The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-06-15
"Yes. She does no. know the dan.


ger" her father answered.
THAT is well. The house is watched
on every side. That is why crawied
my way up to il. They may be darned
sharp, but they're not quite sharp
enough to catch Washoe hunter"
John Terrier felt a different man
now that he realized that he had de-
voted ally. He seized the young mans
leathery hand and wrung it cordially.
"Yon're a man to be proud Of" he said
There are not many who would come
to share our danger and our troubles :"
You've hit it there, pard, the young
hunter answered II have a respect
for you. but if you were alone in this
business I'd think twice before / put
my head into such hornets ncst.
It's Lucy that brings me here, and be-
fore harm comes on her guess there
will be one less O. the Hope family in
Utah"
what are we to do?"
Tomorrow is your last day, and I'M
less you act tonight you are lost. 1
have mule and two horses waiting in
the Eagle ravine. How much money
have you?"
Two thousand dollars in gold, and
five in notes"
THAT willdo. Ihave as much more to
add to it. We must push for Carson City
through the mountains. You had best
wake Lucy. It is as well that the serv-
ants do not sleep in the house"
While Ferrier was absent preparing
his daughter for the approaching jour
ney, jefferson Hope packed all the eat
ables that he could find into small
parcel, and filed a stoneware jar with
water, for he knew by experience that
the mountain wells were few and far
between. He had hardly completed
his arrangements before the farmer re-
turned with his daughter all dressed
and ready for start. The greeting
between the lovers was warm but brief.
for minutes were precious, and there
was much to be done.
I'VE must make our start at once"
said jefferson Hope, speaking in a low
but resolute voice, like one who
realizes the greatness of the peril, but
has steeled his heart to meet it. The
front and back entrances are watched,
but with caution we may get away
through the side window and across
the fields. Once on the road, we are
only two miles from the ravine where
the horses are waiting. BY daybreak
we should be half way through the
mountains"
What if we are stopped?" asked
Ferrier.
Hope slapped the revolver butt which
prctruded from the front OF his tunic.
If they are too many for US we shall
take two or three Of them with u.s." he
said with sinister smile.
The lights inside the house had all
been extinguished, and from the dark
ened window Ferrier peered over the
fields which had been his own, and
which he was now about to aban-
don forever. He had long nerved him
self to the sacrifice, however, and the
thought of the honor and happiness
of his daughter outweighed any regret
at his ruined fortunes. All looked SO
peaceful and happy, the rustling trees
and the broad, silent stretch of grain
land, that it was difficult to realize
that the spirit of murder lurked
through it all. Yet the white face and
set expression of the young hunter
showed that in his approach to the
house he had seen enough to satisfy
him upon that head.
Terrier carried the bag of gold and
notes. Jefferson Hope had the scanty
provisions and water, while Lucy had
the small bundle containing few of
her more valued possessions. Opening |
the window very slowly and carefully, 1
they waited until a dark cloud had |
obscured the night, ard |
then one by one passed through into
the little garden. With bated breath |
and crouching figures they stumbled |
across it and gained the shelter of the /
hedge. which they skirted until they |
came 70 the gap which opened into the /
They had just reached this |
point when the young man seized his 1
two companions and dragged them |
down into the shadow, where they lay /
silent and trembling.
1t was as well that his prairie train /
ing had given jefferson Hope the ears 4
Of lynx. He and his friends had
hardly crouched down before the mel
ancholy hooting of a mountain owl
was heard within few yards of them,
which was Immediately answered by
another boot at small distance. At
he same moment a vague, shadowy
1gure emerged from the gap for which
hey had been making. and uttered the
,laintive signal cry again, on which
second man appeared out of the OBJ
,curity.
Tomorrow at midnight. said the
irst, who appeared to be in authority.
When the whippoorwill calls three
ines"
1t is WELL returned the other.
Shall / tell Brother Drebber?'
Pass it on to him, and from him to
he others. Nine to sevenw
Seven TO five" repeated the other,
md the two figures fitted away in
Iifferent directions. Their concluding
words had evidently been some form of
ign and countersign. The instant
hat their footsteps had died away il
he distance, Jefferson Hope sprang to
lis feet. and, helping his companions
through the gap, led the way across
he fields at full speed, supporting and
the girl when her
trength appeared 70 fail her.
Hurry on, hurry onr' he gasped
rom time to time. I'VE are through
he line of sentinels- Everything de-
,er Dis on speed Hurry on
Once on the high-road they made
apid progress Only once did they
meet anyone, and then they managed &c
lip into n field and so avoid recogni-
ion Before reaching the town the
lunter branched away into a rugged
nd narrnru fnofrnafh which Led tn the