Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30

i ei Nolner. L am not sure OF your
truth, strangers. Men are often rob.
bed at Ontro; it is fact. But the rob.
bers are not, as rule, young and
handsome fellows like this. Come
/ We will examine his wound. and if he
is not dead we will take him to the
house."
For what?" demanded yandal
Does he not belong to u.s."
"Not exactly" said yolner, with a
laugh. Under the wise rule of ou1
beloved prince, that thing is settled
A chase, wounded even in the Green
forest, if it runs or flies to occupied
ground, belongs to the tenant or owner
of, that ground. Had this young man
been a wild pig or q deer or a goose
1t would now belong to me. l shall APP.
ply the rule to this young man."
Il protest. He robbed us. We are
French gentlemen. We claim him."
Gentlemen, if he is dead you may
have him. If he is but wounded he
shall have a chance to tell his story
as my name is Volner."
"Volner! Your name Volner?'
"My name is Sester yolner at your
service"
This information seemed to disquiet
! Nandal considerably.
| Without noticing the effect of his
name on the Frenchman, which, in
deed, he could not see without con-
spicuous use of the lantern, Volner
bent down and lifted the wounded man
in his powerful arms.
"We will get him to the top, where
we can examine him." he said.
10 Volner that burden was as moth
ing. The lantern was carried by Deb
bisk in such a manner as to throw it's
CLEANS ahead. Volner led the way.
Then came Debbisk and his partner,
both employees of Volner.
Then followed the three discounted
Frenchmen, who had, by the unfortu-
nate claim of Vandal that they had
come from Paris to trace Buckford,
lost the opportunity of posing as the
| invited guests of Casparin
Up the steep bank toiled VoIner
Buckford uttered groan.
"GoodT said Debbisk. Gle is not
oCud. 4uduA SIOu lOE
Curse that Americana whispered
| Vandal to Reber. Gle cannot be kill
ed, it seems. If that fool gets him to
his house and brings him back to con-
seriousness, he will tell the whole story.
Not only will the plot of our friend be
defeated, but undoubtedly we shall be
pursued and shot,
Syoc Man ntar1 ALLEGED
is better than thatw whispered Reber
in alright.
"Then do you and Robello stand by
me now! None of your cowardice.
Stick to me like men now, and we will
get the youngster away and finish him.
Now, at the word, fire into the backs of
these two fellows. After that the old
man. One, two, three"
Fortunately for Debbisk, Reber, the
immortal blunderer, clicked his revoly-
er full minute before it was to be
time to fire. Like flask the two young
farmers had turned. and two heavy
clubs descended with terrific force on
the skulls of Reber and Robello. Re.
Der sank to the ground with a gasp.
While Robello, less injured, staggered,
felt his head and then fired at his as
sailant. At the same moment Yandal
fred into the face of Debbisk.
Heavens! What is this?" roared
Farmer Volner, dropping his grooming
burden and springing into the fray.
He came none too soon, for Debbisk
was lying on the ground, his compan-
ion was in the grasp Of Robello and
the recovered Reber, and Vandal was
drawing knife to spring upon him.
With q mighty oath the enraged
farmer hurled his ponderous body on
Vandal and sent him headlong to the
bottom Of the ravine. He then grab
bed both Reber and Robello and crack
ed their heads together till the two
skulls almost split from front to rear.
Hurting them from him, he quickly
made sure his workman was not hurt
and swore Justify again.
"Can you manage Debbisk" he ask
ed. 1--WE must get these two wounded
ones to the house and come back for
those rascals. Thief! / know who the
thieves are now!'
The two men struggled out of the ra-
vine. Buckford was carried easily by
tolner. Debbisk, however, who was
heavy man, was half dragged and
half carried by his associate.
In this way the party traversed a
field, struck again into the farm path
they had quit at the sound Of the pis-