Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-28

Tarleton, who lay five miles nearer
Laurens than her fathers plantation.
She would be outwitted, defeated of
her purpose, after ALL and she began to
sob as she buried Princess on.
Faster faster!' she cried and leaned
forward and patted the animal on the
neck, then lurched violently to one side
and barely saved herself from a fall,
for Princess had slipped in one Of the
| pools that dotted the road, and when
Dulcine had pulled her up and encour-
| aged her she went forward again, but
limping sorely.
All hope Of haste was now over and
so for half an hour they plodded pain
fully forward. At this rate it would
be wide eyed day before she reached
the camp at LauTens. and by that time
the work of death would be done. The
sobs were again in her throat, the mis-
cry Juggling at her heart, when final
disaster befell her, for. tYeacherous
root turning under Princess foot, she
houndered and went down with a
scream Of pain as near like the huma '
voice as Gods dumb creatures ever at
tain. In moment Dulcine had cleared
her skirt and was at the animals head,
plying, coating, pettmg. But Princess
could not rise. A shaft Of young moon
light piercing the LEAKAGE above showed
the eyes wide, open with pain and mute
appeal. The girl put her arms around
the creatures neck, sobbing hystericai-
| ~. Her only means Of carrying her
warning to the doomed patriots was
gone. and she had probably killed the
horse that was as comrade to her.
Tenderly by the faint light she
Strengthened cut the crumpled leg and
loosened the girth, pulling the saddle
away by main force that 1t might not
add to the animals discomfort. Then
| she knelt moment with her hand fon-
ding the satiny neck in farewell. for
in her mind was no other thought but
that she must continue her journey on
foot. Perchance she might meet some
one to speed a message for her.
But suddenly she stood up, breath
less, shaking, for out OF the shadows
through which she had ridden horse
man was coming. was even now so
close upon her that she had barely time
to slip into the bushes by the roadside
before he halted, warned by whinny
from Princess herself that. an obstacle
was In the road. He sprang to the
ground and came into the rift Of light,
and the heart Of the hidden girl gave a
great bound, for 1t was Peter La Brun.
He had not. then. gone back to send
the alarm to Tarleton, and there might
yet be time to save the camp ii only
she could get away.
"Ahw La Brun had struck light
from his finder box and was leaning
over the PROSTATE horse. So it's you,
Princess! Your mistress must have got
ahead, SO my quest is safe" And,
thinking thus, he stopped to examine
the horse, unmindful that his own
steed had strayed back few yards
down the road to pool Of water that
lay like leaden mirror close to the
underbrush.
But the girl in her covert saw, and a
sudden daring purpose leaped to life
within her. On Peters own horse
would she carry her warning to Mari
on and Robert Crenshaw. Stealthily
she followed the creatu0 to the pool,
and when 1t put down its head to drink
she seized the rein and by sheer force
Of desperation swung herself up to the
big saddle and gathered the bride
taut. A bold dash would carry her past
La Brun, and her mission would be
sped.
STAND, Sultanw cried the crouching
man over his shoulder. thinking all the
noise came from his horse. But Sultan
obeyed the whip on his flank and start
ed forward. There was thrill of So
tirical gir1ish laughter on the afr,
white throat scarf strenmed, meteorlike,
through the dusk, and La Brun knew
what had happened. Not moment did
he hesitate. but with spring like
some agile footed tenant OF the jungle
he caught the flying bit as the horse
passed him and held to it in spite of
the blows the girl rained upon him.
and Sultan, knowing his masters
voice, hesitated. With whip and voice
the girl urged him on furiously. She
had been 20 self confident. SO sure OF
success, moment ago!
Hold or shoot the horse under
your Numbered the man. reaching for
his pistol with one hand. And she knew
he would keep his word.
With this horse dead there would be
absolutely no hope for the patriot
camp, for she knew that La Brun
would never permit her to proceed on
foot. She slackened rein to parley
with him. command and entreay. al
ternatlng oddly in her voice:
"Peter La Brun, for the sake Of those
men yonder In Marion's camp. the
playmates Of your childhood. the
friends Of your youth. put up your pis-
tol and let me pass"
II will not"
"Do 1t then because Of the manhood
that Is IN you"
Never"
"Then because Of my weaker woman
hoodv' In her tones now was only the
intensity Of entreaty.
NO"
"out-out of the love you bear mer'
mo"
Then despair made her desperate.
Beyond the murmurous branches the
sky was losing its inkiness. Not mo-