The Meeker herald., 1905-07-01

AS the summer passed and Philip
became daily visitor to the Avarills',
Hhoda forgot her shyness and no long
er yelled her pathetic brown eyes in
which the torch of her spirit had
never been lighted.
One morning in early autumn the
little village Of Red Oak was thrown
into a fever Of excitement by the
news that Captain Rockhilrs thor
oughbred had been stolen.
One afternoon a few weeks later,
az Rhoda was returning from town
by the river path. a peal of thunder
warned her OF an approaching storm.
She quickened her pace as the drops
battered on the leaves overhead; then.
thinking it was only a shower. she
sought shelter in a natural arbor
formed by the wild grape vines that
covered the river bank. Familiar
from childhood with all these places,
and allowed to roam at will. she felt
no fear as the hour went by with no
abatement of the storm. She knew
her parents would think she had
stayed In town and. to her. night had
no more terrors than day.
Suddenly. above the tumult of the
elements. she heard the grating of
boat upon the sand, the sound of ad-
Vancfng footsteps. and the low voices
OIL men. AS they came nearer she
crept deeper among the vines. She
heard the dense foliage roughly torn
aside. then all the men, but the one
who remained on guard, seemed to
enter the earth. AS Rhoda sought to
escape. keeping close under the pro-
tecting vines. to her intense surprise
she suddenly emerged into an open
ing In the river bank. Her hand
touched the damp stones with which
1t was walled and she knew. instinct
lively, she was in the passageway
through which the men had gone. She
was thoroughly frightened. Then,
from within, the sound of strident
voices arrested her flight and made
her forget her own danger. She had
discovered the den OF the outlaws.
Il tell ye. Lanty." said a rough
voice, I'VE must git red O. that damn
boss tonight er Wen swing fur it
yit. They say Cap. Rockhill's a track
| in us now"
With an avalanche of oaths a hoarse
voice answered.:
We'll git i'm out o. here tonight,
blast We! Yer the blamedest coward
l ever see. amt any feared O. that
damn Cap. I heerd he was layin'
fur some boss thieves an counterfeit
ers an partic'lar fur me-" Here his
voice sank to an angry growl. EFF
he don keep his wife hans offin
my Specifications. amt goin' to weep
over w'at1l happen, curse I'm"
Rhoda. knowing the desperate char.
acter Of Lanty Brazelton, waited no
longer. Creeping softly down to the
river path. she ran swiftly toward
Red Oak to warn her friends. II the
thoroughbred was once out of the
country she well knew the captain
would never see him again. She fell
again and again, but unmindful OF
bruise or pouring rain, she finally
reached the Selby house and reused
the inmates.
The raid was quickly planned. Cap
tain Rockhill, with Mrs. Selby and a
little company of determined men,
guided by Rhoda, soon reached their
destination. After capturing the
guard, and making hasty reconnoiter
the men entered the underground pas
sage and suddenly fell upon the un-
suspecting desperadoes. After brief.
but terrible. struggle, the outlaws
were overpowered and the den
searched. The stolen horse was the
only reward.
Placing Rhoda and his sister on the
recovered thoroughbred. Philip con-
Quoted them to Rhodas home. As
she entered the kitchen. where
candle burned dimly, the cellar door
opened and Squire Avarill, carrying
the dies and other counterfeiting
tools, met them face to face. With
an oath he tried to escape through
the little trap door under the cellar
stairs. by which he had entered, and
which opened into secret passage
connecting the house with the out
laws den. The captain was too quick.
drawing his revolver, he said sternly:
Squire Avarill, You are my pris.
oner."
Rhoda uttered wild cry: "Oh, my
father, my father, what have done!"
AS the white dawn stole into
Rhoda's dainty room the morning
after her adventure, she lay in
burning fever, wholly unconscious of
what was passing around her. The
candle had burned into its socket. The
light from the smoldering embers on
the hearth revealed. the wan face of
the mother as she sat by the bedside
alone with her sorrow and disgrace.
hoH p1 utcfo
Mrs. Selby and was determined to
bear her troubles alone.
In the sad weeks that followed,
when Rhoda lay at the point of DEATH
Captain Rockhill by his thoughtful
ness somewhat softened the mothers
heart; and as her child grew better,