The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-05-21
CHATTER X.
A DOUBLE SURPRISE.

1t required but an hour. if that. of
dawn. " neu Flo. who from utIerNTeari-
ness and anxiety was partly doing,
had a vague pTeseHtimelTt, as si II were
IL dream. that somebody Wds breath.
ing among the bushes behind Der.
1t was too low to stJrtla her; she
rather seemed to awaken to il. The
fire had burned down 20 dun white
glow: the darkest hour indeed was that
before dawn: among he trees tIe black
ness was Impyuatlable. Dlmly she dis
cerued the figure 81 Herbert Archer
extended in the same place. bis head on
his arm. Whether his eyes We're closed
or not she could not tell. BY her ear
the breathing yet continued.
Waking more fully she felt sure that
the breathing was that Of human be
ing. She was in the very act OF turn
ING her head. when familiar voice
Whispered so low that she could scarce
" catch the words:
DO not speak-your shafety depends
on caution. [ viii reschue YOU
She could not help slight start; her
heart beat fast with Joyous hope. Inc
accents were those Of the jew \ friend
"a true friend-was near.
You hear, Mish Grainger?'
She simply shook her head alirma-
lively.
'Doesh he shleep. You don't know"
She shook her head.
b. Can you try? You mUsht-yesh,
you musEt try it. Try to draw your
shelf amongst the bushes. BY degreesh.
Once by me yOU are shafe
Flo needed no second bidding. Isaac
Iewis's voice had brought back all her
courage, for she felt the Jew would not
desert her.
Cautiously. noiselessly, she drew her
! self behind the tree trunk, leaving the
cloak where she had been reclining
| Now and then she paused to observe
Archer. He made no move.
What anxious moments they we're
| How long they seemed.
At last she was shrOuded in the dark
ness. but the touch OF the Jews hand
| showed her his presence.
/ Can YOU lNneel and follow me, he
/ asked.
.'Yes. go on" And she followed,
! trembling at the rustic of every leaf.
H. In a few minutes they reached a clear
! space, and Flo saw dawn was breaking,
| and also that a horse stood ready near
! her.
The Jew quickly helped her to the
! saddle. Spraug UP behind with wonder
| ful agility for So elderly man, and
carefully began to move away from the
spot.
She was rescued-she was free. No,
not yet. How her heart beat. What
was that?
! y CTy-a shout.
! Her fight was discovered. The cry
and the shout were Herbert Archer 5
Caution ish no longer poshible,
| whispered Isaac. Our hOTshcSh mustn't
prove who hash the besht heelsh,' and
shaking the reius he dashed on.
Behind, Flo heard Herbert ATcher's
voice shouting, then others. TheT
came the sharp tramp Of horses crash
| ing through the underwood.
4 was right, she calculated almOs
UncOuscioUsly: there are more thai
he. 1t was plot. .-.
More. yesh; there are three. Mish
er Archer and the yillalnsh who carried
yOu OIL
''Oh. good Lewis"
"Hush, ven talk after, Mish Grain
ger We must ride-ride for our lives.
With voice and hee! he urged ON tn
horse. whose speed. however. was de
tered by the double burden. Througl
bush and tangle the Jew forced his way
. while the voices of the pursUers weF
too soon found to come after them.
The Jew listened YES, there -wer
three regular beats-there were thre
/ riders. He guessed who they Wert
The two abductors of the girl, an
/ Herbert Archer, lie had laid this pic
to win her by gratitude for her sur
/ posed rescue. ...-
Those shots had been very harmlessl
exchanged. There were, then, three {
one Ii he did not outride them he ha
done little good.
On. ON. on, he spuTTed his horse. TIL
day had now broken: its grayhght. 500
changing to golden, began to shin
through the trees. As it frightened W
more. the Jew grew aware that he Ia
foSt the track.
{ T4rere WIS no time to seek TO find i
4 he loud tltd OF the. PaIsstaFS hms,
. told him tlaai Jlcy We're gaining. onhiH
He could but continue madly forNar,
Flo cIug to him, silent, trembling
anxious.
Once or twice She had raised her eyt
to his face. a strange perpleXed wondt
J, ON her own. lie had not noted it. II
gaze was bent in advance.
Nearly two hours ride.
The Jews horse beginning to shO
unmiStakable signs of eNhaustlo
needed more urging, while the pursue
were gaining every stride.
.-rhev are closer. ejacul3ted II
alarmed 'They win overtake us.
Tho jew ma;le no reply.
; '-Oh. Isaac. dear Isaac. she cried, e
. treatiugiy, do not let me fail again /