The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-26
PART II.

"Faith." he drolled to himself as he
went along, II have not done so badly;
the business is more amusing than /
hoped for. and, certcs, have come off
better than / deserved, for l should
have seen 10 the beasts Shoes"
The lameness, however. Of his own
animal retarded Halliburton more than
he had looked for, and indeed increased
so much that, in n while. he was COM
PEELED reluctantly to draw rein and
proceed more slowly, and eventually,
having an affection for the horse, he felt
constrained to go forward at foot's-
pace only.
1t was certainly disquieting, for the
afternoon had waned, and evening itself
was growing apace, so that there WAS
every chance that he might be over
xalxen by darkness before he reached a
place of shelter. However, having great
faith in his own luck, he kept on, hop
ing to get to some spot where he might
either have his beast shod. or. If that
could not be done, where he might lea, e
1t till he was free to return. Nor did
his good fortune desert him, for pres
emily no came at dusk to house that
waS like TO serve his purpose.
1t was solitary place enough, lying
In a hollow in the moorland, with never
. sign of life about, but when he rode
np he found he had chanced on better
quarters than appearances had
promised. The host, quiet, decent
sort of man, evidently master and serv-
mt In one, assured him that he would
take every care of his beast; but at the
same time he strongly advised Halibur-
ton to remain over night--the country
round there. he said. was wild and diff
cult for travellers, and somewhat dam
gerous besides. If his man had been
about he would have offered him with
pleasure as q guide; but, as ii happened,
be had gone to Berwick the day before.
After considering the matter for awhile,
Halliburton concluded to do as the man
suggested. The nights were then at
the shortest, and rest of an hour or 50
would not be amiss. Were he TO go on,
he might chance TO lose his way pr,
founder his horse. There was only one
condition that caused him to hesitate,
and that was that he might again bc
stayed either by the fellow he had
tricked, or by others; bat as that was n
remote contingency Halliburton, as we
have said, concluded to remain.
But, being cautious man in the
main, he saw to the stabling of the ami
mails himself, bringing the saddles
away with him into his own room,
when, having partaken of a he4sty meal,
lie thought it well before retiring to see
whether his dispatches were safe.
IT was q mere matter of form, but
forms are indispensable at times, and
on such an errand Halliburton felt that
he ought TO take every precaution. Ac-
cordingly, having satisfied himself that
his papers were safe, he was about to
lie down when it occurred to him to
exaDline those he had captured.
Strangely enough, while inspecting
his find, the remembrance of the fell
lows words somehow or other flashed
across HIS mind. "I am overmatched,"
he had said, "but it may not be so al
ways" Despite his sanguinc temper
nment and indifference to danger, Hail.
burton could not altogether shake Off
feeling of discomfort. For brief
moment he realized what 1t was to be-
anxious, and his anxiety was not al
layed when he glanced ut the packet
in his hand, for 1t was so like to his
own that when he placed the two side
by side he would, had he not known
tho one on his right to be really his,
have been hard put to it to say which
hwas which.
Fearful that he might grow confused
between them, he took the precaution
to mark one Of them at the right hand
top corner with scratch of his thumb
nail; then. consigning both to his adj
rersary's saddle, he laid himself down
on the floor, rested his head on it for
p pillow and fell asleep.
His slumber, however, as Il proved,
was not of long duration, for presently,
"a II seemed to Halliburton, he awolxe
TO find himself at the mercy of the
unan he had SO lately triclted. The
fellow was standing over him pistol in
hnnd, apparently undecided what To do.
;: With O bound Halliburton made to
rise. but to his dismay he only rolled
over like a log. He was tied hand
and foot.
' 'Well, friend" said the man, and the
prisoner could see, even in the dim
flight that fliclered from the small lamp
ION the table, the smile of satisfaction