The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-03-09
calline loudly on his 70 hasten.

There was not o yard between
them as they came to the hole, and
each rode at rafting pace. You
would have thought they were
clearing the whole thing, but the
man on the left seemed suddenly to
drop to the earth, and over him roll
ed the fellow in the middle. The
man on the right, following the
path that had taken, pulled up his
beast with a jerk that threw it on
its launches, and / saw him turn to
gaze at the men and horses rolling
and wallowing in the mud.
Farewell, my masters" said l
and laughed long and loud as can
tered off. But was reckoning bit
too soon, for he sent another bullet
after me that took off my hat.
Looking over my shoulder, / saw
that the man who had escaped the
marsh was following me with deter
mination. He had evidently seized
the situation and made up his mind
to follow my plans. So in and out
we wound, over ditch here and
through cluster of gorze bushes
there, and ho made no such foolish
mistake as to try to cut me off or
to take q shorter route, but held on
at my heels.
The horse tucked his big thighs
under him and tossed his head.
Faith, Lelieve he loved the spirit
of the thing as dearly as his rider.
And so we went straight across
what bit of common there was, and,
skimming Dick Pritt's new fcnce
like swallow, landed in the lush
grass of the home garth.
There were yet three meadows be-
tween mo and the signpost, and it
was good going over all of them.
The air rushed around my batless
head; the stars seemed to dance all
across tho heavens; the hedgerows
shot up in front like ghosts, but we
were over and through them and
settled into our stride again before
/ had time to count one.
saw the signpost--a black, two
armed thing--outlinod against the
sky at the corner of the last field,
We were close on the hedgerow
then, and as. / settled down for the
leap / heard Blunt's horse Gathering
up the narrow lane to my right.
The moon sailed out of the cloud
bank. We started at each other.
"Ahl" said he, 1.-The troopers
1.-TWO of 'em in Butter Bum hole, "
says /. THE third
But the third must have ridden q
rare horse, for at that instant he
dropped over the hedge with a
force that made the ground shake.
We had drawn rein in the middle of
the highroad, and he caught sight
of us and came forward. But within
a dozen PAGES his beast swayed and
fell, tumbling him off into the dust.
In spite of all his Roundheadedness
he raped out a roaring curse.
"'Twas the rarest adventure" /
says. II wouldn't ha missed it for
the world"
why, faith, says he, "you make
mo envious. The lane was tame
enough, mere matter of straight
ahead work. "
He said naught of tho dispatch.
But Mt the corner of Dead Mans
copse / drew rein and held out my
hand. iii go home, "gaid I. "You
have no further need of me. We will
exchange horses and clothes as you
return.
"Let me keep my thanks till
then,' says he, giving me his hand.
Tomorrow or the next day we shall
meet again, Master Stephen.
But ere he broke into canter /
pulled him up and wheeled about
again.
"Ha!" gays l. II had almost for
gotten to give you the dispatch, "
and / handed it over. The dis
patch?" said he. The dispatch2
But surely
go you did not know that had
it2' says l. Faith, hut it lay very
near my heart" and without more
ado turned about and cantered off,
leaving him there in the moonlight,
staring oren mouthed at the packet
in his hand. Weekly.