Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03

moment later he had gathered UP all
the evidences of his work and summoned
the lady who appeared to be his mist -ess
She came in flushed. If she had been
riding, looked a Laport critically and said ::
You are DIR. Samuel Franklin of Gin
cinnati. and L am your daughter. You are
to assume. to the best Of your ability, the
manner of a rather peremptory but kind
hearted parent. You can scold me for my
extravaganza little If you like. You ale
to carry this roll of bills and when called
upon pay our expenses. You are also to
! take this little check book and draw your
check as direct. Further directions l can
give you as We journey. The horses are at
the door"
Five minutes later Laport was on tie
back of IL handsome horse, riding by the
side of jaunty and spirited companion
Immediately behind them rode three Others
! who made up the group. The way for some
distance was across fields, but presently
they came into one OF those grass-grown
lanes that divide farms, and little later
struck common country highway run
ming southwest. Not a word was spoken
by Laports companion for a mile or two
except an occasional direction as to speed
But after hours ride they came TO a
group OF houses, when she said: 1T is
necessary that We show ourselves here You
are to preserve the air of the father of the
family-that is all."s
At the largest of the houses the party
drew up and asked for a drink of water
of a man at the door. While it was being
served Laport remained in the road-the
rest drew up chatteringly at the door and
managed adroitly to tell the man how they
had been disappointed in their ride and
were hurrying back to Shirleyville. Some
questions were also asked about better
roads. and then, with 1ippant jests. some
coin was flung to the man and they started
of again. 1t was now half-past 3 o'clock
and ride of half hour brought tn en-
to an intersecting and evidently not much
Travelled road. I'VE turn SOUTH" said La
ports companion. THE rest go on to Shir-
leyyille. Do you understand? There is no
telegraph on our route"
The moment they We're in the new road
she said: Il shall have to ask you to make
the best time you can for the next five
miles, until We come to another highway.
Your horse has a good gait-let him have
his head
She then struck her animal and Laport
followed her. The pace was a painful one,
for he no longer had the suppleness of
youth. But determination supplied him
with endurance. and they rode at a rapid
pace through an uninhabited tract, and he
was much relieved when they turned once
more into a well-.raveled road that ran in
q westerly direction, and his companion
said:
You can take it easy now. Wen walk
our horses here and let them dry. We are
safe. If you are pursued the scent will
lead to Shirleyville."
She drew up BY his side as she spoke. 81
, can now tell YOU she said, what your
route will be. We shall stop for the night
at hotel in Charlotte. Ii is ten miles
\ II.
morning with a check which the landlord
will cash, because l have already cashed
the two which Mr.. Kent got you to sign,
and the landlord knows they are good.
There is a branch railroad running from
Charlotte to Penkanky-thirty miles west.
We shall succeed in the morning in getting
off with our horses on a trip to the Pen
kanky glen. The horses will so on to Bran
ken ford. where they will be taken care of.
they having been obtained there. At the
Penkanky House We give out that We are
going to stop with friend in town and
leave the hotel in the evening You will
then have to walk three miles to reach a
trunk line railroad. II We catch an express
train we shall most likely be in Wheeling
just six hours ahead of a dispatch"
But if We do not?' asked Laport, with
considerably more curiosity than apprehen-
sion.
I'm that case we shall have to depend on
the discrepancy between the description and
the appearance The probability is that the
pursuit will be thrown off at Shirleyyille
There is no means of knowing that we left
the party until the pursuerS reach the
party. They will then have to retrace their
steps. The landlord at Charlotte will tell
them that he has been receiving your
checks before the date of the escape and
saw you sign one with his own eyes. 1t
will take them some time afterward to as
certain that We are not in Pankanky yet
If. however, the telegraph is used without
waiting to ascertain that fact the detective
will board the train when We pull into
Wheeling"
Are you prepared for that?"
Yes You change your disguise before
taking that train
All" said Laport, with relief
And you go on alone" added the wo-
man.
'Yes?' said LapOrt, inquiringly
You reach Cincinnati and go to the Co.
lumbia Hotel, an obscure place You will
look on the register for Bernard Riddle
He's Your old friend. He will get Won over
into Kentucky that night. On Friday
morning at 10 O'Clock YOU will be at the
rendezvous appointed by Mr. Kent. I will
myself join you three days later. Once AT
that point you are absolutely safe from
pursuit"
Laport looked at her ~ do not quite see
how that can be-" he said
You will see clearly enough when vo,,
arrive there" replied his companion.
CHAPTER V
On Friday morning a tired and dusty
traveller in a miserable Tennessee WAGON
was driven up 10 the rugged ACTIVITY in
Henderson county now known as Fort
Surges. 1t was then Wild overgrown
region and all the traveller and the negro