Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-10-19

forest, with outstretched neck, quiyering |
nostrils, limbs trembling with fear.
Out of the woods into the open road again,
and Paul drew sigh of relief. Before him |
were the twinkling lights of village. Up |
the hill he came and down the long narrow
street, the iron hoofS striking fire from the
stsny pavement. The shop windows looked
like patches of light in the darkness, and he
could see the clerks run to the door to see
who the mad rider was
As he left the village behind and trailed
out into the country again Paul heard the
town clock slowly Ginning seven. He had
ridden ten miles in tie last hour.
Still the mad pace was kept up as the horse
few past fields of corn, through low pasture
lands and by farm houses perched on rocky
hills, over rustic bridges that creaked beneath
the beating hoofs, up muddy hills and down
IN low valleys through ankle deep water that
splashed horse and rider from head to foot
He must have been riding at least half an
hour longer, when at the turn of the road
Paul caught sight of man on horseback.
1t was the picket of the Union cavalrymen,
who were resting and eating supper in a
small cabin few feet from the roadside
"Halt!' cried the soldier. as Paul came
galloping up. But the horse and rider dashed
by without needing the command The
picket raised his pistol, there was a crack
and bullet whizzed by the boys ear.
The soldier started in pursuit and the rest
Of the men ran to their horses and darted
away after him. Paul heard them coming.
heard the heavy splash of their galloping
| horses On the muddy road But the pursuers
1.fA t.-1,s.
| through the night.
| Just us he crossed the railroad track he
| heard the heavy rumblng of the approaching
express, and the bright headlight burst in
| view around the curve. With a bound the
horse cleared the track and sped onward.
| 1t was five minutes Of S, Paul knew, for at
that hour the train was due. In few min
utes more he was at the station, which was
eighteen miles from his home.
As he left behind HIM the long line of light
| from the car windows the horse began to
| slacken his pace, and his rider could hear the
heavy breathing that was the first sign
of exhaustion. He galloped still, but it was
1 in a labored way, and Paul could see that
his strength would not last much longer, so
he pulled in the reins little The horse
relapsed into a swinging trot, and Paul sat
upright in the saddle,
The storm was now past, and the dark
clouds driftad b. rapidly before the rising
wind, leaving the dreuched landscape flooded
with silvery moonlight. Paul could see the
corn " .ng prosrrate in the flooded fields, the
meadows cleaning in the watery light, with
the overhowing brooks that washed over
them, and now ana then a fallen tree or
overtur. d fence.
The Lorses Irot grew slower and slower.
Paul could feel the trembling limbs totter as
they staggered onward The heavy breath
ing grew shorter and quicker, the smoking
hanks were covered wiki foam, and from
the disiended uoStrils trickled a tiny stream
of blood.
One mile, two miles, they crept on. The
trot relapsad into walk, the walk into a
stagger. Then, with a loud half neigh, half
sroan. the exhausted animal fell to the
ground dead.
Paul sprang of rs the horse rolled over and
set out down the road at run. Up and
down hill, sPlashing through the streams, he
hurried, with but one thought in his mind
to deliver the dispatches in time For more
than a mile he ran, but his exertions began
to tell on him and his legs began to weary.
Once ne slipped and fell, then sat for a mo-
ment breathless, but he sprang up and hast.
ened forward
His strength was beginning to fail him
when before him he saw a light twinkling in
a farm house With the energy OF despera-
ton he ran forward and opening the door
fell PROSTATE in the room.
a woman who was knitting near crib
screamed al the sight Of the boy drenched to