The Washington times., 1902-05-25
=. a TALE or LOVE cI1ND cADVENTJRE *
tro m Fran By m odd Mead

best a man might ever hope or wish tc
call his own. And had I, perhaps
thought to DO so some day?
There stood Fanny's little white face
against every tree as we-Roser and /
trudsed on; and somwhere behind It,
shining through it. looking strangely at
ne. another that had seen but part OF
4 day-angry. proud. kind, humorous,
With the looks OF so many different
Fannies and all her friends that I'd
ever known swallowed up in something
new. could have dropped off Roger
and kicked myself for light headed
fool to think such a twist could come
to me and switch my mind around to so
different a view.
And I was like to have been of my
horse. at any rate. Just then. for through
the string of my thoughts ranS out
clear on the morning air the loud 'ping"
of n rife. Just ahead. but so near that
Roger got away across the road little
quicker than /. Standing so an instant,
caught the unmistakable sounds OF a
combat-curses. blows. cries, and the
ring of steel: and without thinking over
much, put the horse to his run. and
covered the short space to turn where
n thicket OF shrubs shut out the stretch
of the road.
| As we turned the corner. there in The
middle of the highway stood four men.
three of them ragged. one of huge
stature and better dressed. the latter
talking and laughing with rasping sar-
casm as the other three set on him. but
ever keeping them away with his long
sword. was scarce twenty yards from
pistol into the side of one. and caught
second on the head with the weapon it
self as Roger flew past the group. The
surprise was equal for all FIVE OF US, but
the big one did not appear disturbed in
the least. AS pulled up and turned.
heard him cry out:
Now, Now, my ragged son of the
woods. It's evener! Let me cut thy
beautiful pate open. So, So again,
10, Here, Stop, you left-handed pa
triot! oh. Ills shame! 'Tis a shame!"
And he was off among the trees after
the third OF the gang.
One was dead for sure. and lay there
in the mud. But the other got up to a
sitting posture. rubbing the side of his
head as came over him; and he gazed
III n yna Wit in
countenance so comical to look upon that
roared with laughter. to be interrupt
ed by a loud, mocking voice:
Nay. It's no laughing matter. sir.
Here have you caused me to lose gen.
tleman of great value by your sudden
interruption"
"i?" cried the most astonlshed of all
now. 81? Ny Interruption
"of a surety" said the giant, with a /
laughing face, and he graspcd my hand .
warmly. Here was l getting some lit
tie morning exercise with my three
friends and you must break in and"
II beg your pardon. sir" said I, bow
ing low. 81 fancied you had niscalcu-
lated the courtesy of these same
friends
And continued he-"and commit
the strange breach in time OF war of
saving me from furnishing a delicate
meal TO my friends over there on the
trees. But which tree did ye drop from
yourself?"
NO such interesting feature in it,"
said I; the road and the abrupt curve
made the whole thing appear over sud-
dem"
My devoirs to the abrupt curve"
said the young man with mock cortesy.
lifting his cap to the white highway.
And now. sir. whoever ye may chance
to be. the chance Is so good for me that
I would shake you by the hand. and
thank you for your saving of my worth
less neck, and to say to you that when
John Acton can do aught for you
Why, by the Lord. call on him and try
timi"
And he held out his enormous hand
with a frankness that | had done well
10 have trusted.
Little was said till caught the sound
1f horses feet. and looked up to see a
,roop OF uniformed men coming from
he north over steep hill. AS they (
,lattered down the slope I made up my
mind that twas approaching the time
when l should leave.
As he raised his head at the sound.
Nc quickly took me by the arm and
stepped across the brook into the shrub :
berry.
'Tis a safe thing to avoid two skir-
nishes in the same hour" said he. with
| jovial laugh; and agreed with him in
more ways than one.
AS got away l heard hail from the {
zig lungs of Mr.. John Acton. but it only
Idded to my speed. and. BY the best
hancc that for once turned my way. d
made the river bank, paid fellow J
rear by to ferry me across. and got into l
he woods on the other side. So. keep U
ne close by the road. but avoiding 1t Q
shenever | gathered that some one was d
approaching. moved along toward =
Iaverstraw.
The sense of caution growing stronger
n ME for what | had been through.
topped toward the river bank into the !.
hick forest and Lar me down to wait for
arkness. In good truth, what with the
rant OF food and the work OF the past
light I needed rest badly and nv wan