Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-24

FROM the Dig meadow the trace ran
south straight aud almost level for ten
miles. Then 1t branched. one fork
leading into the foothills that twenty
miles farther on were mountains, the
other keeping we'll to the plains DAM
sci whickered three times, turning her
head now this way. now that. listened
a breath's space, snorted, then struck
into trot and went due south. An
owl flew across the way, a little higher
than Johnny's head, hooting loudly. its
eyes showing fiery in the dusk. In the
dark woods. either hand. there were
long CLEANS of fox fire. Mists rose
white from the damp places, crickets
shrilled, and whippoorwills sent out
their weird crying.
Johnny was supersttious. He had
no fear whatever of Lucas Robin. but
the owl, the fox fire. the wh:ppoorwill
daunted him. He was about to turn
back, but as he pondered 1t choice left
him. Behind MIN. through the starlit
dusk, there sounded the thunder of 200
hoofs. following new leader to seek
out the old. Damsel was galloping
easily. AS she caught the noise behind
she swung into dead run. johnny
could do nothing but sit still, keep her
head up ard let her run. The drove
was in mad stampede. II he tried to
turn back it would trample him.
On, on they flew. mile after mile, yet
still the weighted racer led the I'M
weighted ones. In that free course, as
upon all others. blood told. Before
half of it was past only the pick Of the
drove ran hot upon the young mares
heels Johnny sat far forward His
terrors had left him. He had caught
the spirit Of the race and was ready
for any fate Once when he heard
lone cock crow faint and far off he an.
swered with quavering yell. Once.
too. a fox barked, and he Knocked 1t
with a shriller bay. Damsel swerved
little as she heard the crying. Thus
gray Glider ran up to her and even got
half length In front Johnny flung
himself prone along her neck and
shouted in her ear, shrill, sweet, half
articulate. maddeningly clear. shs
knew the cab ana answered 1t gallant.
~. In three bounds she was clear OF
the gray, running strong and free, as
though she never meant to stop.
hundred yards farther on she neighed
toyously. Johnny's heart came in his
mouth, for down wind. low and keen,
he heard an answering neigh.
He was coming UP with the thief.
with Lightly. What should he. what
could he, do? he had clasp knife in
his belt. Otherwise he was unarmed.
Still he did not despair. II the man
led Lightly instead of riding her she
would break from him and come back
to the drove when she heard Johnny's
call. Then he must mount her and ride
for It. She would run for him as for
nobody else in the world. White Foot,
the tagged chestnut, would never catch
her. OF course there was the chance
that Lucas Robin might shoot-maybe
that was what the owl and the fox fire
and the whippoorwill had meant-but
1t was too late now to change any
thing Doggedly he rode on. conscious
of nothing but that he meant to save
the horses because, In way, they be-
longed to Miss Alice.
Dawn broke red and clear. The wind
freshened. Suddenly bullet sang
past, missing Johnny's head bare
inch. 1t came from the roadside. In
the strengthening light he could dis.