Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-07-23
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
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BY JOHN FINNIMORE Copyright BY co.,
BY JOHN FINNIMoRE.
CHAPTER /.
HOW ITARED ON THE ROAD.

HOW l JARED ON THE ROAD
| On the 9th OF February last l rod,
out of Knighton. on the borders o
, Salop and Radnor, towards Rhayader
On the further side of Radnorshire.
was not greatly apprehensive OF pur
suit. for, on leaving Butley Croft IL
| Worcester, had ridden northeas
nearly as far as Shrewsbury, then hat
turned and run back almost parable
on my track, making the last part o
my journey chiefly by night. and fol
lowing unfrequented roads.
l was now making directly across tn.
borders and heading for the heart o
Wales, where l had an expectation. O
finding sure refuge. Soon after en-
tertng upon road which / was TOLD
would lead me direct to the town o.
Rhayader, 1t became very rough ane
uneven. rising and falling over small.
sr hills. while far before me. low ant
purple, rose loftier mountains. I trav-
eled at moderate pace, for l was de-
sirous OF sparing my GOOD mare White.
sock. she being unaccustomed to sucl
roads underfoot. and her comfort q!
dear to me as my own.
Near midday for the sun was hard
ly at the zenith, I came to a small inn
where several roads met. Hsre rest
ed a couple of hours, baited my mare
and refreshed myself. though with ne
great relish, for the bread was dirty
and showed signs that the mice hae
had the run of the flour sack, and the
rest OF the provender was to match.
In the afternoon I entered on {
stretch of rolling country, mostly heath
and furze, the road mere track, split.
ting into a dozen where there was
bad patch to cross, and every traveller
had followed his own Judgment.
Up to this point the way had beer
quite solitary. but on breasting gentle
rise saw, some half-lmile In front, anc
ascending the next slope. n tiny caval.
eade--two women riding on ponies, &
led pony and man on foot. They
We're going at walk, and 1 refined II
to walk also. Perhaps these people
would turn aside soon and leave me
the road to myself. But Just as the,
reached the crest of the hill something
frightened the led pony. Making 6
bound like cat, the active little crea-
ture tore the halter from the hand OF
the man who was leading 1T, turned ane
came down the hill like IA greyhound
the heavy saddlebags with which Il
was loaded humping and fappins
against its sides. and Increasing at once
Its terror and its speed
The two women wheeled their ponie.
and gave instant chase. But the frgi-
tive had less to carry and good start
and Showed them clean pair of heels
1 resolved to stop 1T as 1T came up TIL,
hill, where the ascent would blow it
but In the bottom 1t turned to the ope1
aeath and fled whinnying with deligh
over the turf.
Touching Whitesock with my heel
rode at an ;.ngle with Its course, anf
was soon up with 1T. but it was ne
easy thing TO catch. 1t lodged, twist
ed, doubled like hare, showed "a,
many tricks as fox. and finally, see.
Ing there was no escape, trotted back
to the nearer rider as if 1t had beer
tame lamb.
I knew the nature of the little beas
well. 1t was not the first time by man,
that l had seen the wonderful cunnins
and cleverness OF a Welsh mountain
pony, for every spring the dealers come
with droves of them to our marle1
town. The nearer. horsewofnan nov
gave me volley of words which
proved pure Hebrew to me, showing
at the same time her white teeth I'm !
broad smile which shone all over hel
freckled fee.
1t was clearly the Welsh tongue
which She was speaking, and as I had
no Welsh to answer her, 1 could bu1
nod and smile back. When she saw
that had not her language, she said
Wei, thank you, indeed" but 80 odd.
~ and stiffly was 1t spoken that 1 hat
much pains to recognize the familia,
WORDS made her a proper reply, Their
cantered back to the highway
The second rider had taken a some.
what different direction, and / did mo-
approach her Az 1 regained the road
the man fastened up-a queer, tall ole
Fellow, clad in well-worn greasy home.
spun and carrying long carbine owe,
his shoulder. The sight OF this weanor
brought to mind what had heart
ABOUT the disturbed condition OF thi,
part OF the country, and, as I rode
sloWly up the hill. | drew the charge.
1rom my pistols. and reloaded them.
For some two or three miles the wa,
remained solitary then, at q turn o.
the road, where 1t wound among thick.
cts OF hazel and bramble and holly
was accosted by Il young womn,
standing in the middle of the tracl,
Whttesock was walking. for the Roln.
was very bad. and as l came slowl,
through the slough to the dry spo
where the young woman stood, the lat.
ter rolled her big black eyes at m,
fogu1shly and smiled and kissed he,
hand,
she Wss strapping lass Of 20, may.
be, In bright red petticoat and bodice
the latter leaving her bosom half bare
by her appearance I Judged her to b.
an Egyptian. -
Noble captain" said she, with %
ressing smile, II am country maid
living about five miles beyond here.
nave walked long way and an
weary. Won't you--Oh, won't you talk,
me up behind You and carry me a littl,
distance on my road2"
l eyed her warily, to be sure that sht
was a woman, for queer things Otter
nefall lonely travellers in these unset
tied days But a woman Sic was, ant
one also who thought that her smil,
and bright eye had pleaded her caus,
Wen with me. She took my silence fol
consent and advanced to lay her hane
on the pommel. Whitesock received ;
hint, given SO that no one might OBJ
serve it. but which she well under
stood, and she sprang half-a-doze,
rect sideways from the scarlet figure
Have care, my GIRL" SAL I, 'l1ov
you approach my mare. should no
wish to see you suffer, either by he,
teeth or HEELS"
she is one of that sort. is she?' sait
the Egyptian. We'll, noble captain
stay with me and We'll walk gently to-
gether. and beguile our way with pleas
ant speech"
We had now gained the hard road
and gave another secret sign to IN,
good mare, who broke at once Into 1
hard gallop. was anxious to be clea,
of the thicket, for knew very wei
she was not alone, and that some plal
had gone amiss l was we'll assured b,
the foul curses and outcries which thu
pretended simple country lass. poured
after me. I had gone mile again
when a thought flashed into my mind
instantly flashing through my rein, ane
bringing Whitesock to q stand
What Of the travellers whose pom,
L had stopped?
What force was with the Egyptian
To this day l can never understand
what power it was that drew my reil