Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-18

"Don't you see what he wanfs|r she
asked; "he is trying to rouse your IA
theirs suspicious
About five o'clock the occasional
shouts in the swamp grew louder and
nearer, and into them was suddenly
blended the ominous baying of dogs.
1.-THE hounds!" announced the
colonel, tragically.
'"And they are out for business" glee-
fully added the captain; ''they are
headed this way"
Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster stood lean
ing against the balustrade, their faces
towards the swamp.
"Come inside, DEAR" said the latter.
sit will do no'good to witness it,"
But our young lady only shook her
head.
After few minutes the shouting and
baying of the hounds died down. The
colonel gave it as his opinion that they
were off the track, but that it was only
a question of time before they would
catch the scent again.
Two hours passed. The sun sank be-
hind the distant mountain peaks. The
sky beyond was as red as blood. The
wisps of clouds lying against the noun
tain-sides looked like glaciers. The
landscape took on q delicate veil of
gray. Objects in the distance began to
assume vague shapes. The dark out
lines of the swamp were fast merging
into the night.
"They have been taking a zig-zag
course" proclaimed Hasbrooke from
his end of the veranda. 1.-The rascal
will be as timber as rag when he is
freed. There are no two ways about it;
it's all up with him; the darkness will
not be in his favor; nothing but blood
will satisfy the fury of that mob"
do you mean that the sheriff will
not be able TO control them?" queried
Mrs. Lancaster, who had begun to walk
about nervously.
He'd have to have lot of backbone
to even try it," answered her host.
"He'd be knocked out like straw in q
hurricane; murderers of old women
stand no chance with these crude An
glo-Saxons."
Ithad grown dark, save forthe light Of
the moon, which had just risen and
doomed up like huge conflagration be.
You'd the tree-tops. For yet half an
hour only an intermittent shout or the
sudden outburst of barking was heard
from the swamp, but each time the
sounds were nearer. Old Ephraim, as il
anticipating his masters desires, drove
round the horses and trap.
"a good idea," approved the colonel;
gentlemen, we might as we'll get near
er. 1 think know where they viii
come out.
"By all means!" cried the captain
with enthusiasm. He was the first t.
get a seat in the vehicle, and was fol
lowed by his host and Mr.. Hardy.
When the trap had gone, Miss Has
brooke retired to her room with somt
complaining allusion to her nerves, ant
Evelyn and Mrs. Lancaster remained OF
theveranda, Guarded only by the old ne
gro, who stood like sentry on duty a
the foot of the steps.
"Oh, Mrs. Lancaster!" exclaimed Ev
elyn, 81 feel as if he is going into dan
ger-that they will kill him!"
For u moment the old woman mad
no response, and when she did it wa
with evident emotion.
II pray God that he may not b
harmed.' Her tone was almost
prayer in itself.
The baying and shouting were nov
very near. Half mile away torch
> lights like fireflies began to fit alon
the swamp. The line of men was no,
in the open. They seemed to be heade
in one direction, and it was not man
minutes before all the lights had ru
together. Evelyn knew that the pri'
oner was in the center of that cluster @
torches. The shouting had died dow
TO far-off murmur. Then into the ye
low, smoky glare the two observers say
white horse rearing and plungins
:, Presently the frightened amin,
e seemed under the control of its ride
and loud, ringing voice like that of a
: experienced open-air speaker, brol
/ the stiffness.
st is he!" gasped Evelyn, and hi
q eyes seemed set in their sockets ;
d she peered through the gloom. "Gc
have mercy on him!"
e Mrs. Lancaster's arm frightened rour
it the girls waist, but her voice lay de;
a in her throat. The distance was II
great to distinguish the words of tt
speaker, but his stentorian ton
| ~ ,,,1r s,,fo m IN
n space like knife. At times a tempe
e of rries and yells would rise from t!
q mob and drown the leading voice; b
IT gradually, persistently, it would stru
lie gle up to mastery again. This wei
to on for about ten minutes, and then tt
d two on the veranda heard several lot
,e voices raised in threatening tones ar
a there was sharp ringing report of
D. pistol. The cluster of lights widene
r. and the white horse was seen to plunl
n away from the crowd, the beat of b
to hoofs being the only sound in the ST
sh air.
ugh! Somebody hit dat time
m grunted old Ephraim. "My Law
I'd whut pity!"
es Evelyn gazed into the white face
ce her friend, her terrified eyes see
e. ing confirmation of her own feal
lg She could not frame the words for t,
1t question in her heart. Mrs. Lancast
he did not know what to make of it q
til but she was afraid some calamity b
lg befallen Ronald Fanshaw.
#, 81 could not see if anyone was
lis the horse as it broke away" she Il
he tcrsa.
ey TO BE CONTINUED.