The morning times., 1896-09-27
THIS PAGE IS FOR BOYS and GIRLS

from the trees. An right" came from
the driyeJ, '..clImb JIM we must get out
of this and be Far enough away by morn
ing to get rid of this mail stuff. I've
nipped the postmaster's finy, which flat
ter myself is a good bit OF diplomacy"
Ny heart was Ia my throat, and al.
most sank to the Ice as the man chirped
to Dream aud she swung off atlBer hest
pace. In moment she was out Of sight.
aud then the full meaning OF what lad
heard pounded its way into nsy~ahrain.
What could do? To go to the village for
help would give then, too mucR start.
There was.but one thing; they must pass
through P,aiufieid, ten miles distant; il
I c6uld leach there first perhaps could
stop them, 1 shut my teeth hard together
and buckleL my skates tighter around
my ankles, flung Off my thicxI cuat,.and
ttarte,i
little over half way / must pass
under n bridge over which they would
drive. II I could reach that point frs;
L would show n gain, and now for the
oply y tirls.in-my life I wished that. Dream
would lose her speed. AS l neared the
Bridge l heard the hollow beat OF a
horses hoofs. 1t was Dream. and little
ahead. Like Il flash she crossed the bridge,
aud as glijed under il l distinctly heard
The cruel cut OF the whip with which
they were urging her. Hot anger replaced
the tears which a moment before filled
my eyes. tore off my light jacket and
flung II behind me, grinding vengeance
tet ween my clencbed teeth, and bent anew
to mytask.
% On. ON l went: only three miles more;
and now I was making better tine; now
Il was but two miles;I bent my head closer
To the wind. Anotherhaif-pilca and would
he there;I was gaspingfor breath, while hot
pains shot from anki 10 my hips; still 1
forced myself dizziIy en-. At last saw
n light from the village: then the village
itself. and in another minute slid up to the
bank into foot Of snow. tore the skates
from my dead feet. and stumbled up the
unnk and into the street my benunibcd legs.
llf sinking beneath me.
The must pass do wn his treet Il strained
my eyes up the hill, but not soul was in
sight. ! dizzily ran on, not knowing my
plan OF action should meet them. but NUT
tering: III stop them SOME way!' l
gained the hilltop; stu no sign OF Them.
evidently they had passed through the VII
.age before l reached land row my heart
sank in earnest.
II was bitterly cold; the few st'-f,.s were
closed. and the only light to be seen came
through the red curtain ora saloon at the
very top Of the hill. Il stumbled up To the
door TO beg for help. when, just rs my hand
touched tie door. Heard r ON the dark
shed opposite a low .whinny. MY heart
jumped. and ran across 10 the she'd, a'ld
in the darkness stumbled against sleigh;
/ was not ours. amt. hearts;ck, turned
10 retrace my footsteps: again came the
whinny.
That was Dream. ! Could have sworn I"
il: nd / felt my way to the other emu Of
the shed, and placed my hand fairly against
her dripping side before saw her. In a
moment my eyes became accustomed To the
darkness, and could see that the punc
seat was empty. ! rrasped her head and
backed her from the shed. and in another
moment the lines wers.in III y.haids and we
were headed toward home. j reasoned
that the men had gone into fhe saloon, and
there was not a moment to Jose which rea-
soning, in part proved good; Tor. as swung
into the road the salooI, door open and 4.