The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
CHAPTER x.-(Continued.)

1t, I will think over what I can do
to help you. No, you needn't thank
me; It's for your sisters sake, not
yours. She's girl one cannot but
respect"
They were nearing the Grange as
ne spoke. The moon was looming big
on the horizon as it neared its setting,
and a faint shadowy light rested on
1ne morse and on the little town be-
low, and the quiet gray sea beyond.
lhe Doctor was walking his horse eau
/. tiously down the steep descent when
ne broke into low, soft whistle.
By Jove! there's something wrong
there! I'm certain there's a man
about the place! Hold hard for a min
ute, will you" And he handed the
reins to Neville.
Let me come, tool" implored Ne
vile.
NO, wait out here; and, If shout,
leave the horse and come after me.
1t may have been a policeman march
Ing round,
Neville's ears strained to catch ev-
cry sound; bul there was nothing to
be heard, for the Doctor was making
MS way roiselessly across the grass
10 the drawing room window, from
which. sure enough, a man was eau
tiously descending with bag in his
hand.
He did not either see or hear the
Doctor, for his back was turned to-
wards him, so he was unprepared for
the sudden, cat-like spring that the
Doctor made upon him. With an oath
ne dropped his bag and turned furi-
ously upon his assailant They were
unequally matched, for Doctor Drake
was OF slight build and small in stat
ure, whilst the man whom he tried to
hold was bread and proportionately
strong.
The burglars hard sought his pock-
ct; but Doctor Drake was too quick
Tor him. With ole hand he kept a
steady grip on the mans collar, with
the Other lie sought and found the re-
volver that Was concealed in his coat
pocket, and threw it far away from
MIN OIL the grass, and two rapid shots
IN quick succession showed that it had
exploded.
With q desperate effort he fresd
himself, hurled the Doctor to the
ground with stunning force, and made
Tor the gate; tut the shots had brought
Neville rushing to the rescue. The
horse, finding himself abandoned and
frightened by the quick shots, trotted
Off towards home; whilst Neville drew
back to let the man pass, and sprang
upon him with the determination of a
bulldog not to relax his hold until
others came to the rescue.
His 1.-the arms chung tightly about
the burglars neck, and he was shout
ing at the top of his voice as he chung
Help! help! murder!'
-a The words reached the Doctors ears
as he rose to his feet, dazed but not
disabled by his fall, and he gave an
answering shout.
Hold on, Howard, I'm here!" But
as he uttered the words there was a
thud and fall and heavy groan, and
up the hill the sound of footsteps run
ming as if life depended on it.
Neville lay crumpled heap by the
gate; and m the rapidly fading light
the Doctor saw that the poor fellow
was STEPPED in blood.
Give chase-he's done for met" said
Neville, with clenched teeth. Hes
made off up the hill" And scarcely
knowing what re did, the Doctor did
Sc.
AS boy, he had been famous for
his running, and his training stood
him in good stead now. Even now he
was conscious that he was gaining on
the man whom he pursued. He could
heard his heavy breathing AS he
reached the top of the hill he saw the
dark figure in front Of him running
along the dim. white line of road on
top of the cliffs, and the Doctor
thought with fierce delight that he
had his prey safe enough. He could
turn neither to the right nor left; he
was committed to the road before
him.
Doctor Drake would breathe himself
a bit. and then he was pretty certain
to prove the better man of the two,
for he could see by the way the bur-
glar swayed from side to side that he
was getting spent. They must have
run for mile when the man gave a
fearful glance behind him, like hunt
ed animal; and the Doctor answered
the glance by wild halloo of triumph
He was not more than hundred PAGES
from. him.
Suddenly the burglar stopped, ran
to the edge Of the cliff, looked over it
for an instant. and the next had
thrown himself upon his hands and
knees and was letting himself eau
tiously over the edge AS his head
disappeared the Doctor came up to the
spot, and, in Mortified establishment,
looked down over the cliff. The bur
glar had evidently felt that his one
chance OF escape lay in making his
way down its face.
There was a drop of twenty feet
from the level of the road to a pro-
decting ledge Of rock below: after that
.. good climber might make his way
safely to the Shore, and the man had
7 decided ION the leap. But he rniscal-
culated his distance; the rocky ledge
was slippery with frost. and one wild
yell broke the night silence as his feet
barely touched the ledge he sought to
rest on. and he tumbled headforemost,
bounding like a ball from point to