The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-08-14
"Geoffrey Heathcote, ESQ.,
By JOHN FINNIMoRE. Copyright 1898, by 8. s. Mcclure Co.
By JOHN FINNIMoRE.

When we reached the top of the long
rise and came into the moonshine
again, I found to my JOY that the road
clean underfoot, and touched
Whitesock with my heel. She brooks
into her long, easy trot, the little pony
at her side stretching away at the gal
lop, and we went perhaps three miles
before we were checked again.
A little more picking Of the way, and.
on turning a corner, behold a light
shining, as from q easement, half a
mile ahead. It was the inn, and, as
the uncurtained window. In front of
a huge peat fire stood the dwarf, look
ing around with q spiteful smile upon
three or four frightened looking
try fellows, who were seated upon a
long settle.
AS I gazed, one Of them rose and
went toward the door. The dwarf
made a gesture, as II. ordering him
back, and the man returned and sat
down without dispute. There was no
sign Of the forms for which I looked,
but they might easily be elsewhere.
nor could I see n trace of the pike
men. My companion sprang from his
pony and ran eagerly into the house.
Upon the other side of the yard was an
open door, and, inside, a lantern dim
ly burning.
Without dismounting I turned
Whitesock toward it AMI thrust in my
head. It was the stable, empty but
for two ponies, and those, as saw at
a glance, larger than the animals for
which 7 was searching.
I drew the right hand hand rein and
r01o coft1p hooE tn tho iphW1v- HHJ
felt perfectly certain that the pikemen
were somewhere in front Of me with
their prey, and, after going gently for
a hundred yards over a soft, muddy
piece. I gave Whitesock her head.
For a single fields length from the
inn the land was, enclosed, then the
road was as usual, over open noun
tain, and here the smooth, springy
turf ran to the edge Of the way. Turn
ing Whitesock to the turf, away she
went at a gallop, her head down, her
big, keen, bright eyes watching every
yard of the path.
The moon was now well UP and
poured her rays almost like day
through the thin, clear, frosty air. ]
sat bolt upright in the saddle, left
searching out the road to the 1nare, and
kept a lookout in front and on either
hand.
I had gone thus for perhaps a mile,
when I fancied that I heard a faint
sound, as of a blinking hoof. I pulled
up at once and sat listening. It came
again, and clearer still, now that the
soft thud Of Whitesock's feet upon the
turf no longer filled my ear. But II
came from a point to the left Of the
road-from a direction where a sharp
ly rising hill thrust itself so far into
the sky thai the moon had only just
cleared 1t. the rim of the yellow disc
resting on the crown OF n ascent
Click, click, click! Certainly the
rattle Of ponies feet over a stony
patch, and now there rose straight w
against the noon a bunch of figures
They were in view a mere instant, JUS
as they crossed the ridge. 1t seemed
as if the hill thrust them in again.
never doubted for an instant who the,
were, and turned Whitsock up thu
rise, which she climbed with cas-.
stride. -
AS we neared the top OF the hill
sprang down and led her a little to on
side Of the stony patch which I say
shining white before us. The othe
i side Of the hill lay in full moonlight
and, peering over he crest, I foun,
myself gazing down q n gentl
slope, the dark patch Of moving figure
some distance away. I climbed int
the sadie again and went down upol
them at a swift canter. AS I drey
near I saw two ponies, each with a fa
male figure seated Upon 1t. one ragge'
pikeman walking between them hold
Ing a rein of each pony, the other tw
marching on either side.
With the advantage Of my horse an
I had but little ~uneasines
as to driving the rascals off. but, as
happened, the task turned out yer
simple. For they were singing, Q
rather chanting, a mournful. watlin
air as they marched, and I closed upo
them unnoticed. Whitesock moved q
lightly as a hare owe b. soft, spring
turf. The man on the right hand car
ried a pike on either shoulder, as hi
fellow between the ponies had bot
hands occupied. 7 therefore marke
the left hand pikeman, and drove tn
mare down on him at a swinging gal
lop.
before they turned their heads. The
raised a cry of triumph, thinking
doubtless, that I was the tall maj
their leader. The cry was hardly OF
Of their throats when Wh1tesoc
struck the pikeman like a thunder
bolt and hurled him a dozen yard
her knees, as h rose to the gallol
picking him clean off his feet. At
touch Of the rein she wheeled rount
but in that mere instant much ha
happened.
The fellow in the middle had droppe
the reins and leaped for his pike.
The captives had risen instantly
the situation and made a dash fc
freedom, and I turned to confront tw
sturdy fellows, their pixies ready fe
action, and to see the ponies scourfn
away to the right to regain the road.
i AS I had no fancy for pinking White
socfss satin coat upon those keenl
whetted points, I rode round them an
followed the retreating couple.
looked over my shoulder to find tx
spearmen bounding after me like grey
hounds, and the third man slowly gel
ting to his feet. I drew a pistol an
fired it owe their heads. They too
the hint and drew off at once. In thre
minutes I was up with the flying fig
ures.
.Do not press your animals tt
hard" I cried. "You are safe now,