The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-08-30
CnArTRR. Iv-(Continued.l


best wake Lucy. 1t is as well that the
servants do not sleep in the house"
While Ferrler was absent, preparing
his daughter for the approaching jour
ney, Jefferson Hope packed all the
eatables that he could find into a small
arcel, and filed a stoneware jug 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 a start. The greeting
| between the lovers was warm, but
| brief, for minutes were precious, and
| IT. ere was much to be done.
I'VE must make our start at once"
said Jefferson Hope, speaking in low
| but resolute voice, like one who real
ICES the greatness Of the peril, but has
| Steeled his heart to meet it. "The
| trent and back entrances are watched,
but with caution we may get away
| through the side window and cross
the fields. Once on the road, we are
| only two miles from the ravine where
the horses are waiting. BY daybreak
we should be halfway through the
mountains
what If we are stopped" asked Fer
rier
Hope slapped the revolver butt which
protruded from the front of his tunic.
IF they are too many for us, we shall
/ take two or three of them with us"
| he said, with sinister smile.
The lights inside the house had all
| been extinguished, and from the dark
| ered window Ferrier peered over the
| hills which had been his own, and WI ich
| he was now about to abandon forever.
| He had long neryed himself to the sac
rifice, however, and the thought of the
| honor and happiness of his daughter
| outweighing 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 APP
| proach 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
q small bundle containing a few of her
more valued possessions. Opening the
| window very slowly and carefully they
| waited until a dark cloud had some
| what obscured the night and then one
by one passed through into the little
garden. With bated breath and crouch
| ing figures they stumbled across it and
| gained the shelter Of the hedge, which
| they skirted until they came to the gap
which opened into the cornfeld. They
had just reached this point when the
| Young man seized his two companions
| and dragged them down into the
shadow, where they lay silent and
trembling.
1t was as we'll that his prairie train
| ing had given Jefferson Hope the
ears of a lynx He and his friends
| had hardly crouched down before the
melancholy hooting Of mountain owl
was heard within few yards of them,
which was Immediately answered by
another boot at small distance. At
| the same moment vague, shadowy
| figure emerged from the gap for which
| they had been making, and uttered the
| piaintiye signal cry again, on which
second man appeared out OF the obscur-
| ity.
Tomorrow at midnight" said the
first, who appeared to be in authority.
when the whippoor-wil calls three
| timed"
1T is WELL" returned the other.
"ShalI 1 tell Brother Drebber?"
Pass it on to him, and from him
| to the others. Nine to sevenw
Seven to five!" repeated the other,
and the two figures fitted away in
different directions. Their concluding
words had evidently been some form
of sign and countersigl. The instant
that their footsteps had died away in
the distance Jefferson Hope sprang to
his feet, ard helping his companions
across the gap, led the way across the
fields at full speed, supporting and half
carrying the girl when her strength
appeared to fail her.
Hurry on-hurry onp' he gasped
from time to time. I'VE are through
the line of sentinels. Everything de-
ponds on speed, Hurry on!''
Once on the high=rQad they made
rapid progress. Only once did they
meet any one, and then they managed
to slip into a field, and so avoid recog-
milton. Before reaching the town the
hunter brancfed away into rugged
and narrow footpath which led to the
mountains. Two dark, jagged peaks
doomed above them through the dark,
ness, and the defile which led between
them was the Eagle canon, in which
the horses were awaiting them. With
unerring instinct Jefferson Hope picked
his way among the great boulders end
along the led of dried up water
course, until he came to the retired
corner, screened with Feelxs, where the
faithful animals had been picketed
The girl was placed upon the mule
and cid Ferrier upon one OF the horses
with his money-bag, while Jefferson
Hope led the other along the precipi
tot1s and dangerous path.
It was a bewildering route TOR any
one who was not accustomed to face
nature in her widest moods On the
che side a great crag lowered thou
send feet or maPe-hlack. stern and
meDacing--with long baaattic columns
upon bis rugged surface, like the Eibs
of some petrified monster. On the 9th
er hand, q wild chaos of powders and
debris made all advance impossible
Between the two ran The irregular
track, SO narrow la places that they
had to travel In Indian fiia, and sc
rough that only pPacticed riders conlG
have traversed 1t at all. Yet, In spit
of all dangers and difficulties, tht
hearts of the fugitives were light with
In them, for every step increased the
distance between them and the terrible
despotiSm from which they were flee
ing.
They soon had proof, however, tina
!, thev were still within the jurisdiction
of the Saints. They had reached tn
very widest and most desolate portion
Of the pass, when the girl gave
startled cry and pointed upward. On
rock which overlooked the track, show
: ing out dark and plain against the cky
there stood solitary sentinel. He say
them as soon as they perceived him
and his military challenge of ''Wh
goes thereY rang through the silen
ravine.
Travellers for Nevada" said JeffeI
son Hope, with his nand upon his riff
which hung by his saddle.
They could see the lonely watche
lingering his gun, and peeriag down a
them as if dissatisfied at their reply.