, Mr.
Matthew Knolls, while lad ran down
the hill waving his hat to the steamboat
already in motion, and sprang on board
with the withdrawn plank.
Uncle Geofry, slipping his coffee, was
astonished by the advent of his nephew,
who produced the watch.
81 found It'll" Then followed excited
explanations.
The two Vernons, accompanied by q
detective, returned to the Knolls farm
house.
There is cool thief, with a cast in
one eye, who comes from these parts, 3"
said the officer. "He's mendicant
sailor, burglar, and a pickpocket in
town. didn't know he smuggled and
robbed on the border, though" I"
That is Mr.. Matthew Knolls. and he
must wear false whiskers," said Geoffry.
At the farm all was peace. The cellars
contained cider and vegetables the son
had vanished /; the old people were ner-
vous and detected. Mllly had gone to
her aunt's until the wedding. Yes, she
was to marry John Townley after all.
"You must have been dreaming"
said Uncle Geoffry.
Geofry the younger held up the
watch in dignified protest. 81 did not
dream this back, SIR
"Well, you have earned it.
In after years when illness attacked a
sensitive organization it came to Geotfry
Vernon in the delirium of fear, when
Matthew Knolls, desperado, was pur-
suing him through the awful darkness,
with solemn hills above and the rush OF
waters far below, and sometimes, across
this darkness, cleaned a girls face, like
Ophelia's, yellow hair dropping on neck,
and blue eyes forever terror-haunted.