Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-14
CHAPTER xII,-(Coptinua


scream: THAT was your chaiseNE You
mean to cheat me! You mean ia &eteai
her! That was your chaise, aIdSifs
gone! No! No! You shall notfcafch
them at the gatesv And he flung him
self on Butler to drag him from the
open window.
Drive on!~ shouted Butler, leaning
out and calling to the people in the
chaise.
Startled, I turned and stared through
the window behind me. To my horror
the horses started and the chaise be-
gan to move off. Even yet 1 did not
comprehend that the chaise was not
my own, But to see 1t slowly rolling
away in the night terrified me, and 1
bounded out into the room, barely in
time, for Butler had already forced
Dunmore from the oven window anu
had laid his hand on lie wall to hoist.
himself out. Quick as the thought I
balanced my heavy knife, hilt to palm,
swung forward and let 1t fly like light
ming. The blade whistled true and
struck, pinning Buffers arm to the
wall. Dunmore ran around like a
crazed rat, but + Knocked him sense
less with a chair and sprang at Butler.
who, writing and CHASTITY pale, had
just freed his left hand of the knife.
He. ran at me with his sword, but I
shattered my heavy chair across his
face and seized him. meaning to cut
his throat. Twist and tear and clutch
ga hn rUnyYI1f ~ ho oo,,lJ ,oa4 -.
hurt me. The GOODNESS Of murder was
4 my heart. | strangled him with one
hand and hunted around the floor for
my knife. 1t was gone. I could not
find 1t. Then a wave Of fury blazed in
my brain. I lifted the struggling
wretch with both hands above nv
head and broughta him down on the
door, where he crashed as though ev-
cry bone in him was shattered to the
marrow.
AS I reeled, painting, toward the win
dow, the key turned in the locked door
and Lady Shelton's frightened face ap-
peared. When she saw me she rushed at
me and screamed, but I THRUST the har-
ridan out of my path, vaulted through
h open window and ran down tho
orchard slope. Then as I sprang into
lane | almost dropped, for there,
where / had left 1t, stood my post
chaise awaiting me.
"Mountg' I shouted in terror. "Is
she here?o
"HereT he cried. "You are mad!
Have you lost herr"
Through my whirling senses the aw-
full truth broke like a living ray Of fire.
"Out O. the saddle!" / shouted. "She
has taken another chaise. It's Buffers
men! Ride for her! Rider
1t seemed hours, yet it was scarcely
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 a far call In
the darkness, a shadow crossed the
lamplit glare, then I turned In my
saddle and shouted, Draw bridle!!'
and; u four horses came clashing in a
huddle with a hollow volley of hoof-
beats.
Road closed for the night!' said a
sentinel, walking toward us from the
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
That's lone o. your business.
Back up there"
I wish to see Mr.. Bevan," said 1,
able to speak.
"Mr. Beyan's gone home to bed" said
soldier impdtiently. HE passed
other post chaise at a gallop or it
would have been here yet, 1 warrant
you. Come, come, now! You know
The law. Clear the road, now! Turn
your leaders, postboy. Back up! Dye
II tell you I've got to passw I per-
IF you move I'll shoot" he retorted.
Then without turning his head he
out: "Ho, sergeant O. the quar-
:er guard! Post No. r.
Drive over him!" I shouted, flashing
- 1"S 0SAoCS 4ASlc was u JOlL, an
a rush of frantic horses, q
bright fash and report. Then a wheel
taught the soldier and pitched him
ceiling into the darkness.
Look out!' called Mount from his
seat on the chaise. THE toll
yates right ahead! There's a camp
,uard due there at midnight! Out with
coach lamps"
Shelnuel jerked open each lanthorn
md blew out the lights. Darkness hid
ven the horses from our sight.
"Cut the pike! cried Mount sudden
I'VE save six miles by the old
post road! Turn out!
Turn outw
Far ahead the tollgate lamp twin
led through the dust. l signaled to
aenard and dragged the horses into
trot, straining my eyes for the branch
Dad we had seen that morning.
ould see nothing.
by heaven, the guard is gone!
there's only a sentry there!" said
dount suddenly HNhen COLL yida