Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-31

Tho storm had cleared away, the air was
brisk and cold, the outlines Of adjacent land
marks wcrc distinct, but it was 4:3O before
Dick reached tho meeting house and the cross
ing Of the country road. To avoid the rising
grade he had taken longer and more cir
cuitous road, In whose viscid mud Jovita
Sunk fetlock deep at every bound. II was a
poor preparation for steady ascent Of five
miles more; but Jovita, gathering her legs
under her, took IL with her usual blind, I'M
reasoning fury, and half hour later reached
the long level that led TO Rattlesnake creek
Another half hour would bring him to the
creek. lie threw the reins lightly upon the
neck Of the marc, chrrupcd to her, and be-
gan to sing
Suddenly Jovita SHE'D with n bound that
would have unseated less practiccd rider
Hanging TO her rein was a figure that had
leaped from the bank, and at the same time
from tho road before her arose shadowy
horse and rider "Throw up your hands,"
commanded the second apparition with an
OATH
Dick felt the marc tremblc, culver and
apparently sink under him. lie knew what
1t meant and was prepared.
stand aside, Jack Simpson, I know you,
you id thief Let me pass Or
He did not finish the sentence Jovita rose
straight in the air with n terrific bound,
throwing the figure from her bit with q
single shake Of her vicious head and charged
with deadly macvolence down on tho i'm
pediment before her An oath, pistol shot,
horse and highwayman rolled over in the
road, and the next moment Jovita was q
hundred yards away But the good right
arm Of her rider, shattered by a bullet,
dropped helpessly at his side.
Without Stacking his spced he shifted the
reins to his left hand. But few moments
later he was Obliged TO halt and tighten the
saddle girths that had slipped in the onsot.
This, in his crippled condition, took some
time. He had no fear of pursuit, but look
ing up he NV that tho eastern stars were al
ready paling. and that the distant peaks had
lost their ghos.ly wilderness, and now stood
ont blnckly agains, lighter sky. Day was
upon him. Then completely absorbed in o
single idea. he forgot the pain Of his wound
and mounting again, dashed on toward Rat
tlesnake creek. But now Jovitas breath
came broken by gasps Dick reeled in his
saddle, and brighter and brighter grew tho
sky.
Ride Richard; rum Jovita linger, o day!
For the last few rods there was roaring in
his ears Was it exhaustion from loss Of
blood, or what, lie was dazed and giddy rs
no swept down the hill, and did not recog-
nize his surroundings. Had he taken the
wrong road, or was this Rattlesnake creekl
II was. But the brawlng creek he had
swan few hours before had risen more
than doubled its volume, and now rolled q
swift and resistless river between him and
Rattlesnakc hill. For the first time that
night Richards heart sank within him. Tho
river, the mountain, the Quickening east,
swain before his eyes. He shut them to re-
cover his self control In that brief interval,
by some fantastic mental process, the little
room at Simpsons Bar and the figures Of the
sleeping father and SON rose upon him. He
opened his eyes wildly, cast off his coat, pis.
tol, boots and saddle, bound his precious pack
tightly to his shoulders, grasped the bare
TANKS of Jovita with his barel knees and
with shout dashed into the yellow water
A cry arose from the opposite bank as the
head Of a man and horse struggled for a
few moments against the battling current,
and then were swept away amidst uprooted
trees and whirliug driftwood
The old man started and woke The fire
on the hearth was dead, the candle in the
outer room Pickering in its socket, and some.
body was rnpping at the door. lie opened it,
but fell back with cry before the dripping
half naked figure tina. Xslled against the door.
post
"Dicke"
AIIush! Is he awake YETI
"No-but, Dickr
"Dry up, you old fool! Get me some
whisky quickl' The Old Man few and re-
turned with-an empty bottle Dick would
have sworn, hut his strength was not equal &c
the occasion. He staggered, caught at the
handle Of the door, and motioned to the Old
Man.
"Thar's suthin' in my pack yer for Johnny
Take il Off. can't
The Old Man unstrapped the pack and laid
It before the exhausted man.
"Open it, quick"
He did so with trembling fingers. II con
tanned only few poor toys-cheap and bar
barrie enough, goodness knows, but bright
with paint and tinsel. One of them was
broken; another, fear, was irretrjevably
ruined by water; and on the thiri-ah me
there was cruel spot.
at don't look like much, that's fact said
Dick, ruefully. But it's tho best
we could do, Take 'em, Old
Man, and put EN- in his stock
ing, and tell him-tell him, You know
hold me- Old Man. The Old Man caugh,
at his sinking figure. Tell him." said Dick
with weak little laugh-"tell him Sandy
Claus has come"
-A-x@