The Lamar register., 1902-09-10

not coming. stay mere ana keep quiet
and I'll give you block of lots"
"You can't bribe me-" answered Pet
tibone; land you can't go out there
either"
The steely fash shot into Guys eyes
and the lines frightened at the corners
Of his mouth.
"You refuse to let me pass?" he de-
manded, as Pettibone stepped in front
of him.
"I certainly do. Everybody in Con-
cord wanted you locked up. because.
as they said, you were running the
chances of the town with your gad-
ding about. But I says: No. He's
young gentleman says l, and q pair
Of blue eyes have a fascination for
him. 1 says. III take him in tow and
watch him. I says, and see to it that
he doesn't communicate with the en-
smy, with that particular enemy 1
says. amy more Now, that's what
done, Herbert, and here you are.
first jump out of the box. trying to
get me into trouble. You don't go
out there. tell you fiat"
"And 1 tell you that l am going"
answered Guy. vehemently.
He made q spring TO the left with
the intention of darting past the
sheriff; but the latter was fully as
Quick and threw himself sideways,
catching Guys arm and clinging to
him like q lesch. Painting, the two
stood for o second and gazed at each
other.
"I don't wish 70 hurt you, Petit
bone" said Guy, in terse tone, but
/ assure you 1 am going out to talk
with Miss Vlandingham. I'll do moth
ing reasonable, promise you that.
Won't you take the word of a gentle
man7"
I'm not taking anybody's word
Just now" was Pettibone's obstinate
rejoinder. "Here you are and here
you'll stay"
"Then look out for yourself"
With these words Guy closed with
the sheriff. The young man had
splendid muscular development,
which his appearance in measure
belied. He was likewise the possessor
of fair amount of fistic science and
wrestling skill which his quiet de-
meanor and modest bearing were far
from suggesting. A knowledge of all
this was quickly made manifest to
Pettibone and the realization that he
had met more than his match was
about the last tangible thought he
had for several minutes. In u twink
ling he was neatly thrown, and. in
falling, his head came in contact with
n tree root, SO that he was stunned
and his hold on Guy relaxed. After
contracting strongly. his limbs were
flung out with u jerk and he closed
his eyes and lay motionless.
Guy was alarmed at first, but when
he had pressed the tips of his fingers
through Pettibone's thick hair, and
felt the skull at the point where it
had come in contact with the root,
his apprehension vanished. There
was nothing to worry over and the
sheriff would be himself again very
shortly. Removing Pettibone's coat.
Guy wrapped it up compactly ant
placed it under his head; then hi
hurried to the buggy. and secured ths
halter rope that was under the seat
Coming back, he tied the sheriff's
hands behind him with one end of the
halter and secured the other enc
about the tree beside whose trunk the
sheriff had fallen.
He worked rapidly, only q few min
utes elapsing between his attack upor
Pettibone and his final work with the
halter. Without waiting an instant
Guy pushed through the intervening
thicket and started down the grassy
descent toward the carriage.
her pretty face had just frightened
the lines with one of her gloved hands
and taken the whip from it's socket
with the other, when she saw Guy ap
proaching. The vexed look faded intt
dazzling smile.
well, truant," cried Miss Betty
did you remain away purposely ts
punish us for being later"
His clothing was somewhat disar
ranged and a wondering light cemt
Into her eyes as she gazed at him. Mis-,
Pinkney was rs reserved as usual nj
though she smiled in friendly spirit
and evidently partook of her compan
ions curiosity.
"I came as quickly as I could, Mis-,
Vlandingham," answered Guy, set
thing his collar and arranging hi
scarf. "Please pardon my disorderet
appenrnnce-it could not be helped.
"You did not walk all the way her
from Concord, did your" she queried
"No. The horse and buggy tina
brought me are over there among tn
trees. Your appointment was for fou
o'clock, If l remember"
ayes. and I would have been her
punctually but for Lois. She misun
derstood that part of our programme
and was late in getting to our hous
to accompany me. But here we are, a
last, and II we have not entirely ez