The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-04

, pouched again Into the unrestricted
moonlight. The one thing upon which
he had pinned his hope was gene and
his immediate future could not have
looked darker.
CHANGING to the rear again, a 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.
"If I were sure those other fellows
would show fair play" muttered the
lieutenant, ~ should wait for that gen
tleman and have it out with him. I
don't know whether he suspects I have
the revolver Of the man in the hall, but
he is in fair way to learn it pretty
soon.
So far as Oakman could Judge there
was little to he 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-
ing the horse which showed superior
feetness was In the mind of the lieu
tenant, when, looking back and observ-
ing that his enemy was about midway
between him and his party, he for the
first time since starting on this desper-
ate flight drew rein and 80 slackened
his pace that the other overhauled him
''hand over hand"
''No use, Yankl You may as well
give inl. You're devilish sly, but it
won't help you out of this muss."
care you willing to fight me % call
ed back Oakman, retarding the pace Of
his animal still more
Nothing would suit me better if
you had pistol instead Of that tooth
pick at your side. butt
Il have pistol" was the startling
information Of the lieutenant, who now
wheeled his horse about and fully con-
ironted his enemy.
The latter was plucky, and, though
slightly disconnected by the unexpected
action of his antagonist, he whipped
out his revolver and fired point blank
at him. Oakman felt slight twinge in
his shoulder, instead of through the
brain, as would have been the fact but
for the restiessness of both animals.
Before his foe could fire a second
time the lieutenant let fly. The other
reeled and slipped out of his saddle to
the ground, dead when he struck the
earth.
Whatever purpose Oakman had Of /
Selling the horse of his enemy was
spoiled by the brute, which wheeled and
dashed back at headlong speed toward
the company at the rear, whinnying
in his terror as he dragged the form Of
his late master for few rods, when
lis boot, disentangling itself from the
tirrup, left him lying in the middle Of
he highway.
1t was fight again, with all the
hances against him, but, since there
vas nothing else for him. Lieutenant
)akman jelked his animals head
round, and, with the merciless goug-
ng OF his spur into his bleeding flank,
rove him to his utmost
No use now of looking to the rear.
lie knew the whole party, after a mo-
1ents pause, would be after him, hot
ar than ever.
Something desperate must be done,
nd the fugitive was on the alert for
le first opening. no matter how slight.
While there's life there's hope, and he
'as casting about for the last chance,
hen on a slight rise of ground in ad
ance the fern of man on foot and
lreheaded doomed to view in the
loonlight. And then it was that Oak
ian discovered he was close to the
ouse of General Eldridge and recog-
lied the man as Captain Wager
renholm, his Exchange"
That officer was running, when as he
me up the swell of ground he saw