Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1886-12-31
rooNrSuEp raoM rIRsr PAGE,


In an instant his thoughts Of Celeste
were swept away, and the young man
was by his interrogation, and saw that
twas one of the old lawyers neigh
bors. Whats the matter, Mr.. Shcr-
manp" he said.
white Tom has come home with
blood on him, and we can't find
Manu- said the man. painting as II he
had been riding hard.
With thrill of indescribable fear
and horror Joha Earring looked
at him. s1'll be at her fathers in
moment" he said. and turning
about went quickly into 8 livery stable.
Give me horse as soon as you can. !"
he said to n sleepy young man, who,
tipped back in chair in the dingy har-
ness-rcom, was reading dirty Police
Gazette by dirty, but not equally dirty,
lamp. The young man yawned, took
up half-consumed cigar from the
rough desk. and looked up at the impa-
tent speaker: "Wat you want 'erfur?"
be drawled.
John Earring gave him a blazing
glance: 81 want the horse to try and
find lost child with, he said. 'sPlease
hurry. sir!"
.'Whose young 'uns lost?" drawled
the loutish youth, leaning forward with
elbows on his knees.
For answer John Earning in his inn
patient ire caught down a saddle and
bride from one of the hooks in the wall
and flashed back among the stalls and
threw the saddle on the first horse he
came to. He brought the horse out
quickly, pulling the halter from its
head and forcing the bit into its mouth
he buckled the throat-latch as the
sleepy youth came up lantern in hand.
Here, you," exclaimed that worthy,
putting out his hand toward the rein,
"you don't want ter take that boss,
mister!''
Without word John Earring in his
anger whirled about and flung the fel.
low headlong against the wall, and
leaping on the frightened horse struck
his heels into it and went flying out of
the barn and up the street.
Dummy mud! what kind of wild
cat fool is that?" exclaimed the slow
moving youth as he got himself and
lantern together. "S'pose he's steal
in tn hoss?" and he stood a moment
with his mouth hanging open, staring
before him. Then he went grumbling
to the proprietor's house, few doors
away, and told him the incident. That
gentleman asked who it was that got
the horse, and when the sleepy youth
said at wus that lawyer teller as is
with ole Woodman," he laughed and
said: "Oh, Earling will pay for using
the horse all right. Guess you wasn't
spry enough for him.
.'N-a-w," said the youth, ruefully,
's'pose 1 want" and he went
grumbling back to the barn and
rubbed some axle-grease on the knot
raised above his ear by his fall, and
Judging by his obtuseness he may
have not improbably rubbed some axle
grease alphabetically into the dent
left in the wall where his head struck it.
When John Earring came to the old
lawyers residence White Tom was
standing there in the light of the late
rising moon hitched by the mounting
block. As he sprang to the ground
the housekeeper with frightened face
came quickly through the gate. 80,
Mr.. Earring! something dreadful has
happened! can't you find herr" she
said, wringing her hands.
John Earring said nothing; his face
was set and he was peering close at
the side of the horse that Maun had
ridden. He could see the red print of
hand on the milk-white side of the
horse, and other marks of blood, as if
some one upon his knees had strug-
gled to get into the saddle, and his
head was swimming and noise like
rushing water was in his ears. He did
not hear the woman's question.
TO BE CONTINUED