Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30
No, 1 was only very weary" said

With a leap like that of a panther,
he was on the old man and tore the
knife from the pocket. In another in
slant its point had found a soft spot
between the robbers ribs.
Then, with slow from his fist that
sent the younger Robard reeling and
the lamp flying against the wall, Buck
ford ran to the window and leaped to
the roof Of the shed below. From this
he jumped down to the ground and
came plump upon the FOSTERING party
of four, who We're startled at this sud
den ali%hting of rare bird among
them
ITO, no! What's this? A robber!
Call Robard. Call Robard! Seize this
fellow! Hold him till Robard comesw
"Fools." cried Buckford as he saw
the window of his room lighted with a
red glare. Il am a guest of the inn.
My lamp upset. and the house took fire.
This was the only escape. Do you
see?
Fire, fire! Robard's inn is on fire!
they shouted, and, sobered by the ter
rible catastrophe, they released Buck
ford and ran to the front of the build
ing to gain an entrance.
Fire, fire" Buckford could hear the
alarm ringing from one end Of the
house to the other.
Then from the window of the room
he had left came screams and yells of
wild rage and despair.
Murder! Robbery! He has gone!
After him. you Frenchmen! The thief
! you want has just set the mouse on nre,
stabbed Robard and leaped from the
window! After him!"
Buckford ran as he had never run
| before. He found an easy entrance to
the stable. Every employee who slept
in or near the stable had rushed to the
inn to fight the fire. He had no time to
select horse. He took the one near
est the door. Without saddle or bride
he led it forth, leaped upon it's back,
and as the glare from the burning
building sent CLEAN of light around
him he dashed away, followed by the
hoarse cries Of rage and the pistol
shots of the enraged Frenchmen and
Robard's son.
Vandal, quick to grasp this opportu-
nifty, left the DenesliaIs to fight their
own fire and, calling Reber and Robel-
10, ran to the stable and got out horses.
'This time that rascal's life" he
growled. This time, by heaven, I'll
kill himw
The three, mounted much as Buck
ford Voc 1nchad otter him
Buckford had probably three to FIVE
minutes start, and that start had car
rled him out OF the slgnI OF his pursu-
ers. But they could hear the sullen
pounding of his horses hoofs on the
hard road. They followed the sound.
1t was not long before Ontro and its
burning inn were left far behind. Mile
after mile the horses carried their an
CRY riders. Buckford, fleeing for his
life, spared not his horse. The others,
less skilled horsemen, bobbed and
pounded painfully on the bare backs,
but chung to the flying steeds with a.
tenacity that showed how eager they
were to overtake and finish this Amer
lean who baked them at every step.
Yandal alone controlled his horse.
The others merely chung round their
horses necks and let the beasts follow
in stampede the leader ridden by Van
dal.
They went through little villages,
all peacefully asleep. They rode like
the wind through farming regions
through valleys and over hills till their
overridden beasts nearly fell to the
ground.
And now at last it was simply
question of the staying qualities of the
Eorses. Had Buckford in his quick
selection Of the nearest horse to the
door obtained a good one, or had the
others, taking horses from more pro-
tected places, CHANGED to get hold of
animals of better speed or less weari-
ness than the one he rode?
Buckford's horse was showing signs
Of exhaustion. He had hoped to gain
enough Roadway to escape from his
horse and find hiding place. But in
stead the steady and thunderous hoof
beats Of the pursuing horses grew
louder and nearer.
lie was now IN q rough and h1lly
country. The road was bad, and the
weary horse stumbled constantly.
A pistol shot rang out behind him.
The Frenchmen were near enough to
shoot at him.
He knew that cruelty would not
make his horse go faster.
Before him rose trees that obscured
the way. lie could not see the ground
ten feet from his horse.
Three pistol shots rang out together
With a cry almost like that Of human
being his horse dropped to the road.
For an instant he himself was con-
scious of n singing sensation in the
side. But this was lost in a greater
shock as his horse, as he fell, sent the
rider headlong from his back over the
brink of yawning ravine, along which
the rough country road had been laid.
CHAPTER XII