Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-27

| i
der the robe in the back" he continued
with the stuff for fear we may meet some
one; If we do, and they stop us, you gran
the packages and make for the woods; / II
drive straight ahead; they can't take us
| both. and they won't know which has got
the Doodle. Here. take this bottle TO keep
| YOU warm. but don't overdo it; you must
keep your wits about you tonight"
ROBBERS.
My heart was in my throat and I almost
sank to the ice as the man chirped to
Dream and she swung off at her best pace.
In a moment she was out Of sight and
then the full meaning of what had heard
pounded its way into my brain. What
could do? To go to the village for help
would give them too much start. There
was but one thing; they must pass
through Plainfeld, ten miles distant. IL
could reach there first perhaps 1 could
stop them. I shut my teeth hard together
and buckled my skates tighter around my
ankles, flung off my thick coat and start
ed.
Along the blue-black ice I few bending
to the wind past tho Old Pine; around OAK
Bend and through the Narrows. The Ice
slid from under my skates the trees raceu
past me. the fence rails fairly blurred TO-
gether: and ever before me the river un-
wound Ike q black ribbon between the
dead white banks. Not q sound broke the
stiffness of the deserted river save the ring
of my skates and my own painting breath.
| Could reach there first? II seemd impos-
slble. but there was no othsr way. and
I
heart. to do it or die.
A little over half way I must pass under
a bridge over which they would drive; II
l could reach that point first it would
show gain. and now for the only time in
my life | wished that Dream would lose
her speed. AS neared the bridge ! heard
the hollow beat of a horses hoofs. It was
| Dream. and a little ahead Like black
! flash she crossed the bridge, and asl glided
under It distinctly heard the cruel cut OF
! the whip with which they were urging her.
Hot anger replaced the tears which a mo-
ment before filed my eyes. tore of my
| light jacket and flung it behind me. grind
ing vengeance between my clenched teeth
and bent anew 10 my task
SKATING AGAINST TINE.
| n, /
and now was making better time; now
| it was but two miles; / bent my head
| closer TO the wind. Another half mile and
! I would be there. l was gasping for
breath. while hot pains shot from my an
/ kles TO my hips; stih forced myself dizzily
/ on. At last I saw light from the village
! then the village itself. and in another min
ute slid up to the bank into foot Of
snow. / tore the skates from my dead feet
and stumbled up the bank and into the
street. my benumbed legs half sinking be-
meath me.
They must pass down this street; l
strained my eyes up the hill but not
soul was in sight I ran diZZily On not
knowing my plan Of action should !
meet them. but muttering: III stop
them some way gained the hilltop,
still no sign of them; evidently they had
passed through the village before l
! reached it; and now my heart sank in
earnest.
Il was bitterly cold. the few stores
were closed and the only light to be seen
came through the red curtain of a sa-
lon at the very top Of the hill. l STUN
bled ID to the door 10 beg for help, when,
jus. as my hand touched the door
heard from the dark shed opposite a low
whinny Ny heart jumped, and I ran
across TO the shed. and in the darkness
stumbled against a sleigh: it was not
ours. and, heart-sick, ! turned 10 re-
trace my footsteps; again came the
whinny That was Dream. ! could
have sworn to ~ and felt my way 10
the other end of the shed and placed my
hand fairly against her dripping side be-
fore | saw her. In a moment my eyes
became accustomed 10 the darkness and
I could see that the pung seat was empty.
l grasped her head and backed her from
the shed and in another moment the
lines were in my hands and we were
headed toward home. l reasoned thas
the men had gone into the saloon and
there vas not a moment to lose Which
reasoning, in part, proved goCd. For.
as swung into The road the saloon door
opened and a man hurried Cu-: he saw
me and called for me 20 stop; for reply
I.struck Dream (lhe first blow had ever
given herr and we were off. Inside Of
three minutes the crash OF bells behind
me told me That we were pursued; they
had taken tho other horse from the shed
and were following us. Dream was
panting: If the other horse was fresh
there was no chance for us. but | urged
her to the utmost.
SAVED.
When 7 reached the bridge I found
that they had not gained uDcn us since
o~7fr n n
out for a couple of miles more We were
saved and bent over her and begged her
to do her best. Five minutes passed and
the bells behind were growing indis-
tinct: breathed again and let her slow
up trife In other five minutes my
pursuers had abandoned the chase. I
stood ND on the seat and looked back
along the deserted road with a sigh Of re-
lief: was turning again to my seat I
saw something stir in the bottom Of the
pung. and my hair stiffened rs blCated.
brutal face was pushed up from beneath
the wOlfskin. without a word my shak-
ing hand grasped my skates. (Which J
had placed mechanically beside me- and
swinging them round and around my
head by their long straps I brought them
straight down upon the face Il was
terrible blow, (of all the deeds Of N,
life 7 like the least 70 remember i0ahd
with a groan the head fell back upon the
pung bottom.
Then my unstrung nerves gave way;
and how We reached home I never knew.
I have q confused remembrance Of cry
ing TIL nv own voice frightened me, and
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