The Irish standard., 1902-06-21

THE IRISH ST
He was soon able to distinguish Pet.
tibone, and Pinney. and Let1inswell,
but the remaining three were unknown
to him. Drawing rein, he quietly watt
ed.
"Thunder!" shouted the sheriff; cts
Herbert"
The next moment Guy was surround
ed by six angry and bailled men.
well. gentlemen. said Guy. his eyes
twin>ling. 'did you find the COURT
house?"
"You be b.amed!" returned Petit
bone. sourly. "Elow did you get out?"
THAT doesn't matter, Pettibone.
I'm out. and that's enough. AS you
gentlemen appear o be in anything but
an agreeable frame of mind. kindly
ride out Of my way and let me pass on"
Not much!" cried Pinney. "You've
escaped and you've got to go back with
u.s."
"That's the ticket" said Let1ingwell,
g.aNcing sharply at The horse Guy was
riding.
The three Others, whom Guy did not
know. were equally as positive that he
should go back TO Concord. Pettibone
knitted his brows over the problem
but said nothing. His horse stood
directly in front of Guys and as he re-
flected he snapped his quirt absently
against his boot leg.
CLEAR me a minute. gentlemen"
salt! Guy. 81 don't want to have a clash
and I'm sure everything will be pleas
ant between us if you'll only be reason-
able. Yesterday I was given my choice
either of leaving town or being locked
up. didn't care to .eave town then,
but I'm willing to Go so now. Why do
you want to stop me?"
"YesterGay we had the courthouse"
blurted out Letlingwell, land to-day
: the other people have got it. That
makes al. the difference in the world.
: You've assisted the other people and
suppose you want to so over there and
help them celebrate. I. for one. am in
favor of takin" you hazel; to Concord
and treating you as you deserve"
= $50 am L." seconded Pinney.
The rest were of the same mind,
even the sheriff Joined with The 9TH
ers.
AS Pettibonc vetoed the agreement
with his companions. he flashed Guy
| a meaning glance and the quirt flew
awkwardly from his hand. Dis
mounting, the sheriff led his horse
aside and bent to pick up his whip.
This made a breach in the Gordon
that surrounded the young man and
left the road, for the moment, clear
before him. In Il trice he inter-
| preted Petitioners look and dug his
heels into his horses sides. The ami
NAL sprung away like shaft from
a bow.
"Stop!" roared Pinney, but he
might as we'll have ordered the wind
to cease blowing.
stop or I'll shoot!" shouted LET
fngwelI, drawing revolver from
his pocket and sighting it quickly.
Still Guy did not halt and Petit
bone knocked the liveryman's arm
downward before he could fire.
"None of that, Leffingwell!" cried
the sheriff. "Chase after him, that's
the thing to do
Thereupon the six of them had re.
course to their spurs and qurts.
+. The horses of the pursuers had
seen hard service that morning and
were at a disadvantage. Guys
mount, on the contrary, was COM
parativcly fresh, and he could see,
! by the nasty glance which he occa-
sionally threw over his shoulder, that
he was slowly increasing the distance
that separated him from those be-
, hind.
| There was point where the road
, forket, enc branch leading on to
Amityvillc and the other turning
sharply i'll the direction of Harmony.
Pursued and pursucrs were drawing
close to this point. Guys attention
was taken up by those behind and
| Pettibone and his companions had
eyes for no one but the young man
| in front. Thus it happened Il large
contingent Of mounted men squirting
! swiftly along the Harmony road,
failed to capture the notice of those
on the other trail
! Realization was brought suddenly
home to the Concordians by a ter
rifle yell from the Harmonyitcs. Pet
tibonc and his friends drew rein,
panicstrickcn, and whirled to flee.
Capt. Hlue was coming at the head
of his lnvinciblcs, a score at least.
| and the sun shimmcred upon the pol.
ished gun barrels that lay across
their saddles.
Guy was between two fires. AS it
made little difference to him which,
way he went, he kept straight on.
lie saw at least half Il dozen of the
Invincibes raise their guns to their
shoulders. Instantly he threw up
his hand.
Don't shoot" he cried, thinking
the weapons were aimed at him.
u "l'm unarmcd!"
At that precise juncture a report
came from behind him and Il bullet
sang past his ear. He turned in his
saddle to launch threat and warn.
ing at Pettibone and his men and
just as he did so, spiteful volley
leaped from the muZZles of the
lcvelcd guns ahead.
Guy felt Il sharp sting in his side
as though a knife-point had prickcd
him.
"Stop shooting!" he cried again