The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-04-04

turned tue horses nomewarG an,
climbing the rise beyond the river.
clattered down into the forest.
| We had ridden halfway to Llanellan
when Montgomery's mare fell lame,
and he dismounted to examine her
shoe. AS he was engaged for some
time in the occupation, pulled my nag
into the shade of the big trees by the
way and waited for him. Throwing
myself off. | put my arm through the
bride and walked over to the margin
of the wood where the grass grew in
abundance, now fading drab yellow
under the magnificence of the autumn
sun The road here took a sharp bend
and in the act an abrupt peninsula or
headland of cOppice stood out from the
main continent of forest. AS my horse
nibbled at the grass. | heard a noise of
wheels in the distance and glanced
! through the tangle along the highway
Down from Llanellan trap was be-
! ing driven furiously toward us The
rate at which it rolled was prodgious,
and clouds of dust flew up and en-
veloped horse vehicle and driver i'll
their course. Thinking that this must
be Il runaway, slipped the bride over
the horses neck, and, calling to Mont
gomery, leaped into the saddle and
| turned the corner to meet it. AS | did
SO the carriage, which was of a rude,
serviceable type common in the coun-
try, was plainly visible to me and to
| its occupant What aStOunded me was
to see him raising his whip through the
| smoke of dust, i'll act to strike fiercely
at the TANKS of the animal, and the
next second he stopped, dropped the
whip, and, as it seemed to me, refined
In his horse. At all events. the pace
was now much slower-in fact, but a
comfortable amble. While | was Won
| derng on this curious maneuver the
trap drew near enough for me to notice
| the driver. and, to my establishment, |
saw that it was Hood.
His face was all sweat and grimed
with dust, and plainly he had been
| squeezing the last ounce out of his
beast, as the saying is. Why, then,
| did he pull up on seeing me? \ flow
Of thoughts rushed through my brain
but it was not until he came well nigh
! abreast of me that the inspiration
seized me- He made as if to pass,
civilly touching. his hat, but 10y a sud.
den movement l wheeled my horse
| across the road and barred his way.
Had he been going at his previous rate
| confess that | should have thought
twice ere | took this hazard; but, as il
was. there was no harm done. Hood
himself, taken by surprise, pulled back
| and iarked his left rein. sending the
beast toward the ditch. | cried to
Montgomery and, leaning over, caught
at the reins.
ITS all up, Hood" said. You're
a done man this time
BEG your pardon, SIR said he, star
ing at me. But l was going to Ray
mond."
/ "Yes. and I dare say you WERE said
l. But now you're going to the cas-
tle''
At that moment Montgomery came
up, leading his mare, and took in the
situation Running round. he held the
other rein. Hood looked from one to
the other.
This is highway robbery, gentle
iucn." he said.
call it what you WILL" / replied.
with nonchalance. Montgomery, III
| trouble you to peep into that carriage.
! At the words Hoods eyes shot with a
II; ,t,.;Ie, Il
and shivered like those Of a vicious
| horse. The next second he Sprang
from his seat across the horses back
and leaped at my throat It'll his open
knife. My horse plunged and took the
blow upon his shoulder. which was rip
ped open in red cash. Then. without
sound. Montgomery pinned the ruff
fan to the earth. 1t was not the first
time that he had felt the grip of those
! great arms, and he lay still. underfoot
! in the dust
We had been so engroSSed with the
incident that we had not noticed the
sound of an approaching horseman,
, and now his voice broke i'll upon us,
| startling us.
Thank you kindly. gentlemen. L am
obliged to YOU" it said, and there was
Sercombe, very red and very dusty,
but with Il twinkling smile struggling
over grave and anxious face. Hood
got to his feet at once.
The rascal gave me the Slip said
Sercombe, but | am much in your
debt for stopping him."
"Ahw said /. That's the story, is
it,"
1t is extremely odd, and l recall the