The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-02-17

and be driven TO the city. He had
done the same thing on several oc.
casions himself. and the more
he thought OF it the more the fear
that his wife was actually run.
ming away from him gained on him.
His attack lad hn>tened u plan nj.
ready laid. Then he remembered his
wife's calmness and herassertion that
she would "visit mamma or do some.
thing to get beyond another such at.
tack" also her message to him
through kierney ITO follow the north
pike" This last was to throw him
oil the track.
Again he auyhed at himself for en-
tcrtan,ny such thoughts, again he
picked up the thread and thought out
more dnmning evidence. A dozen liz.
tie incidents. u dozen strong remarks
which had seemed insignificant
to him ut the time, came into his
head, and he wondered that he had
been so blind before. 1t WAS useless;
he gave up trying to deny the purpose
OF the two iugitives. and determined
to head them OIL il he could. He shud.
dered at The thought OF the scene
which would follow when he denounc-
ed his wife. lie tried to plan III what
way he should kill Minturn. An oath
escaped his lips when he thought of
the news of the scandal reaching the
clubs. He gronncd as he looked into
the desolate tuiure--for he was really
| passionately fond OF his wife.
The riders ahead OF him had settled
down to very hard riding and were
making straight for the little settle
ment which surrounds Oneola station.
They had not looked around since
| they started, and were unaware that
they were followed. Bob glanced at
his watch and understood why they
hurried. They had but eight minutes
and over two miles to 20.
The country became very still
Solid post-andrail fences, such as
good, Observation-Disclosures buitabout
the farms they had received from their
fathers and intend TO hand down to
their sons, became more frequent.
The white mare and the Master of the
FoN-hound's mount were going beauti-
fully. At each leap the dark horse
would le:ta by a few strides; the white
mare would follow at another panel.
The two riders would then pull across
the field together until the next fence
was reached, when the Master OF the
Fox yhountls would again cad.
There remained about mile. Bob
was gaining very rapidly, but his
horse began to show ley wearincss.
First he hooked on ut n couple OF low
ones, then llccrashed through u Snake. ;
and finally he refused point blank
at u post-andrail with IL SLIGHT drop,
and his rider lost all the ground lie
had gained. He almost gave up in de-
spair as the obstinate "hack" breast
ell the fence again and again and came
up standing each time. The horses
ahead kept increasing their lead. At
last, IN sheer desperation, he rushed
his horse and lifted him into the len ce.
Horse, ,rider,anl rails came down with
II crash. No damage, and he WAS in
his saddle again almost instantly
His horse was frightened now and
went better. He gained rapidly. But
it was no USE; the distance was too
short The station WIS in sight; he
iu.itives were still II mile away. There
remained two fields with IL lane he.
tween, and they would be en- the road.
Bob knew Tie country well, and knew
that the lane was II bad one. while the
fence ut the road was II "calkcr." lie
doubted hls ability TO get over them,
| ana ii he succeeded there was not
| enough flat for hlm to overtake the
| riders ahead. The distant whistle of
the engine could be heard 1t was no
use; they would easily make 1T.
Itlt Stnt,' fi,a ,,arl ln1
fused ut the first fence OF the in-and-
out. lie might overtake them after
ali, a new hope seized him. lie spur
red on his horse
The white mares rider wheeled her
quickly, and with scarcely three
strides spucc. lifted her at the fence
The animal breasted the rails and
stood still. Again the rider turned
her, this time starting her from u
distance and under % ruin OF blows.
Bob involuntarily rcined his horse
and held his breath The little arms
OF the fearless rider fell, the resounh.
ins lows of the whip ceased; she was
stcndying the mare. The speed was
terrlic-sO fast that the mare mad no
time to refuse, no time to check and
rise even. Lifting her legs under her,
she made atlying h;r'lle-ritce Leap and
cleared, landing iar over in the lane,
so far hat she had not room to rise
and take the second fcnre-the out.
Frightened us she WAS, She tried it,
aud nude an awk ward attempt to
buck over, breasted the barrier and
landed heavily on the other side, her
rider undernrath.
Good Cod" exclaimed Bob. He
was near enough TO see that the fall
was not n mere spill; it was u regular
"crliSher;" horse and rider lay quite
still
In IN instant he had forgotten what
brought him where he was; he forgot
that his wife was fleeing from him. he
forgot his hatred for he man she was
with. Pride, anger, he desire for re-
venge were crowded out by one
thought-the icar that she might be
hurt.
1t seemed as though his horse would
never ret across the field he was in, the
one nd Looming the lane. The animal
seemed to stand still. He dug his spurs
into the beasts sides until his legs
seemed unable to hold him to the sad.
die; he slashed him with his whip, he
shook the lines, he rose in the saddle
involuntariiy in his mad haste to get
ahend. He coaxed, he threatened,
and finally he settled back in despair
Would he never get across the field?
He felt sure his wife had been badly
hurt, fatally, perhaps. He saw her
manglcd form; her forehead had been
gashed. Why had he spoken harshlv
TO her. He forgot to blame her and
remembered the past only to re-
proach himself.
lie was there at last. Laaplng from
his horse, he hurriedly climbed the
two fences of the lane. and FASTENED
over 10 the PROSTATE torn on the 9TH
er side. The white mare had risen
and stood near by rowed by the shock
OF he fall, Minturn was on his knees
at the side oi the fallen rider. He
rose as Bob approached.
"lt's II bad fall, )" he said, "hcrc's nv
flask. I'll try to get doctor aud IL
t,np OF some kind ut the station"
and mounting his horse he put Off at
full speed.
Bob scarcely heard him. IIethousht
OF nothing but the woman before him.
lie knelt at her side. How strange
she looked. Darling" he mrrmured,
lifting her head "are you hurt?"
She was alive, she moved and hall
opened her eyes.