Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-12-03
XIV-CoNTINuEp.

Once the town was left behind, the
girl lost no time in calling upon her
nag's powers, and away he went as
readily as if he were fresh from his
stable. Mile after mile slipped behind
them. Soon the halfway house Joined
the procession to the rear. 1t was
growing dusk now, and the air was
chilly. Her wrists were beginning
to ache under the pull of the lines, and
the thought came to her that perhaps
she stood in greater need than her horse
of a breathing spell. She tried to pull
him in the next rise. but instead of
Stacking his pace he increased it. In
vain she tugged and sawed at the bit;
the bay was out of her control, and
knew it as we'll as she did. He was trOt-
ting as she had never seen him trot be-
fore, with the blood of a dozen genera
:tions of picked roadsters coursing hot
III his veins. Just ahead she made
out the dark mass of wood through
which the road passed. An instant
later she was flying along under the
tunnel-lil<e arch where the boughs of
the trees met above the travelled way.
In the gloom OF this passage she could
make out little of the road, though
she leaned from the buggy in the effort
to see what might be her course. Then
the wood was left behind, and about
Ler was the twilight of the open coun-
try, seeming almost bright by COM
parison with the tangle of shadows
through which she had sped. The bay,
untiring, but with fieclls of foam show
ing here and there on his coat, was
trotting with the smooth precision of
machine. It was glorious to watch
him. to hear the sharp beat of his
hoofs. Powerless as she was, the eX-
hilaration of the race took possession
of her: she caught herself encourag-
ing the animal with her voice; she
forgot the pain in her wrists, the very
real danger in which she was placed.
She thrilled with delight as she flashed
by & wagon whose occupant had pru-
IDENTIFY driven into the ditch to afford
her clear right of way. He called
out a warning to her. but, though she
heard his voice, the words were indis-
tinguishabie.
At last she was at the summit of the
ridge looking down upon the beach,
and her destination was close at hand.
Again she sawed and tugged at the
lines. Slowly her efforts told; gradual
ly the bays speed decreased, until, as
he Eeared the farmhouse, she had him
well in hand. Mrs. Weston, one of her
boys, Mrs. Clark and two or three chill
dren were awaiting her at the gate,
all eager to learn the result of her mis-
sion. DR.. Banks and were close be-
hind them, and, as the horse came to
a stop, we pushed our way to the side
of the buggy.
you've made wonderful time" I
cried.
where's Fowler? Is he following
you?" asked Banks.
He can't be here for six or eight
hours" she said, quietly. but here
is a case of instruments"
Banks and I looked at each other,
appalled, by the news.
DIR. Fowler is in Trent" the girl
went on. He is expected home at mid
night. 1t is arranged that if you need
him then, a message shall be sent to
him.
With his sound hand Banks lifted
the case from the buggy.
This is serious, very he said in my
ear. 1--WE can't wait for him; it's out
of the question. Join me in your Office
as quickly as you can"
I nodded and turned to assist Miss