Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-04-23

EN - t mfl' h mpan, of m nne
has seen too much
work today. We are both dead men it
we are causht"
AS for you, doubt it, replied OAR
rel. ut is one thing for KiiZiar to
murder you when his blood is up, and
when he secs a reasonable chance to
make the crime seem the work of an
other, but you are too prominent an
officer to be- butclcred in open daylight.
He would put you under arrest and
hold you for Il court martial. AS for
me. he didn't see me. At the instant
when he turned | struck him, and I'M
less he is different from the average Of
the race he will awake without any
recollection of the blow. He will
know that somebody dropped down
out of the garnet, but he won't know
who he was nor what he did"
"Then your danger lies in staying
with me-" said Ilorna, land in contin-
aratc, and you must pull off that COS
tune, though your own which you
have under it is nearly as BAD
st seems to me-" said Darrell, that
in one of these deserted farmhouses l
ought to find enough clothes to cover
me. The people didn't have much time
to move out. They must have left
nearly everything behind them. What
are your own plans If we separate"
Il shall strike across country to the
village of Botka, in which my mother
lives, replied Korna. II thought at first
that it would be safe place for her,
but our military operations have taken
a different line from what anticipated.
Besides, it is possible Prince Kilziar
would subject her and my relatives
there to persecution. So l shall go
there, and, having arranged for her
safety, l shall make my way to Vladi-
kaukas. We shall meet there, / trust
You should have no great difficulty in
getting through, for it is not far"
Can l be of use to you?" asked Dar-
rell. But Korna thought himself safer
alone.
There is road to the left about half
mile ahead" he said, land shall
take it. If Kilziar organizes hard
pursuit of me, it will take the straight
line for Vladikaukas. My detour will
hardly be suspected"
Good luck to you," said Darrell,
"and heaven grant that we may meet
in Nladikaukas. You say that the Prin-
cess Vera is there and that shall have
influence. If SO, you may count upon
it."
There is a house that looks promis-
ing" said Korna, pointing to one much
better than the ordinary. "If you will
take my advice, you will dismount,
hide your horse and get the best dis
guise that you can find. AS for the
road afterward, you cannot miss It,.
Goodby!
Darrell wheeled his horse out of the
highway and rode him around to the
rear of tie farmhouse, where he con-
cealed him In barn. Entering the
house, he found, as if placed there to
meet his need, n heap of clothing on
the floor of the main room. 1t was
there that the fleeing people had gath
cred their goods previous to the final
selection Of the things that they could
carry away. Fortunately, one of the
men of the household had been of large
stature, and his rude garments could
be put on over Darrelrs after the cloth
ing of the dead Turk had been discard
ed. With IL rough cap to pull down
over his brow the disguise was not bad.
1t was with great regret that he left
the horse behind, but prudence de-
manded it, for the animal was not fit
to outstrip pursuit and would surely be
recognized. Darrell set out afoot, fol-
lowing the highway. and he had not
gone far beyond the house when n
party of troopers swept up behind him.
Secure in his disguise, lie merely step
ped out of the road, making no effort to
conceal himself, and the troopers gave
him only II glance.
1t was upon the top of n hill that
they passed him. and half way down
the slope the road branched Off toward
Botka. For n long way beyond the
highway ran straight and was in view,
but the road to Botka plunged into a
wood. Evidently the horsemen were
suspicious because they could not see
the fugitives on the long stretch ahead
of them. They halted ut the branch
road, holding II brief consultation; then
one of them turned back and hailed
Darrell
1.-TWO men on horseback" he shout
ed-"one of them an officer. the other
in the dress of Il Turk"
Darrell stared and was silent, as If
failing to comprehend. The horsenan
had ridden up close beside him uHl in
Impotence struck at him with his
sheathed sword.
"One dressed something like the tall
man thcre"-and he pointed to the otfi-
Ger Of his own pnrty-'the other III q
red blouse with turban on his head"
"Oh, yes: saw Them" answered
Darrell in Il mumbling voice. II was
resting OH top of the hill. They rode
past"
(Which way, idiotY"
Straight on" said Darrell, pointing.
"They passed beyond the far hill just
as you came up. was watching them.
The dust is not settled yet, us you see."
A long way beyond the wind was
stirring the dust of the road. The
trooper saw 1t and was foolishly
pleased.
"True" he cried You are not such
fool as thought YOU"
He wheeled about and Joined his par
ty, and they all galloped away on the
road to Vladiliaukas, while one of the
men whom they sought sped away tic
the west and the other trudged along
behind them, Il little picture of the gen,
eral lot of humanity and the deceitful
guidance of fate.
For II matter Of three miles Darrell
walked on, encountering no obstacle
Then he became aware of the troopers
returning. They rode their tired horses
wildly. and rs they passed him, where
he lay hidden in some bushes by tho
roadside, he heard them exchanging