Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-17
CHAPTER XIV.


TNHE first two days of my travel
were almost without incident
lovely calm October days,
4 through which sunlit clouds
sailed out of the west and tie wild,
ducks drifted southwark like floating
banners in the SHY.
To make up for a delay I deter
mined to keep on until midnight, War
lock being fit and ready without eff
fort, SO l munched a quarter Of bread
to stay my stomach and trotted on,
pondering over the past. which al
ready seemed years behind me.
After awhile, far away, the low NUT
tering Of thunder sounded, setting the
air vibrating, and I cast Warlock free
at a hand gallop.
Imperceptibly the dark silence
around turned into sound: a low, mo-
n%otonous murmur filled my ears. 1t
rained.
! Careless of my rifle. having of course
no need for it on such = %populous high
way, I let the printing take care Of it.
self and urged Warlock forward to-
ward two spots of light which might
come from windows very rar away or
from the lamps of a post chaise near
at hand.
Refining in, I was beginning to o
der which it might be, and had finally
decided on the distant cottage, when
my horse reared violently, almost fall
ing on his back with me, and at the
same moment I knew that somebody
had seized his bride.
Stand and deliver!" came a calm
voice from the darkness. I already
had my rifle raised, but my thumb on
the pan gave me warning that the
printing was soaking wet.
"Dismount," came the voice, q tride
sharply.
"How many have you?" 1 asked,
choking with Indignation. "Ill give
three of you merry gentlemen a chance
at me II you will allow me one dry
printing!
Then I almost dropped from the sad
die to hear q meek and pleading voice
1 knew call ND by name.
Jack Mount" I exclaimed, incredu-
lous eve yet.
''The same, Mr.. Cardigan, out at
heels and elbows, lad, and trimming
the highway for a purse proud Tory.
I lay here for the fat bailiff o. Graf
ton, who should travel to Hadley this
night with Tory funds, and-I stopped
a Indy ia that post chaise yondar, and
she's tainted at sight O me-"
"FaintedY I repeated. Where are
her postboys? Where's her t0otman?
Where's her maid? Is she alone,
Jack"
aye" he responded gloomily. "The
men and the maid al off. If I'd only
had Cade with me-
"But-where's the Weasel?"
II wish I knew" he said earnestly.
"He left nj at Johnstown-went away
vanished like a hermit bird. Oh, I
am certainly an unhappy man, and a
bungling n at that. You can laugh
If you like, but it's killing me. l wish
you would ONE yer to that cursed
/ post chaise and see what con be done
for the lady"
AS we advanced through the rain in
| the dim radiance Of the chaise lamps
l looked curiously at Mount and he up
at me.
Poor old Jack" I said, softened by
his misery. why did you desert me
after you had saved my life? I owe
you so much that it were a charity to
aid me discharge the debt, or as much
of it as l may"
"Hon!' he muttered. "'Twas no debt,
lad, and I'm but q pottle pot after all.
Now, by the ring tailed Don O. Cana
do, I care not what befalls me, for
Cade's gone"
Soft" l whispered. 1.-THE lady's astir
in her chaise. Wait you here, Jack!
So! I dismount. Touch not the horse;
he bites at raggedness. He'll stand.
500, Warlock! Wait, my beauty!
So-o!'
And I advanced to the chaise win
dow, cap in hand.
Madam" l began very gently, striv-
ing to make her out in the dim light of
the chaise, II perceive some accident
has befallen your carriage. Pray, be-
lieve me at your disposal and humbly
anxious to serve you, and If there be
aught wherein l may
Michael Cardigan!' came a startled
voice, and 1 froze dumb in astonish-
ment, for there, hood thrown back
and earnest, pale face swiftly leaning
into the lamp rays, I beheld Marie
Hamilton