Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-11-09

Il thought you had already so decided
when | saw the sleighs at the door"
said Mossel.
"sleighs, Mossel7 ordered no
sleighs!"
well, they're there. Two troikas
with three good horses apiece. Come and
see for yourself"
The policeman had spoken the truth.
On the leeward side of the porch two
sleighs were waiting. The light from the
open door behind US shimmered on the
drifting snow and flashed on the bells
about the horses necks. 1t was bitter
ly cold, and | was turning to retreat into
the hau when man wrapped in furs
moved out of the darkness. 1t was the
keeper of the inn. his face grey-white,
like the underslde Of n sole
Whose sleighs are these?" asked
Graden sharply.
Mine, Mr.. Engishman, mine. l fol-
low to save my boy"
And the horses?"
THE best in Lemsdorf. They are
private teams, lent by those who had
pity upon my sorrow"
May we come with you?"
i would ask for nothing better, mein
Herr"
inside of ten minutes | was ready to
start, with borrowed cloak flung over
my tnickest clothes, and a huge bunch
OF Dread-and-meat in my hand. Quick
as had been, Mossel and my cousin
We're already dressed and in consultation
w e were to drive to the crossroads, they
tod me, and then separate, the one
sleigh, with Graden, Mossel and an ex-
perienced driver, taking the road to
bromberg, which, being the shorter, was
more likely to be the one Marnac had
CHOSEN; the other, containing the inn
Keeper and myself, was to follow the
Gnesen road. l was not particularly
pleased at the prospect of parting with
my friends, but / made no objection to
this plan. We entered our sleighs, roll
ing ourselves in the rugs
Are you armedY Graden called
across to the innkeeper in his little seat
before me.
Yes, mein Herr. Do you go first, for
you have the better team"
The chase was up indeed.
As we passed on to the plain outside
the town, the gale that came charging
out OF frozen Russia leapt upon us with
howl or furious joy. The fakes that
rose from beneath the curved runners and
the beating hoofs fed spinning into the
night. The sky hung low and black and
starless above the white sheet of rolling
snow. The little sleigh bells grew silent
IN the heavier drifts, breaking out again
where the track was harder. A hun
bred yards ahead the sparks of Ora
denis pipe flashed as they kindled in
the wind. The fall had almost ceased.
My driver sat squarely before me- with
rein in each of his fur-gloved hands. |
could not see his face but from his pro-
jecting head and hunched shoulders
could imagine how he looked, peering
over his horses into the night, with fear
gripping at his soul.
must admit that for myself | was in
condition of petuant discomfort. The
slightest movement seemed to give en-
trance to some new draught that chilled
my arm or ran trickling down my spine.
Now and again flake of snow LODGED in
my neck or ear and melted Jelly. Tired.
cold and hungry, | lay amid nv rugs
cursing the folly that had led me to take
a hand in a business that should have
been left to the police. | had the keenest
desire for a quarrel, but being to all con-
yersational purposes alone, that relief
was impossible.
CHAPTER XII.
Within two miles of Lemsdorf we had
left the plain for the forest. The moon
was obscured yet faint light filtered
down from above, finding a reflection in
the snow, and emphasizing the black
pillars of the pines that went sliding
by. There was now no trace of our
companions save the marks of their run
ners on the track; over the woods brood
ed an utter silence, broken only by the
swish of our sleigh and the murmur of
the bells rising and falling in a low
monotonous melody. 1t was as If wa
were passing through the waste places Of
a dying world. One of my feet began
to grow numb, and when | turned about |
that / might shelter it, the snow that
had gathered on my collar plunged down
my neck, so that | shivered with cold.
But on the whole l was reasonably warm
amongst my wraps, and a feeling of
drowsiness grew upon me.
1t was Reski's voice that woke me.
We had halted in a dim clearing in the |
woods. score of yards away the sec
ond sleigh was waiting. Evidently we |
had reached the crossroads, where we |
were to part.
ANY tracksY' shouted my driver.
mo-" came Graden's answer. THE |
wind and the fresh fall have cleared
them away. Are you all right, Robert?"
Il am exceeding uncomfortable. If
that is what you want to know" | shout
ed back. Indeed, il was a silly question
to ask me. My temper was not improy-
ed by a distant chuckle which | attrib-
uted to Mossel.
"Cheer up, Robertr' continued NV
cousin. "If you run across him. Won
must do your best. Reski will see you
through never fear; but l don't think