Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-05-04

ter OF man at the door. w mic II 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 disap-
pointed in their ride and were hurry
ing back to Shirleyville. Some ques-
tions were also asked about better
roads; and then, with fippant jests,
some coin was flung to the man and
they started off again. 1t was now
half-past three o'clock and ride of
half an hour brought them to an inter
secting and evidently not much travelled
road. 1--WE turn SOUTH" said Laport's
companion. THE rest go on to Shir-
leyville. Do you understand? There
is no telegraph on our route"
The moment they were 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 an
other highway. Your horse has good
gait-let him have his head"
She then struck her animal and La
port followed her. The pace was
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 unin-
habited tract, and he was much re-
lieved when they turned once more into
a well-traveled road that ran in a west
erly 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 a hotel in Charlotte. 1t is
ten miles farther on. You will pay
our bill in the morning with check
which the landlord will cash because l
have already cashed the two which
Mr.. Kent got you to sign, and the land
lord knows they are good There is
branch railroad running from Char
lotte to Penkanky-thirty miles west
We shall succeed in the morning in
getting off with our horses on trip to
the Penkanky glen. The horses will
go on to Brankenford, where they will
be taken care of, they having been OBJ
tanned there. At the Penkanl1y 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. If we catch an
express train we shall most likely be
In Wheeling just six hours ahead Of
dispatch"
"But II we do not?" asked Laport
with considerably more curiosity than
apprehension.
"In that case we shall have to de-
pend on the discrepancy between the
description and the appearance. The
probability is that the pursuit will be
thrown off at Shirleyville. 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 receiv-
ing your checks before the date of the
escape, and saw you sign one with his
own eyes. twill take some time after
ward to ascertain that we are not in
Pankanky yet. If, however, the tel
eQraph is used without waiting to as
certain that fact the detective will
board the train when we pull into
Wheeling"
"Are you prepared for that?"
Eyes. You change your disguise be-
fore taking that train"
"Ah," said Laport, with relief.
"And you go on alone" added the
woman.
"Yes?" said Laport, inquiringly.
"You reach Cincinnati and go to the
Columbia hotel, an obscure place. You
will look on the register for Bernard
Biddle. He's your old friend. He will
get you over into Kentucky that night.
On Friday morning at ten o'clock you
will be at the rendezvous appointed
by Mr.. Kent. l will myself join you
three days later. Once at that point
you are absolutely safe from pursuit"
Laport looked at her. lido not quite
see how that can be-" he said.
You will see clearly enough when
you arrive there" replied his compan-
lon.