Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-04-06


FIVE minutes. ere the gatehouse lights
broke out ahead, dots of dim yellow
dancing through the dust. Now we
were galloping straight into the eye of
! the great brass lanthOrn set above the
guardhouse. There came far call in
! the darkness, shadow crossed the
] lamplit glare, then / turned in my
saddle and shouted, Draw bridle!'
/ and our four horses came clashing in d
huddle with hollow yolley of hoof-
/ beats.
Road closed for the night said a
sentinel. walking toward us from the
darkness ahead. cap, buckle and but
tons glittering in the lamplight.
"a post chaise passed five minutes
ahead of u.s." began Mount angrily.
Tut tut. my good fellow" said the
sentry. That's none O. your business.
Back up therer'
IL wish TO see Mr.. Bevan,' said I.
scarce able to speak.
"Mr. Bevan's gone home TO bed" said
the soldier impatiently. HE passed
that other post chaise at gallop or 1t
would have been here yet, l warrant
you. Come, come, now! You know
the law. Clear the road, now! Turn
pour leaders, postboy. Back up! Dye
hearT'
Il tell you I've got to passv' per-
sisted.
IF You move I'll shootr' he retorted.
Then without turning his head he
bawled out; "Ho, sergeant o. the quar-
ter guard Post No. IT,
"Drive over him. | shouted, lashing
at the horses. There was a jolt an
GproaK rush of frantic horses. c
bright fash and report. Then wheel
caught the soldier and pitched him
reeling into the darkness.
''Look outv' called Mount from his
| front seat on the chaise. THE toll
| gates right ahead! There's a camp
guard due there at midnight! Out with
your coach lampsw
and blew out the lights. Darkness hid
even the horses from our sight
"Cut the piker' cried Mount sudden
ly. I'VE save six miles by the old
williamsburg post roadl Turn out.
! Turn outy'
Far ahead the tollgate lamp twin
| killed. through the dust. | signaled to
Renard and dragged the horses into
q trot, straining my eyes for the branch
road we had seen that morning
could see nothing
by heaven, the guard is gone!
There's only sentry thereg' said
Mount suddenly. when | call. ride
up to me. Hark for a whippoorwilif'
| He vanished In the darkness. !
waited, scarcely breathing.
HE won't kill him." whispered the
Weasel. you will see. Mr.. Cardigan.
how it's done. He'll get behind him
patience, patience psf -there,''
| A stihed cry, suddenly choked. came
out OF the night
"Wipppoorwill! whippoorwillv' throb-
bed the whimpering, GREATNESS call
across the meadow. The Weasel an
swered 1t, and we trotted on until q
dark shape rose up in the road and
caught at the leaders. drawing them to
| standstill.
Mother firelock," said Mount, shov-
ing the weapon into the chaise and go
Ing back to the horses. Here's the
post road. I'll guide you into it,"
And he started east through wall Of
shadow.
where's the sentryy whispered
| Renard.
| I'm the ditch. with his coat tied over
his head and my new banker In his
mouth"
| Mount halted the horses. shemuel
struck flint to finder and came around
to light the coach lamps. Under their
kindling radiance dusty road spread
away in front OF as. Mount unlocked
z lighted coach lamp and went for
ward. holding the light close to the
road surface. Several times he squat
ted to look close into the dust
| Presently he turned and ran back to
US. set the lamp III its socket, locked
the clamp and sprang into his seat
They've taken the turnptkeg' cried
Mount cheerily. We've rot them by
half an hour or III eat. my coonskin
capr'
Away We boltsd. chaise swayins.
lamps sweeping the dusty roadside
bushes, and the eallop Increased to 4
dead run - W whlrIsd down an IN
cline and out along Z broad. Dat.
marshy Rad. Whoro ths jolting lamps
dashed on The surface Of swift
stream keeping pace WIN - through
he night.
ssWs eaten diem whore tie plhu
| s0lr6. south into this road. = calIed
Mount bpt throuek ~ whistIlng wind
could barely heat lin. Louder ana
Iooder blew he Wind acroes TIRE nets.
ehrlek1ng n ny earp; we<tsr ana net
~ erew The rad. until ne splash Of
tno boraos grey - I churnlp&, tram
DlZng roer kIke Dash Ire stream
4rned e<rcrs tho roo1. IhS shallow
Noker heIIe1 cnd>r 81 rush no