The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-09-28
CHAPTER XI-CoNr1NuEp.
lCoPYRIGET. 1871

" Oiic WOOuS anu went nOrIn, Hen
bricks and Fenning riding on either
side of the captain, and Ben following
at some distance behind.
1twas some time before they reached
an open country, and, rough as it was
they galloped away and soon left Ber
far out of sight.
''You are going to the Laran house,
said Fenning, who had recovered his
spirits.
YES" replied Hendricks. "Have
you OWNED the rest?"
"No.,
''Wait, hardly know myself"
1t was ten o'clock when the party
having toiled slowly up long accliv-
ity, came out upon wooded brow OF
the hill looking eastward. 1t was q
magnificent stretch of country and it
was radiant with the morning light.
Hendricks dismounted and looked
through his glass.
'If you follow the top of that stone
ledge, to the second green line of hills
and look between those two rounded
lxnolls, just under that white cloud
that hangs down like teat-you will
see the Laran chimney" And Hem
bricks handed the glass to Fenning.
"Yes, can see it, said Fenning.
"HoH Gar is it?"
Approximately four miles and half.
We can get within a pistol shot of the
house from this direction. | know
every turn in the way. Well wait here
for Ben. get bite and drink, take
the extra horse and leave him here to
wait for u.s."
1t was eleven o'clock before Ben
came up and the captain was the most
impatient of the party, but Hendricks
beguiled the time in telling Fenning
some of his earlier experiences in the
place and Fenning's remark as the mar
rative ended was: "Well, l wouldn't
doubt that woman either. But you
never can tell what n woman will do"
AT half-past eleven, Hendricks and
Fenning, with the captain between
them, set off in the direction of the
Laran house, Hendricks leading the
extra horse.
This part of the way was by all
odds the most difficult of any. As
they descended into the valley they
had to skirt primeval morass, its
pools inhabited by millions of water
fowl But Hendricks knowledge of
the country enabled him to pick his
way through the labyrinth and about
two o'clock, he said, as he reached an
almost impenetrable covert and dis
mounted: do you know where you
are?''
Fenning looked about him and shook
his head.
But the captain recognized the place.
Damning his eyes, he remarked that
he and Endicott had been there hun
dred times.
$50 has Miss Ehdicott," said Hen
bricks, ''and now that you are here 1
hope she will come again"
Hendricks fastened his horse and
beckoned to Fenning, who stepped
aside out of sight of the captain.
A few PAGES away and covered with
brambles there was a smooth crown of
rock. Hendricks parted the brush. got
down on his knees and searched a
moment with his hand. He then took
a small stick and dug the dead leaves
ont of 4 depression in the rock and put |
his ear to the spot.
Just listen there a moment" he |
said to Fenning as he got up.
''What is it?'' asked Fenning who |
had put his ear down to the hole.
Its the dynamo running under
meath. It's directly under our feet. / |
bored that hole nearly two years ago |
to see how thick the crust was. In all |
/ made about fifty of them, but Laport
stopped most of them because they
leaked.
''We are then within two hundred
feet of the house, said Fenning, with
1--WE are within twenty feet of the
steel fence. You can touch it if you go
through that brush; so speak softly.
1t is the widest spot in the neighbor-
hood, and to reach us the inmates must
come ronnd from the entrance. There
is corner of the road visible from that
opening. I'm going to ask you to
watch it, while 1 give the captain his
Fenning took his place at the OPEN
ing, and almost Immediately said:
There's somebody now."
Hendricks quickly used his glass.
Its Mrs. Hendricks and Calicot," he
said. "They are going for ride, and
viii keep to the road. There's only
three Of them left. and one of them is
probably on the balcony. We have got
10 wait"
This was the hardest part of all One
whole hour passed, and the captain
swore that four had passed, but
repeated injunction was:
Have patience and keep silent"
It must have been three o'clock
when, in a moment of silence,
Ill three of them heard a twig
snap, and Hendricks and Fenning put
hands on their revolvers. The next
instant the green leaves were parted
1y pair OF white hands. and an equal
Y white face looked suddenly in upon
hem, and its eyes rested upon the cap
ain with look of dreamy hopeless
less and terror. !
Miss Endicott," exclaimed Fenning,
his teeth.
Hendricks with a motion bade him be S
ilent.
The girl stepped into the center of !
he little space, her eyes still fixed on I
he captain.
What have you done with him?"
he said. f
You are to go to him." said Hen
ricks- There is your horse. Get upon +
t."
Yes" she said. 81 must GO" '
Get upon the horse" repeated Hen V
rick, imperatively, and he took her S