The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-11-06


harbor any dream in his mind that
to him aught could accrue from any
aid he might give to the girl whose
gracious loneliness had grown to be
so much to him. He was filled with
the pure Joy Of serving. That alone
impelled him.
At length the forest grew thinner,
and he saw before him the open field
and beyond it the Blue Creek road.
AS he emerged from the trees he dis.
covered that short distance from
the dip the highway took sharp
turn, so that in reality he had but
few rods of it in view. He had
traversed perhaps half of the stretch
of pasture when he deserted a horse
and buggy rounding the bend. Was
it Mr.. Merton and his niece? An in
slant, and he knew it was, and Mr..
Merton was driving rapidly. Rossiter
set up a shout and began waving his
cap, but evidently the noise of the
wheels drowned his cries. and against
the dark background of trees skirting
the glen his figure was not seen, for
the occupants of the carriage did not
appear to be looking toward him, and
there was no di1ninution in the speed
of the horse. He redoubled his shouts,
and yet without effect. Then it &C.
Cured to him that his proximity to
the fence and foliage might be the
cause of his not being noticed, and he
ran obliquely into the field, swinging
his arms. Just as the horse reached
the crest of the dip he fancied Miss
Densmore observed him, but he. was
not sure, for a moment later the
buggy disappeared.
He did not slacken his speed, but
raced on over the springy turf, his
ear alert to catch the first sounds of
struggle. A confusion of shouts
came to him as he drew near the
fence separating the pasture from the
road. He put his hands upon the top
rail and went over with a bound. AL
most before his feet touched ground
he was conscious of what was going
on in the dip below him. Mr.. Mer-
tons horse was rearing and plunging
in the grasp of one man, while Mr..
Merton was flashing savagely with
his whip at two others who
were attacking him from opposite
sides of the buggy. Of Miss Dens-
more, Rossiter could see nothing, but
he surmised, and rightly, that she was
crouching half upon the seat and half
upon the bottom of the vehicle to give
her uncle freer play with his whip.
With an Indian-like yell Rossiter
dashed down into the dip. Already
enc of the -''Whiskers''-hadM Mr..
Merton in his grasp. He seemed not
to heed the shout, but the other,
Simpson, turned his head, and seeing
who it was stepped back a pace.
.'Whiskers'" attention was thus at
tracted, and he too recognizing Rossi-
ter ripped out a terrible oath.
Tackle him. tackle him, you dunn
my! I'll tend to the old gent" he
added.
He had not relaxed his ferocious
grip on Mr.. Merton, and Rossiter saw
that Miriam's father was in imminent
danger of being dragged from the
carriage. His whip had slipped to the
ground, and the reins would have
fallen beneath the heels of the horse
had not Miss Densmore OPPORTUNITY
seized them. Rossiter eluded Simp-
sons clumsy attempt to grasp him,
and sprang to Mr.. Merton's aid, thus
forcing "Whiskers" for an instant to
release his hold. If he could keep
them at bay until Parmelee arrived all
would be WELL He danced out OF
reach along the edge of the embank-
ment after he had fetched "Whis-
kers" singing buffet, Simpson close
after him..
ITO Be Continued