The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-04-25


Then a moment later he added with
the wonderful GOODNESS that had mark
ed everything thus far done by him,
''And guess it's die.
The timber was not only less extern
sive than he had supposed. but was so
open that if he should leap from the
back of his horse and dart among the
trees, even when favored by the gloom,
he would be scarcely out of sight. More
over, if his pursuers so desired they
could readily surround the wood and
take him at their leisure
1t was shock to the officer as he
sped with arrowy swiftness through
the darkened lane without slackening
the speed of his animal and speedily de-
bouched again into the unobstructed
moonlight. The one thing upon which
he had pinned his hope was gene and
his immediate future could not have
looked darker.
Glancing to the rear again, notice
able change struck him. The party had
drifted back few rods, as if their ami
mails were growing tired or they had
agreed upon some new strategical move.
That the latter was the fact was prob
able because one of the pursuers was
well in advance of his companions and
bearing steadily down on the fugitive.
He had most likely asked and receiv-
ed the privilege Of running to earth the
officer who had played 80 clever trick
on them.
eff l were sure those other fellows
would show fair play" muttered the
lieutenant, 81 should wait for.that gen.
tleman and have it out with him. 1
don't know whether he suspects have
the revolver of the man in the hall, but
he is in fair way to learn it pretty
COON"
So far as Oakman could judge there
was little to be gained by postponing
the fight upon which the pursuer had
set his heart, though it was good gen.
eralship to draw away the man from
his supporters. A vague idea of secur-
ling the horse which showed superior
lAeetness was in the mind of the lieu
tenant, when, looking back and observ-
ling that his enemy was about midway
between him and his party, he for the
first time since starting on this desper-
late flight drew rein and so slackened
his pace that the other overhauled him
"hand over hand"
''No use, Yankl You may as well
Igive ini You're devilish sly, but it
won't help you out of this muss. %
care you willing to fight met" call
ed back Oakman, retarding the pace OF
his animal still more.
"Nothing would suit me better il
Iyou had pistol instead of that tooth
pick at your side, but
81 have pistol" was the startling
information of the lieutenant, who now
wheeled his horse about and fully con-
fronted his enemy.
The latter was plucky, and, though
slightly Disconnected by the unexpected
} action of his antagonist, he whipped
out his revolver and fred point blanl
at him. Oakman felt slight twinge il
J his shoulder, instead of through th'
brain, as would have been the fact bu
for the restlessness of both animals.
Before his foe could fire q secon(
time the lieutenant let fly. The othe
3 reeled and slipped out of his saddle t.
3 the ground, dead when he struck tn
I earth.
Whatever purpose Oakman had o
. seizing the horse of his enemy wa
, spoiled by the brute, which wheeled an,
, dashed back at headlong speed towar
the company at the rear, whinnyin
1 in his terror as he dragged the form Q
> his late master for a few rods, whe
: his boot, disentansling itself from tht
, ytirrup, left him lying in the middle O.
The highway.
It was fight again, with all tn
chances against him, but, since Their
was nothing else for him, Lieutenan
. 0akman jerked his animals heat
: around, and, with the p,erciless goug
ing of his spur into his bleeding flank
e lrove him to his utmost.
! No use now of looking to the rear
/ He knew the whole party, after mo
9 ment's pause, would be after him, hot
ter than ever.
+ Something desperate must be done
t and the fugitive was on the alert 70
he first opening, no matter how slight
e While there's life there's hope, and b
: was casting about for the last chance
9 when on a slight rise of ground in ad
q vance the form of a man on foot an
bareheaded loomed to view in th
). moonlight. And then 1t was that Oai
g man discovered he was close to th
house of General Eldridge and recoe
nized the man as Captain Wage
Trenholm, his Exchange.
That officer was running, when as b
L Il 4 he,