Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-06-18

nles. The nervy feiloTS-two OF the
most tireless travellers John Masons STA
BILE could boast-champed their bits rest
lessly and tossed their heads.
Adown the green, thorny breastwork
that defended Joel Gringer's possessions
from the wayside grazers fitted slight
figure, crouching and halting, and then
darting swiftly forward toyard the little
dell which seemed to be the rendezvous
sought.
''Is that you, Nannie7" hoarse, ex-
cited whisper met her few rods distant
from the horses.
+ "Sh-! Yes; but do let us hurry!
I'm afraid every minute those hogs
haven't done justice to the obstinacy OF
their nature, and, father"
| swell. give me your foot, and off We
| 90. We'n show Joel Gringer whether I
am competent to teach girl addition"
"And are you sure the preacher un-
| derstands?
"Sure darling, he's to be at Brother
Stillwell's to night, on his way to the
Kideer appointment. Now, old fell
lows, do your best"
Patter, patter! click, click! Neck to
neck and nostril TO nostril skinned the
two feet coursers, like two we'll mated
birds Of flight.
Away back on the last ridge, mile
or more away, the moonlight glistens on
something brlght-a silver plated buckle
or saddle decoratlon-and then .taera
comes clear, ringing sound, as when
steel strikes flint.
As the clatter of the hoofs rang down
the road past John Mason's two unusual
night incidents might have been wit,
messed, the CLEAN of g light across the
fields svaying and tlickering as though
carried by an excited, unsteady hand, and
a man leaning against the door Of John
Mason's stables, whiting stick and
musng over something which evidently
pleased him much. ''He. be! never
helped take them out Of here. Can't
prove it by me who's takin' to stealth !;
h'ain't been behind the haystack tryln'
to hammer the bung in that barrell
There's one consolation; If them there
horses have to go fur, the've been we'll
4, -
-ha, hal"
"He's coming! Oh, hurry, Dick! We
cannot reach Mr.. Stilwell's in time
its"
''Three miles yet, and"
''You know Fleetwood's gait; Mr.
Mason never had horse that could out
run him. What shall we do3 Oh, i
only we were"
married, and l could call you IN,
own; thea would not run q step, but
, conld defend my right to you in the eye
, Of the law Listen! what's that aheada 2
, "The Corners are just down there, yo'
know, and some one may be coming OIL
the cross-road."
'sThat is the direction from which til,
preacher comes What if it should b
. But no; he's going straight ahca'
' of us. Yes, there he turns! Whip u
and let's overtake him"
I \ quarter of mile; half miie; three
!. quarters The sound of hoofs in bot
b directions are growing distinct.
"Call him, Richsrl. He may stop
! Oh, If it only is.'
'But your father will hear, too, an'
hasten! Hello, there: Wait.
In moment the overtaken party va
seeu, sure enough, to be the very preache
. they were riding hard and fast to find
- But while the situation was being ex
o planned, the footsteps of the pursuin
l. horse were heard close by, and in min
u ute another "HeIlor' rang on their ears
"a hoarse and infuriate1: stop, stop,
!. command you. Young man, I'll horse
whip yoa on the spot if you don't civ
me my daughterl"
y The two looked at each other in d
'e spair. But the preacher, backwood
IN mau that he was, was a man OF wit al
re resources, and Of heart IS we'll
IN keep on" said he quietly, ''aad rie
ID | as fast as you can. Join your hands al
er sit firm in your. saddle when tell yoc
n have it all on the top of my tongue:
Chatter, clatter-clink, clinkl rang I.
BY sharp hoof beats. Nearer and near
sc they came together; but the words role
de off the preachers lips, as he rose al
sank in his s,irrups, faster than the spe'
8 of the racers