The Iola register., 1902-07-18

work today. We are both dead men il
we are caught"
"As for you, doubt it," replied Oar
ren. 1T is one thing for Kilziar to
murder you when his blood is up, and
when he sees reasonable chance TO
make the crime seem the work of an
other, but you are too prominent an
officer to be butchered in open daylight.
He would put you under arrest and
hold you for court martial. AS for
me, he didn't see me. At the instant
when he turned struck him, and un-
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 garret, but he won't know
who he was nor what he did"
"Then your danger lies In staying
with me-" said Korna, "and in contin-
uing to wear that dress. We must sep
arate, and you must pull off that cos
tune, though your own which you
have under it is nearly as bad"
at seems to me-" said Darrell, that
In one of these deserted farmhouses /
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|
81 shall strike across country TO the
village of Botka. in which my mother
lives" replied Korna. II thought at first
that 1t would be safe place for her
but our military operations have taken
a different line from what anticipated.
Besides, il is possible Prince Kilziar
would subject her and my relatives
there to persecution. So | shall go
there, and, having arranged for her
safety, shall make my way to Vladi-
kaukas. We shall meet there, i trust.
You should have no great difficulty In
getting through. for it is not far"
"Can be Of use to your asked Oar
reIl. But Korna thought himself safer
alone.
"There Is n road to the left about hall
a mile ahead" he said, land | shall
take 1t. If Kilziar organizes n 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 mee'
in VladkaukaS. lou say that the Prin
cess Vera is there and that shall have
influence. If so, you may count upoI
It."
"There Is a house that looks promis
Ing" said Korna pointing 10 one mucl
better than the ordinary. "lf you viii
take my advice, you will dismount
hide your horse and get the best dis
Euise that you can find. AS for tn
road afterward, you cannot miss II
Goodbyp
Darrell wheeled his horse out Of the
highway and rode him around TO the
rear of the farmhouse, where he con
cealed him in n barn. Entering The
house, he found, as if placed there tC
meet his need, heap Of clothing oI
the floor of the main room. 1t was
there that the fleeing people had gath
cred their goods previous to the hna
selection of the things that they coulC
carry away Fortunately, one Of tht
men of the household had been Of larg,
stature, and his rude garments coult
be put on over Darrells after the cloth
ing of the dead Turk had been discard
ed. with n rough cap to pull dow
over his brow the disguise was not bad
1t was with great regret that he lel
ahe horse behind, but prudence dc
manded II, for the animal was not II
to outstrlp pursuit and would surely b
recognized. Darrell set out afoot fol
lowing the highway, and he had no
gone far, beyond the house when
party of troopers swept up behind hin
Secure in his disguise, he merely steI
ped out Of the road making no effort
conceal himself, and the troopers CAV
him only glance.
1t was upon the top of hill tha
they passed him, and half way dow
the slope the road branched of towar
Botka. For a long way beyond IL
highway ran straight and was In vieN
but the road to Botka plunged into
wood. Evidently the horsemen wei
suspicious because they could not 81
the fugitiyes on the long stretch ahea
of them. They halted at the branC
road. holding brief consultation; the
one of them turned back and halle
Darrell.
'sTwo men on horseback" he shou
ed-"One Of them an ohcer' the otn
In the dress of Turk"
Darrell stared and was silent as
failing to comprehend The horsemi
had ridden up close beside him and
impatience struck at him with L
sheathed sword.
zone dressed something like the u
man there"-and he pointed to the OF
cor Of his own party-"the other IN
red blouse with turban on his heae