The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-07-24
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
BY JOHN FINNIMoRE. (copyright 1899, by S. S. Mcclure Coz

&SNr NNSAsS ahAANA = N"@h AAsN
land 1t sits in my mind as If pricked
out on a chart. 1 cannot claim n
merit In 1t, for it costs me no troubie.
1t is as natural to me $s to breathe or
to sleep.
AS / ran over my course, I saw that
the @ q Topped round like a bow, and
that l crossed the heath as If march
ing along the string, l should hit the
track a little before the thicket where
the Egyptian waylaid me.
The heath was dotted with huge
clumps of small trees and brushwood,
and 1 took q glance from behind each
one which lay in my path to be sure
that the country was clear before me.
AS l drew nearer to he point for
which l was making, l came down from
he saddle and led Whitesock, first
graSping her noStrils with my hand,
holding them shut for an instant, and
then caressing her a little. After this,
which she understands as we'll as II
she spoke the kings English and I
could converse with her, I flnew h
would not neigh or make the slightest
sound
Creeping thus, I reached a clump of
bra1lbles from which I judged the
track should be in sight. Nor was I
wrong. Peering cautiously through a
thin place, my eye raked a stretch Of
road, and there, credit me, was my
ASS plioi, udllSlllS d SaIdOdIlu OI1 liz
crown OF the causeway, while three
swarthy ruffians lay on the bank.
Two were lying idly, the third slapping
his leg n swapping his fingers in
time to the girls twinking feet and
flying petticoats.
A moving figure beyond caught my
Eye and I saw a fourth man come
round the bend n run nimbly toward
them. My glance was off the group for
barely a second, but when I looked
again the girl was alone. The runner
came up, spoke a few words to the
Egyptian, then vanished into the yer
and the scarlet figure flung itself on
the bank where her companions had
been lying.
Some three or four minutes
passed. then the bunch Of ponies
and travellers came in sight.
As they approached, the Egyptian
began to groan heartily, as one in sore
sickness or distress. T held my post
and watched, for I did not wish to in
terfere unless absolute need should
arise. Meanwhile the riders came on,
and the Egyptian groaned.
When they were close upon her, the
upon the ban feigned to be con-
scious for the first time Of their pres
ence. Half-raising herself, she held out
her arms with an imploring gesture,
then fell back. The ponies were stayed
opposite. and, at a word from one Of
the riders, the tall man with the car-
bine gave up the rein Of the led pony
and went to the Egyptian.
AS he came up to her she crouched
lower on the ground. He spoke to her,
and bent over her. With the speed Of
thought she turned and flung a slip
moose over his head. The rope, in
stantly tautened by an accomplish on
the other side Of the thicket, ran tight
about his neck, and with a strangling
cry he pitched forward on his face.
l sprang to the saddle. and, sword in
hand, drove Whitesock forward at the
gallop, for the e cry of distress had
been a signal for the four men to
spring from their ambush. and the lit
tie party was surrounded.
But as I rode forward, I shouted with
delight to see what had happened.
The two women at bay turned on their
attackers with all the courage Of Anna
IONS. One leaped from her pony and
flew to the fallen man, and I saw the
shine of a knife in her hands. With
n deft blow she severed the choking
cord, and before the Egyptian could
turn to escape, with a single swift turn
of the wrist slashed the decoy clean
across her naked bosom.
The Egyptian fled, screaming, the
flowing Of blood darkening her scar
let bodice. The other rider sat her
IoAS SSo0A GAAu ulSC1ldTSeu Two Dis
tolls at the foe. These We're 10Th fired
at the two men behind. who were the
nearer assailants.
The two in front, amazed to find
Whitesock sweeping down on them like
a t~hunderpolt. nevertheless lodged
nimbly to the n side, n swung their
hangers in readiness. Both eyed me
as cool as possible, one on either hand.
l saw their intention at once. Which
ever drew my stroke. the other would
leap in and endeavor to hamstring the
mare.
Now I had as lief they should ham
string me as Whitesock, and SO 1 feint
eo the left-hand rogue, who jumped
back, and then brought my sword
down like lightning on the right-hand
FELLOW as he sprang in. The blade took
MIN fairly across the skull, but his hat
was stlffened with some pieces Of met
al. for I felt the sword did not bite.
n force Of the blow drove him head
Ion to the ground, and his hanger fell
harmless.
I drew rein, and Whitesock came to
a stand within a yard of the ponies. I
looked round, but our fight was fought,
The footpads had not bargained for
this, and they fastened to beat a re-
Urea. Three Of them vanished at
once; one carried a couple of slugs in
mis- shoulder from the second pistol, the
fourth, whom I u down. regaining
his senses after a few moments and
staggering into the bushes.
At a nearer view, I saw the horse
women were both girls. That is to
say, the one with the bloody knife in
her hand certainly was; and the other
though h kept her face closely muf-
fled in the caps of her gray cloak, I
1udge to much of the same age. They
were cad In thick country homespun,
new INC warm. n looked like farm
er's daughters in their holiday attire.
are much indebted to you. sir"
said the one who had remand in he
saddle, in a low, clear, pleasant voice,
help" u
You are very welcome" said 7.
though indeed I think you are yerv
Gamble of defending yourselves"
I'VE mad shot out bolt, 1 fear," she
returned; and Siani's knife would
nave awaited but little against swords"
for myself, I looked upon Siani with
interest. She brought to mind the
Welsh of whom I had read in
the historics-the women whose long