Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-10-08

ceeded to dump the contents of the
valises upon the bed, whistling softly
10 himself as he did SO. THE schemes
as clear as diluted daylight, and it's
worthy of a graduate of Scotland
Yard" he said. There's only one
point that's little misty; you've given
yourself a part thatll ask for a heap
of downright cold-blooded nerve. Hugh.
What have you done with your respect
ed traditions of inherent cowardice,
and the like?"
Left them in the hole up on the
mountain, hope" replied Ringbrand,
struggling into the clothing handed
him by Ludlow. Anyway. that's just
what / want 10 find out. On two oc-
casions within the last three DAYS /
have managed TO scare up courage
enough to stand up TO danger like a
man, but the conditions were such as
would have made n rabbit turn and
fight. What l want to know now is IL
the inspiration were merely an eN-
aggeration of the instinct of self-de-
fense, OF il really did gain a victory"
We'll. you're certainly in a fair way
to settle the question il you carry out
your programme. Has it occurred TO
You that your calm demand will prob
ably he answered with a couple Of rife
bans?'
1--WE thought of that, but I mean
81 take the cheAeeS-ifI Jota.tt -.ziixI-rz-
and make a failure of the whole af-
fair"
Ringbrand completed his hasty toll
let, and they went down TO the din
ing-room, where Mrs. Ludlow was wait
ing 20 serve the returned wanderer.
lie took his accustomed place and made
a ravenous onslaught upon the hastily
prepared supper that astonished and
gratified the sympathizing hostess.
How dreadfully hungry you were!"
she said, calling Aunt Nina to rcplen-
ish the empty bread-plate. Haven't
You had anything to eat all these days?"
-Not very much. I'll tell you all
about il the first chance l get
Are you going away tonight" she
asked, when Ludlow went out to hitch
up the horse.
Yes; we are going up TO The Lau-
rels,' and IL may be late before we get
back"
I'm so gladl II you're going there,
I'll be good and not ask a single ques-
tion-until tomorrow"
why are you glad?"
Because Hester is worried, and
want her TO know you are alive and
well
They heard Ludlow drive out TO the
gate, and Ringbrand pushed back his
chair. Have you anything else to tell
me?" he asked.
She shook her head with precise en-
ergy. Not a single. solitary word
except that you're TO give my love 70
Hester"
"rll certainly do that" he promised.
Good night" And he ran down the
walk and sprang into the phaeton be-
ride Ludlow, who drove of rapidly up
the mountain road.
The colonel and his son were sitting
on the veranda when the rhaeton
turned into the avenue, and Hester,
erieving silently in the darkness of her
room. heard Ringbrand's voice answer
ing the hearty welcome of her father
She ran TO the stairway. stopped a mo-
ment TO regain her self-control, and
then went down to meet him. They
had all gone into the parlor. and when
she followed them Hester felt for a
swift instant that the whole world
might read her secret i'm her face.
Ringbrand rose to meet her, and took
Ter extended hand in both of his. Il
told you good-by for some purpose aft
er all, didn't j, Miss Hester?" he said,
smiling.
Il should think you did" she an
swered, reproachfully. "Where in the
world have you been? And what makes
you look SO thin and pale?"
II tumbled into a hole on the noun
TAIN" he explained, and, leading her to
chair, he seated himself beside her
and recounted his adventures, careful
ly suppressing all mention of the
Bynums, and leaving her to suppose
that he had simply met with an acct
dent.
Il should think you would have been
Stef 'c1 oiAuoSt W dcatu, she sdlO, DltN-
ingly. How was ii that some of the
men didn't find your"
Ringbrand had heard nothing of the
search party, and she told him of the
efforts that had been made to find out
what had become of him. When she
told how the men had secured the
plateau, shouting, he remembered the
cry that had reached him just as he had
placed the first round of the ladder, and
he held her attention with graphic de-
scription of the sudden hope and its
disappointment, while Ludlow took the
colonel aside and told him of the in
tended attack. Ringbrand saw the look
of grim determination come into the
eyes of the elder Latimer, and a mo-
mept lster Ludlow came over and began