The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-05-08

thought they were clearing the wnoi'
,h,nc lint the man on the left seemed
suddenly to drop to the earth, ana over
him rolled the fellow In the middle.
The man on the right, following tne
natb that | had taken, pulled up MS
beast. with n jerk that threw 1t on us
launches and ! saw him turn to gaze
At the men and horses rolling and wal
lowing in the mud
Farewell. my masters" said l. ana
laughed long and loud as cantered OH.
But was reckoning bit too soon' ior
ne sent another bullet whistling after
me that took Off my hat.
Looking over my shoulder saw tnat
the man who had escaped the marsh
was following me with determination
He had evidently seized the SITUATION
and made up his mind to follow my
plans. SO in and out we wound, over
a ditch here and through cluster OF
eorze bushes there. and he made no
such foolish mistake as to try to cut me
off or 10 take a shorter route, but nelu
on to my heels
The horse tucked bis big thighs under
him and tossed his head-faith, believe
he loved the spirit Of the thing as dearly
as his riderl And so we went straight
across what bit Of common there was
left. and, skimming Dick Pritts new
fence like n swallow, landed in the
lush grass of the Home garth.
There were yet three meadows be-
tween me and the sign post, and 1t was
good going over all of them. The air
rushed around my hatless head, the
stars seemed to dance all across the
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 sign post, a black, two
armed thing, outlined against the sky,
at the corner of the last field. We were
close on the hedgerow then. and as l
settled down for the leap heard
Blunts horse gathering up the narrow
lane to my right The moon sailed out
of the cloudbank; we stared at each
other
"Ahr' says he, "the troopers"
1.-TWO of 'em in Butter Bum hole"
says |. "The third"
But the third must have ridden a 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 high road, 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 round
headedness he raped out a roaring
curse.
"'Twas the rarest adventure" / says,
Il wouldn't ha missed it for the world"
"Why, faith,' says he, you make me
envious. The lane was tame enough
mere matter of straight-ahead work. "
He said naught of the dispatch. But
at the corner of Dead Mans copse
drew rein and held out my hand. "Tn
go home" said l. you have no fur
Their 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. ''To-mor-
now or the next day we shall meet
again, Master Stephen"
But ere he broke into a canter pulled
him up and wheeled about again.
"Hahv' said |. 81 almost forgot to give
you the dispatch" and handed it over.
THE Dispatch" said he. The dis
patch? But surely"
so you did not know that l had it?''
says |. Faith, but it lay very near my
heartw and without more ado l turned
about and cantered off, leaving him
there in the moonlight, staring open.
mouthed at the packet in his hand
Pearson's Weekly.