The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-08-19

agent" as Whiting called him, had
returned in fever of anxiety to be off
Whiting took buckskin money bel
from his drawer, and crowded into i
the packages of shining gold. Furnis'
fastened it tightly around the boy, clos,
to his white skin, and buttoned hi.
shirt and coat carefully over it.
''How does it feel, little man ?" h,
inquired.
"All right" answered Duncan proud
ly.
"Are you ready ?"
"No, sir.u
''What more do you want? ?"
THAT pistol with the ivory handle. "
Furniss handed it to him, reluctant
ly. He examined the chambers, and
finding them loaded, placed it in his
hip-pocket.
'Are you afraid?" asked Whiting.
a boyish laugh was his answer.
'Be CAREFUL" Whiting added. II
is a dangerous road. | do not think
you will have any trouble if you keep
your eyes open and your mouth shut.
If for any reasons you have to ride in a
hurry" Furniss said, ''lay the bride
upon the mares neck, give one quick
yell, and let her have her head. There
is not horse in the state that can
catch herr
They followed the boy to the door.
He flung himself into the saddle and
was gone. The mare started up the
river road at an easy lope, as if she were
carrying feather. After Duncan had
passed from sight the two partners
found it hard to settle down 10 their
work. They moved about restlessly,
avoiding each others eyes. a half
hour passed in silence and then Whit
ing said, irritably, "Furniss, that was
dastardly act of ours, sending that
boy on such an errand.n
~ think / know it without being
told" Furniss replied uneasily. al
feel as if had killed him with my own
hand. / wish--I wish but what's the
use of wishing? have mind to get
a horse and"
"D-r-r-r-ring said the telephone
bell.
Furniss snatched the receiver and
placed il TO his ear. Whiting, who was
watching him closely saw his face
blanch.
"What is it now ?" he asked, nerv-
ously.
''Hush-let me hear what Mason is
saying. What did you say Mr.. Mason?
What? That three desperadoes had
started? Were they we'll mounted?
You think that one of them overheard
you give US the message, ELI? Why
didn't they start sooner? Oh-had to
feed their horses?
"You say, you think they mean to
catch him in the Seven Devils?' Hor-
rible. Tell me Is the line to Boss
burgh open? Well, listen to the mes
sage and send ii this instant
ANDY Blake, Bossburgh: Thirty
minutes ago, Duncan Mcdonald start
ed with five thousand dollars. He is
riding Carara. Three desperadoes,
Reddy Cameron, Bill Dyer, and Jake
BaddOck, have left BOssburgh to rob
him somewhere in the Seven Devils.
Head them off and save the boy.
FURNIsS." !" u
''Good-by, Mason; thank you for
your promptness."
In less than ten minutes the three
partners, armed, pale and silent,
mounted on the three best horses in
the village, We're tearing up the road to
Marcus.
Twenty miles to the northward, Andy
Blake and Guy Farnham were waiting
in the telegraph office for a reply to
their message. 1t came. They read it
eagerly, stared at one another for
moment in a sort OF stupor, then slip
ped out of the door, and sprang into
their saddles, turned down the river
road and were lost in cloud of dust.
After moments thought Blake said,
''Carara's gait is about eight miles an
hour; but Duncan will push her TO ten
or twelve. | am afraid those mis-
creants will overhaul him before we
can reach him."
Lets push on,' said Farnham,
touching his spurs to his horses sides.
In the meantime, three high
waymen were moving rapidly down
the long grade from Myers Falls to
Marcus, over road cut in the side of
the mountain. At favorable points
they could overlook the whole open
fiat across which Duncan had to pass
From one of these they saw a speck
moving slowly along in brilliant
sunshine of the summer afternoon.
"There he ~ said Reddy.
'He is outriding US ~ added Dyer,
''and will get into the woods before we
will. We can make dash and catch
him when he rounds the second point
in the dark gully-head where We did
that dirty job day before yesterday"
Unconscious of his pursuers, the hap
py boy rode on. His bosom was swell
ling with pride at the confidence re-
posed in him by his employers. He
had the best horse in the county under
him, and five thousand dollars in gold
strapped around his waist. He drew
the silver-mounted pistol from his
pocket, AID amused himself by aiming
il at different objects along the road.
Then he leaned over the saddle and
patted the beautiful neck of the little
bay mare, prattling TO her in a boyish
fashion: "Nice girl, Carara What do
say, my lady, to having little squirt?
They never gave you fair chance.
Here's a nice level place. COP
He loosened the rein, leaned forward,
and like shot from a cannon the beau
tiful animal was off. He let her run
for half-mile or so, then slowed her
down, and she took up her old easy
lope and bowled along over the smooth
surface of the prairie road, almost keep
ing time with her feet TO tie merry
song her rider was singing.
At Marcus ne stopped for water,
rubbed the sweating fianks of the mare,
chatted moment with the stable boy,
mounted again and pushed on. He