Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-11-14

followed the four roads to the north and
west, and all raced for West school
house.
The sun had set, and over the swamp
which marked the confines of Stark
County fire flies were fitting when Tom
Rose dismounted at the little red school
house and threw himself ON the ground
to rest. As his ear pressed the sod he
heard the beating of hoofs on hollow
ground.
"Some one is crossing the swamp road
at rum" lie exclaimed, and sprang to
his feet again. Where were his friends !?
Why didn't they Gomez He listened
again, and felt, rather than heard, the
heavier shock of gallopers on the solid
highway. Five minutes, ten minutes
precious passed, and then twenty
men gathered around him.
seen anything?" queried the leader,
AS they drew rein at the school-house
we'll. The reports were quickly made.
Four footsore horses, two from the home
neighborhood, two strange, had been
picked up and stabbed with farmers
along the road.
"Two fellows have just run through
the swamp road" said Tom Rose.
Come on, and jaded beasts bore tired
men around the end of the morass to
the old forge by Wolf Lake.
"What you fellows hunting?" yelled
farmer as they Numbered along.
"Horse-thieves, replied Tom Rose.
"Seen any2"
"No, two men Just come to my barn
and changed their animals for fresh
ones. They said they were hunting
hoss-thieves, too, said the farmer.
"Who else is chasing them?" asked
the common men of each other.
where's your barng' asked Tom
Rose.
"Over here" and the leader sprang
to the ground and inspected the stable.
Here's the other two horses from my
neighborhood," said he. "Iou have
given fresh horses to the horse-thieves.
Got any more?"
The honest farmer was dumfounded.
"Ive got a race horse said he.
"She's worth $500. You can have her,
and I'm with you. / want my colts
back again." And the pursuing party
was recruited Tom Rose bestrode the
race horse, and leaped to the lead again.
Two miles farther in the night, and
they lost the scent. One of the two
roads had been taken. The party
divided and swept on.
Ten miles more, and the spirited
racer was just settling to steady work,
when the loud neigh of horse in the
forest that frowns on Pretty Lake called
halt.
"They're there" said Rose, and the
rail fence was thrown down to admit
the passage of the pursuers. In the
depth Of the timber they saw the two
missing horses darkly outlined against
background of giant oaks, through
which the rising moon was shining.
Only for moment they saw them, and
then binding flash, crashing report
of firearms halted the farmers and
called strange echoes from the distant
hillsides.
Who was hurt was not the question
now. The horse-thieves stood before
him, and Tom Rose, who had never
faced greater danger, dismounted and
ran unarmed. except for his coil Of rope,
into the thicket. The Williams were at
bay, and they fred again and again.
Why they did not hit him he never
knew, but his long, powerful limbs
crashed through the bushes and brought
him face to face with his first real Grim
inal A great sweep of the coiled rope,
a whirling, yengeful, angry blow, and
the fellow dropped among the wood
yiolets and golden seal as though the
strands of that tether were steel tibers
The second man, himself an athlete,
lodged past the farmer, reached his
horse, mounted and, lying fiat on the
saddle, dashed for the gap in the rail
fence where the avengers had entered.
One thing at time had made Tom
Rose a rich man, and he stopped over
his captive and bound him hand and
| foot Two men were wounded. Leav-
| ing two more to care for these and keep
the prisoner, the chief, his spirit tower
ing now above the clouds in physical
triumph, bent to his saddle bow and
again led the pursuit.
"He is nearly to the Kankakee flats.
If he gets in there he's safe, reasoned
Rose And he gave rein to the racer
and left his comrades far behind. No
hand-to-hand combat daunted him.
Had he not beaten down one man I'M
aided? Was he to fear any human
horse-thief or hero? A mile farther
and the sound of hoofs ahead, the re-
treating herald of the outlaw, warned
him to care. As he drew rein to listen,
a rife shot pierced the night silence and
and skurry of hoofs told of newer es-
cape.
And Dame Fortune had tired of help
ing the gaunt farmer The left foot
slipped from the stirrup and refused to
obey the muscles which tried to put it
back. Then the warm flow of blood in
his boot woke Rose to the fact that he
was wounded; to the fact that chasing
outlaws involved shattered members
sometimes. But he leaned forward and
urged the colt none the less. Across
the open, through a muddy creek, up
the wooded bank beyond, and then an
other shot cut his hat brim. A lesser
man would have turned back, but the
spirit of retribution which threatens dis
order would not down. Through the