The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-21

lialf-reared, and before they could be
separated, struck out with the fore
hoofs,
RUBY! Ruby! Shame, shame!" Pa
tricia cried, then solicitously to the
browns rider: Mrs. Loudon, I'm so
sorry Really, 1 deserve to be sent
home in disgrace. Do believe 1t is not
often Ruby and l are so ill-mtannered.
nope she did not brighten you. May l
get down and see if her heels did any
damage?"
Don't trouble yourself" Mrs. Lou
don said CURLY; then over her. shoulder
as she wheeled: My horse like his
rider, can take care of himself"
Rothwell was some little way of
still near enough to be cognizant OF
the disturbance. He came rapidly to-
ward Mrs. Loudon, his eyes anxious
lust then the pack caught scent again,
gave tongue and were barking forward.
After, still after, the riders went pell-
nell, out of the pine woods, down a lit
tie hill, then into a stretch of open
common. bare of everything save
starveling sedge and marsh weeds. be-
side the wet weather stream that cut
the spread of it in half. The stream
had Doggy banks-altogether ii made a
nasty Jump. Two horses alone got
over it clear, without scramhles, or the
mischances of strained girths. Rupy
the peerless, Cairngorm the wicked
The pack in full cry ran two hum
dred yards ahead-the mad dog
music set both hunters wild. Fast,
faster, faster they went, quicken1ng at
each stroke. stretching, straining, eye
ing each other emulously, though they
ran twenty yards apart.
Without another check the rest were
hoDelessly out Of it-even Jack Wish
keen halloo came but family to the
ear The common crossed, the chase
swept on through ploughland, stoutly
fenced and rising the least bit. Botn
horses took the boundary fence With
out checking, and together, going over
it, as by one impulse, but came TO the
inner fence, hundred yards on, win
Ruby leading a clear length. Patricia
gave a little gay triumphant shout as
her mare rose to the leap. and once
over set Ruby galloping slantwise the
dun burrows. The route was still up
hill-a gentle rise, but enough to show
the struggling pack line clear against
the crest Still It ran fast and true, CIV
ing tongue calamity, though the hot
pace was telling.
The scream of a horse. low ana
hoarse, made Patricia turn her mead
Cairngorm, mouth open, eyes rollins
was charging straight at her. His
rider bent forward lathering him with
the whip, urging the mad brute to
madden speed. AS she caught Patricia
eve she shouted menacingly, out OF
my way! Out, do you heari Your blood
on your own head unless you clear my
path!"
Patricia got white to the lips. but
her eyes darkened. her hand on the
rein did not shake. She knew Mrs.
I,oudon meant to ride her down, trust
ing to her horses superior weight Tor
her own safety. She should not do 1t
not if she herself and Ruby died for
it, In firm going Ruby could easily peat
the browr-but what of ploughlan1
where she SAINT fetlock deep at each
stride? Cairngorm, bigger, stouter.
with more driving power in quarters
and stiles, had a clear advantage
there. But Ruby had the fire and stay
and spirit Impulsively Patricia flung
her weight forward, lying almost prone
llpon the mares neck to whistle in her
ear. 1t was fine to feel Ruby answer
gallantly as she had been going. she
had something left for that desperate
call. She could not quicken stride-the
ploughland held too hard. But she
could and did lie down to it, stretching,
stomach to earth, in long greyhound
YOURS stubble.
Behind came the mad brown stall
lion still screaming, still dashed by a
madder rider. Dimly through red,
blurring mist she saw her prey, the
woman she hated: the woman who
had crossed her path: the woman she
yearned to mangle and trample out OF
recognition. Some such purpose, I'M
shaped, unavowed had been behind her
t. tab from quickly
while Rothwell taxed. Cairngorm's
temper would be excuse enough for
any accident-nothing but the bay mare
could live the pace with him-what so
natural therefore, as that the bay and
Ter rider should be his victims? 1t was
all coming around beautifully, better,
quicker than she had dared hope IN
the outset--there was risk to herself.
of course-but what was she not ready
to risk for vengeance on this inter-
loper?
Patricias heart sank as looking over
her shoulder she saw the brown had
gained-Ruby's lead now was less than
twenty yards. Patricia felt the labor
ings of her heart the spasmodic pant
ing breath. Suddenly the dog-music
fell to mad jangle-as suddenly the
pack went out of sight, then, all in IA
twinkle, again struggled into the field
of vision. Patricia wondered what II
meant-the ground in front, no longer
rising, seemed smooth and level. A
dull, distant roar. heavy and vibrant,
enlightened her-the chase had struck
the deep cut by which the railway
slipped through the ploughland.
Pack and quarry were safely over it.
No horse ever foaled of mare could
leap the cut, not even coming to it
fresh-how much less, then. blown, at
the end of a ringing run? Patricia
refined in so sharply she brought Ruby
to her launches, half turned in her
saddle and waved a warming crying:
Mrs. Loudon! Stop! Pull up! At
once! Hear the train comingl"
The dull roaring was louder, nearer
Mrs. Loudon's face blanched, but her
eyes held their deadly glitter. She tried
to pull up-to turn and ride down her
adversary; as we'll might she have
tried to rein fire in wind. Cairngorm
had the bit in his teeth-he was nc
more angry with Ruby, but full of
deadly rage against the rider who had
sfashed him so cruelty. He meant to
run and run until he found something
NW