The Osceola times., 1881-02-05

| fell on us; one of those silences, under
| which, inexplicably, lie threatening dis
asters.
The coach drew up at n low, rumbling
| inn, before which crcaked the sign of u
gray horse.
This is your loddng-place, Mr.. Shar-
/ rard," said the lieutenant 1.-The Pines
| lies but mile or two 10 the south. Mr..
| Chestcr's farm is in the neighborhood
and | have no doubt he will show you
your property, and also the little girl
whose fortune you have taken. All?
| You alight here, also, madam
He sprang out, and rendered his hand,
with profound courtesy. The lady
descended, and entered the inn. Her
figure was light and elegant, and, as she
halted in the doorway, the light fell full
on her head She was young girl, a
brilliant brunette, with soft, liquid eyes,
and mellow crimson on her dark skin.
Where was my middle-aged blonde
matron, tranquil and serene?
This is your valise," said the officer,
as bulky portmanteau was swung from
the top. Look out, Ben, you nearly
cracked my skull And Mr.. Sharrard is
dreaming of something p.ettier than
cow-skin cases. Yes, there goes a woman
who has bewitched wiser men than us"
tapping me lightly on the breast.
THAT" leaning forward and whispering,
SIS la Baronner"
While he spoke, horseman galloped
furiously up the road, shouting: "Stop
| the coach! Stop the coachw
Behind him tugged two others, show
/ ing like moving black specks, against the
| slope of white. Ben, who was buckling
in fresh horses, paused, open-mouthed.
The ostler stood gaping, with the bucket
in his hand. The drowsy landlord came
to the door. My young lieutenant laugh
ed; he was just at that age, when a lad
eXults in a row.
"The coach is stopped" he called to
the horseman. keep cool, my good
man. tapping his boot lightly, as his
foot rested on the carpeted step Of the
coach. Nobody is going on in il but
me, and ! am waiting your orders"
| The messenger was brcathless. While
he was slowly getting down from his
| gigantic horse, the officer leaned closer
to me, and spoke in a sharp whisper
| 1T is la Baronne' they are after, I'll
wager any money. She's a sharp one, |
tell you. But see she has a horse yon-
der, at the back Of the house. She can
escape, if we detain them. What dye
say, Sharrard? She's a woman"
| | could not speak. She, this intangi-
BILE creature, whom | had so idiotically
taken to represent all that was good and
worshipful in woman, an adventuress-a
| swindler!
While / stood dumb, Perley Mossop
gallopped into the inn yard.
"You here, Sharrard?" with his usual
| hearty roar of laughter. "You did not ex-
pect me to follow you post-haste, eh?
| But our Baronne turned out paste da-
mond, after all. At the reception, it
came out that she had forged, and cashed
checks, yesterday, on half our leading
men, and made off - heaven knows
where | remembered the woman in the
coach with you, SO followed with Per
| kins, the constable. We have sent out
scouts in dozen different ways. Where
| is the woman?'
! glanced at the back of the house. In
the dim light | could see female figure,
on horseback, going rapidly down the
gorge.
The licutenant's eye was on her. How
ready the fellow was. "1he womsn?'
he said, cody. ooh, there was female
passenger She left us at the Cross Keys.
Wasn't that the place, Sharrard?'
Yes; the Cross Keys | glanced
quickly around, to see if the driver was
| out of hearing.