Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-09-14

|
had laid all these months. Was it
wonder that he had felt strangely Mt
home in that old vehicleP II was the
same worn harness, for there was the
b on the bride buttons. Even the
blanket about his legs he recognized
now. How foolish had he been that
in all his planning to escape with the
booty it had never occurred to him to
whom the property belonged. 1t WAS
three months since the gates of the
penitentiary had closed behind him,
and he had stepped into the world
with no vocation, no character, and
having had no news from his home
and believing in the lmplacableness of
his stern old fathers temper, he had
joined in the perilous ventures OF
Pete Tooker, the horse thief, whose
acquaintance he had made in prison.
Three times had those ventures been
successful. This was the fourth, the
most profitable in Pete's estimation,
for the pair was worth at least $500.
His father had always loved good
horse better than anything else on
earth, except his family Rudd laughed
ironically for a moment, and then he
further increased the amazemcnt of
his companion by burying his face in
his hand and groaning.
"They amt nothn' pertickler to
kerry on about. We've only got three
mile more to the mountain; then
we're safe," exclaimed Tooker, nudg-
ing the young man with his elbow, and
venting upon the horses, through the
medium of the wisp, his disgust ut this
last show of weakness.
Rudd stihed his emotion, threw him
self back IN the seat and began to re-
volve the situation over and over
again in his mind. He must devise
some plan to thwart the righteousness
of his pal and to restore to his father
the stolen animals. To accomplish the
latter he had simply to tie the team to
tree and take to the woods; but it |
would require more than mere argu-
ment or sympathy to induce his crude |
pal to part with his share in booty
so hardly won, especially as they were
penniless. His meditations were in
terrupted by a startled exclamation
from Tooker. who for several minutes
had had his eyes fastened at the small
window in the back of the curtain.
"Here they come"
Sure enough; there was a pursuit.
Just over the brow of the hill, scar cely
half mile behind them, Rudd saw a
blackboard drawn by two horses, near
ing at rapid rate.
"We must look as though we amt
expecting to be followed" he said,
taking the reins.
Two miles ahead the mountains lay.
Once there they would be safe. For
the horses he did not care; his sole
thought now was to escape. He
whipped the tagging animals into a
sharp trot, but fatigued as they were
by long travel their efforts were short
lived.
"Theyre gainin," cried Tooker,
whose eyes were at the glass pane.
"They're drivin' hard an tryin' to
sneak in on us. Them horses is beau
ties, an fresh too. They must have
changed, for tibet pair is lookin' too
lively to hev ben follerin' us all this
time. Now | kin see the men-two of
EN-. We're caught if these nags don't
move up"
A mile and half OF level road lay
between the iugitives and the protec-
ton of the woods.
81 kin see the men now. There is
young Teller and an old man with II
gray beard Heknows we're onto EN-,
fer he's whippin' up. Lick EN- up!
lick 'em up!"
The bays sprang forward desper-
ately beneath the lash that Rudd mer-
cilessly applied
can old man with gray beard"
the young thief mutttered. Then he
added quickly, "And is he heavy set?"
"Heavy set, was the laconic reply.
Down fell the whip on the foam-cov-
cred backs. The ola buggy swayed
to and fro, in and out of ruts and over
stones; swung on its creaking springs
until it seemed that every moment it
must collapse. Rudd clenched his
teeth and kept his eyes ahead. A mile
lay between him and the woods. ,
"They're gainin all the time, Bill"
whispered Tooker. "Only quarter
of mile behind us now. Lick 'em
up"
But whipping was Of no avail. The
beasts were painting in heartrending ,
manner. Their tongues hung from
their wide open mouths; they strobe
the ground as if each leap would be ,,
their last.
'rhey're gainin' Bill. I guess we'd
better leave the rig an take to the
fields. We kin beat 'em on foot" {
"No!" was the sharp reply. "You
con go, but must try for the woods. c
The old man would see me here" e
"We can't make it. cried the other.
IAN we kin git away over the fields. {
They amt hundred yards behind I
now." y
The rattle of their pursuers' wheels G
and the chatter of their horses hoofs
could be distinctly heard. G
wait till we get to the woods" :
was the firm answer.
"I'll stick be you," Tooker ex. q
claimed, "but if you're so set, you
know what we kin do"
He drew revolver. A sharp cut of $
the whip on the backs of the exhausted o
beasts was all the reply that his com. r
panion vouchsafed. The woods were s
Just ahead. Pete looked behind.
They're on us now," he cried. p
But I'll fix EN-" i
He pointed significantly at his pis- b
tol il
Don't, Pete, don't" cried Rudd,
his arm to restrain the in. I
tended aim-for the fellow was leaning @
out of the vehicle q
"But they're right ON u.s." |,
AS he spoke call came to them to 8
give up.
"Let go, you fool I'll wing EN-" =
"Shoot at the horses, Pete; that'll ~
stop them. Don't, don't shoot at the %