The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-26

MS Slctl-I'lIt eyes tIl lue u lt" iilHhttr,
screwed the corners Of his thin lips. and
then spoke in a dry voice: II knew yon
were man of abnormal Imagination, but
that von were insane, never before sus-
Iected
A few lavs later ! found myself riding
along a rocky road that wriggIed between
prct tipuous walls in the mountains Of El-
lot county A little stream Uttered along
the route, and lar above, the plne halps
sang soft tune,
All 1T once nv horss reared bent his
fine neck. spread his nostrlls. and snorted
slartn.
The next second. sharp report shat
tered the silence. My horse. GulNsInG,
stood in The center of the road. The ntNt
second. the dick OF dry branch was
heard above me. Then splash among
green leaves. Then. dnwn across the pom
mel oi my saddle, dropped huge wild eat,
his bosom squirting blood. What did all this
mean; While sitting in helpless wonder.
meni. the ar began to bubble with mu>i-
cal laughter. | galed about, seeking the
source Of this concord Of sweet sounds.
Soon came a ,elyetv swish among the
paw paw bushes at the left Of the road.
Turning my eyes, feariu'ly hut eagerly,
saw "A lace. framed by green foliage. From
he face smiles sped like sunhcainS. and,
at Their touch, felt my own grow in
stantlv bright. Was ! dreaming: II so.
prayed TO awaken never. But ! was not
dreaming Ont through the screen OF
leaves pushed the form Of Young woman,
clad in blue velvet She had ON her head
4 A. 1.f, H., 4
the side Of the crown. revealing a bread
band Of sVur,nug hair above the ear, A
great lot OF lazy. yellow crrls lolIed ON her
shoulders.
sat spccrhless, watching the riot of
hrautr"u> expression in her face.
had seen that face before Nay. had
it in my heart in the locket of memory.
Directly she advanced within touch Of
me and. racning up shapcly hand. she
said. "Mr Leon Clifford. are vuu not pu-
lug 10 shake my band, and congratulate
me iuI saving Nou, throat from that wilA
cIt: tie was trNug to spring ON No'l when
| >prang a surprise on HIM.
tuuk hrr rrof}ered hand. and as the
rj,riput Ct magnet sm flashed along the
| line of my nrlyc- aid. not knowing
| what else to say: n m certainly thaukJul
| 10 vuu toy dcpirng ine Of tins Mantun
enemy. hut how did Won know my name
"Dh, I've known your name fer several
| years. and became especially familiar with
| it Of late, slu"c it was known that No,i
| would Ic" the halls "t The moon>hincr
| KIM"
Il presume | IN not lar ilom his hamutef'
| said. feeling heroic surge IN IN, suu}.
''Nni Vprv far Int tnu rau't n,r,,.ua II,
capture hm this evening. Non viii g.
home with me. | live ouIv short distance
| from here"
II thank You for the hospj'ahlc offer but
| ! must he going on now.
on. no; vou'll not 60 on tins evening.
,I. sNe sand, tapping Irr gun. and sml
! ing significantly. II lnvItc you kindly TO
g. with me, and hope III not have to say
You shall 60, sir.
You won't have 10 use that gun 10 per
suadc me, | SAID, uerousIy, "l'lI 60
| "hf course YOU will,
A .iiort distance ahead, 'he narrow
throat Of the gorge Ndcned INTO beau,i.
tui bosom Of green valley. IN the center Of
which white house shonc in the lerlin-
ing sun like silver star,
Wien We got TO the gate n great. broad,
| 'ill gant came amhllng dGwn the la,h
toward. us. hrs hands IN his pockets, and
= benevolent smilc struggling through his
shaggy beard.
| Nj l.eon,' said the girl gayIv ''ct me
introduce You to my father, the celebrated
outiaw, Bu,te' Taegart'
A few minutes later was chatting with
Mss Flora Iaggsrt III the paror when
she arose, and, going TO the centertabe
brought a photograph Of a handsome boy
whom ! recognized as the youthful Leon
Clifford
II got II fran YOUR boarding hou>e mis-
'res4 the night after ! met you in Lcxing
ton, she said. and she took it back and
looked as If She was mentally Kissing 1t
II have vour photograph, too, said.-
in the Iorket Of my soul
Two weeks later, Ns introduced my
beautiful wife 10 my chef said II did
not bring back Buster, hut here is ,te favor
tie member of his gang