Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-10-24
CHAPTER XIV.
LOVE AND MYSTERY.

Inv ueSus kOt ulin, sure! evacuated
Lannigan, who had come up in time to
witness the strange vanishing scene. only
the worse by sore head from his stun-
ming rough-and- tumble with the yokel.
Yes, stammered Hank, who had lust put
in an appearance at the nick Of the dis
appearance. the old boy must have reached
up for him, like gold fish for fly, and
yanked him under. 1t was lust like the
Little Joker in Thimblerig- Now you see
it, and then you don't
The inside of the house is full of lust
such strange traps, secret doors, and pit
falls. and the porch must be the same, y
said Miss Dixon. He must have ayailed
himself of one Of them. The old house
must have been used as sort of Secret
Service Bureau during the Revolution"
This had evidently been the case, mas
much as the trap door by which our enemy
had sunk from sight had sprung up again
to its place in the flooring of the porch Sc
neatly as scarcely to leave distinguishing
trace of its outline
While we were examining the spot, and
specializing as to whether the fugitive
might have merely sunk to some deep hid.
ing place, or attained some subterranean
passage by which an escape could have
been effected from both the house and
grounds, we were startled by an ominous
rafting of wheels and tramping of hoofs
from up the road by which we had reached
the house.
Hes skinned out By some underground
way. and is making off with our carriage
and horses, suddenly cried Hank, the first
to guess the real state of the case; and
away he scampered in pursuit, with Lanni-
gan and at his heels.
But all too late!"
When we reached point in the road
from which We could look up past the hole
in the hills in which we had concealed our
coach and pair, it was only in time to see
them disappearing rapidly in the distance,
with De Marchmont on the box, furiously
flashing the horses into gallop. Only once
he turned in his seat to shake his whip
mockingly and menacingly at our stupefied
faces. and then the flying equipage disap-
peared over q rise in the road.
There must be horse or two in the
stable yonder, if you would still pursue
him, cried Miss Dixon, who had followed
us to the gate, and had quickly OWNED the
new complication.
We all at once ran to the stable and
found two miserable, decrepit-looking
farm horses in the stalls, while there were
traces of. another animal having been led
out but a few moments before, and con-
Quoted away by narrow bridle- path that
seemed to wind off through the hills be-
hind the grounds.
No matter" l cried, addressing myself
to both Hank and Lannigan, "mount these
two brutes at once and make after the car
iage, while remain with Miss Dixon.
They obeyed me with qlacrity, though
their was neither saddle$nor bride to be
had, nothing but the rope halters upon the
animals necks to guide them by; but both
men were experienced horsemen, and III
less time than have taken - describe ii
they had sprung upon the bare backs Of
their sorry steede and started in pursuit,
Don't hesitate to shoot this time. If Won
overtake him." shouted after them.
Do you think they will overtake him.
sir?" asked Miss Dixon, as we stood to-
gether at the garden gate.
Possibly" / replied; @badly mounted
as they are, the road is q rough one, and
better suited for hoofs than wheels. But
the delay will be only temporary, and Won
will presently be restored to your friends.
Thank heaven for that.
Yes, thank heaven-and you I" she ex
claimed In low voice, and turning her
beautiful eyes, trimming with fearful
gratitude, upon me.
How do you account for the disappear
ance OF that other horse that was evidently
90 .,1Ao "sos asked,
sn san,y' ana Win an uneommonly
q.ysa sss'ine. 80 aaa
~ ~, - l s,.ss nave 1een noaen on by
pne " me Two countrymen who were
avS,a ~ uown "a tne ray sne suggested.
h.sa S Hsa ~ .yr yourSeil 'nas tney TOO,
A1s9 uisapPealea.
ra ~ . ISoeu ~ !. pelvle, Dut y vas
taien aJva vS - Ia a. 'ne pag yokeis mad
s,,s,,ad 's,sa.s9 81 y. ~ conluslon slat mad
thr $780, - ~ HsIs th a.sea .noir stunning over
Inc c,,se,vs "a 's'o''oa'os ~ "lsnout pe-
sYon ss;S a. ro..;r,, a, 49, a.. -,
tba;r ~ ,' sa,u n S "a your letter about
e;shars sasS 4 .sss; ~ gnhe q tnls enemy
"a ~ hnn s'o pSuslls ~ our sapnter oack
~ tha crost s Shu poil.lng 70 me carcass
ce;vaS LII o'no.ls1 nounu tnat mad re-
70 aR 81 a.an1 pistol Duiles N " heart
Lart r,~sa,s ., nnew a aotalnf q 4; having
nat - s ~ hss Sonssantly IN the upper
nv nv pet n cs snT rv n,osa sne lspleq Then
that hsa sss explained an to her everything
s CIV n.u uahen piace during her absence.
cied ;cu ~, raIu 10. vssfwnelmea Win MIN
formed 81 Mar s fashat's upon neing m.
were md 4 tsss sa,,, aes s as =
could rscfver from s bsy as,s %1 Deaoie sne
AZ ahs s,raiiv IA g. - panvson ~.
ilne spirit and decision thst s.os VIZ, sa. un9