The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-01-14

lated. I quickened a little, and then {
.iittle again, and now / was doing all Il
could. Had / been half a mile away.
50 that one Wild squirt would carry me
in, I could nave gone faster, but as
matters stood I dared attempt no more.
The road gently rose and dipped n c
again.. / hung g. trife on the hill and
let myself out on the succeeding slope,
then came a long strip over d dead
level.
At the end of this l glanced back.
Sir John was now the hindmost, and
the leading horsenan had drawn terri
bly, near. The shining breastplate
marked the officer. wso had outridden
his companion. He was mounted on a
tall white horse, and rocked easily in
the saddle as he was borne swiftly on.
The road ran squarely across the
healthy swells which marked this coun-
tryside. and now another slope lay be-
fore me. It was white as snow in the
sun, being deeply strewn with bright
quartz sand.
This made It dreadful travelling, but
| was a distinct gamer, for along the
side OF the road ran a narrow bank
with q smooth, grassy top. I bounded
up this. and went along as fast as be-
fore. while the deep clogging sand must
check the horse. 1t did SO, for when
the bright figure OF my pursuer cleared
iie l.St dDCSE the SlnG i naQ improved
my cad considerably.
I began now to calculate. az a mat
ter almost OF pure Indifference to my
self. how far ! should get before L was
caught. Fol that the latter was GER
tain l knew very well. I was not such
q novice In the understanding Of the
powers OF a good herse as to buoy my
self up with vain hopes OF escape; nor
did l give way an inch. There Is al
f-n wa H. = 10 - 1,r a 49,
now had my first piece of i'll luck. a
stretch OF rough, pebbly road; I escaped
without Gripping but henceforsh left
q stain of blood wherever / set my foot.
It was about thia time that / began to
feel that the strain of my first burst
was rapidly eating into my strength.
Almost unconsciously ths creeping
up of my purguer had driven me 10 a
speed which it was impossible long to
maintain; my breath began to come IN
fierce pants, the sweat rau into my
eyes, hot and snarting, and into my
mouth. and tasted bitter on my parcned
tongue. Soon | was driving myself
uasparingly, though every nerve Inc
muscle began to crave for rest.
I still had ON strength. and 1 kept
1t to Its task. When I could not move
another step, then I would stop, not
until. My clothes were drenched with
~ 49, otbe ~ iihS ~
bands, about my body and limbs: my
heart thumped my ribs like J. hammer;
with every swift rush OF blood from 1t
my head seemed to sway and my body
to heave, yet I do not think I ran much
slower than my best.
I had no need now to tuEal my head.
The steady thud OF the pursuing hoofs
came easily to my ear. All sorts of odd
fancte5 swept acroSs ms mind; among
them that | was pursued by Death On
a pale horse. and I seemed to see a
grinnins skull under the bright steel
cap, and feshless hugers clasped about
the h!!t OF the shining sword.
Another wide dimple of the rolling
country opened out before me and I
saw a clump Of hurryins mounted peo-
pie riding over tho far ridge.
I knew them not, indeed. My eyes
were now SO misty that I made them
out but indisttnctly, yet a desire to find
myself among them and iTnplore their
protection sprung UP and fickered In
my heart. Every fiber Of my body was
now crying out against the grinding
torture / was enduring; my feet, from
which the stockings had long been
torn, We're raw and bloody; I rocked
and swayed an ! ran. yet was resolved
upon reaching those people. and I bah
bled to myself thnI I would do SO as
I made what speed vas left in me.
! was failing fast. and the white
horse swept closer and closer. Sudden
ly l saw q single rider darting toward
me from the oncoming group Scales
seemed to fall from my eyes and l
knew horse and rider. Whitesock was
flying like an arrow, and Enid sat high
on the saddle, her hand outst--tched,
as If to hold back the swift pursuit nosY
laundering at my heels.
/ heard the hoarse voice of the officer
calling on me to stop. 1t seemed as
IL 1t came from the sky, and l turned
my head to see him towering above me.
/ know not what wandering impulse
of resistance caused me to draw my
knife, but l did, and at once his great
horse seemed to leap at me like a huge
beast of prey. ! saw his flashing sword
swing UP, and raised my feeble knife
to ward the coming blow; the weapon
described a great, cleaning arc IN the
sunlight and descended with terrible
force, beating down my poor guard, /
and stretching me along the turf.
Had he used the edge I had never
written this story, but. his only object
being to capture me-. he had given me
the fiat of his sword. and I was no
more than bruised. AS In a dream /
saw Enid slide swiftly from the mare
and run to me. her hands outstretched.
/ made shift to smile as she flung her
49, NSN'th N2A& ltlt- AlAt Oh LsNC dts flQEHt
hurt. Then up dashed Jack Locking
Jack Locking, OF all men In the world,
and began to speak earnestly with the
officer.
Sheer rest, mere LYNX stu. after that
terrible spin, seemed an exquisite de-
light, though every muscle was strain
ed and aching. Enid held me close, and
/ slept from exhaustion or be-
came unconscious I n say, but L
lost sense OF my surroundings for a
When / came to myself again !
some time must have passed. for Sir
John and his son had arrived, and Jack
Locking was ~declair1ling against them
at The top OF his voice.
"Narrarts.." cried Jack, In grandest
waste paper. Sir John, waste
give them their proper name. I
I not tell We that George Monk has
declared in LoEdorf for the king. Your /
day Is over fe2 ever. The whole oun
Try is In an uproar Of JOY as fast as the
news spreads, ] am the first man out
of Oxford with II, this way. Just after
l got into Bailey in comes the landlord
from yonder house. ind we knew where
was. / warrant we we were not