The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-10-19

CHAPTER xvl.-(continued.)


CHAPTER xvi.-(continued.)
But the mystery was susceptible OF
an easy explanation after all. The
murdered man, when he first learned
that his footsteps were being logged
by the unwelcome person who had i'm
portuned him at the railway station,
was slowly wheeling bicycle up hill.
When he paused to speak he propped
his wheel against a moss-grown mile
stone. When the blow was strack he
was in the act of reaching for the
handle-bar. He fell back, and the as
sassin leaped upon him and stabbed
him repeatedly with ferocious vigor.
He had but reached out hand to rifle
the dead mans pockets when Trus-
colts shout for help sounded on his
ears, and leaping on to the bicycle he
rode at headlong speed down hill. He
heard voices and running feet hun
ared yards away and made a desper-
ate effort to check himself with intent
to hide. The wheel skidded, and it
and he plunged headlong into the
ditch together. The racing feet went
past him, and in minute he was up
snd away again and into side lane.
Here the ruts shook him until they
threatened to shake the machine to
pieces, but in a while he came upon
an open turnpike road, leading he
knew not whittier. He passed now
nj
then farmers cart or a pedestrian,
but there was nothing in the way of
impeachment to traffic.
The man rode fast and far, and did
not slacken speed until the first gray
premonition of the dawn was abroad.
He was fifty miles from the scene OF
his crime when he first slowed down.
The scattered houses Of hamlet lay
before him, and near him on the left
was a horsepond all overgrown with
thich green scum. Beside this he dis
mounted and stood looking about him
for a time with peering suspicion.
There was not soul in sight at that
hour, and the earliest bird was not yet
awake to disturb the heavy silence by
a chirp. The. man barred his head
and smeared his moist forehead with
his cap, whilst he stood apparently i'm
mersed in thought. Suddenly he
turned the machine in the direction OF
the pond, poised it upright on the
downward slope, and released it. 1t
carved a clean line through the thick
green scum upon the surface and dis
appeared from sight. The line grad
ually faded as if a wound were being
healed.
Safest gone" he murmured under
his breath. "It would not pay to be
found with any of his property in my
possession"
He went on again afoot, walking at
an easy pace, and looking about him
for some indication of his own where
abouts, for hitherto he had steered by
pure hazard, taking care only to
lengthen the distance between himself
and his pursuers. After mile or
two along a lonely lane he came to a
dilapidated signpost at four cross
roads. He could just make out the
blistered and faded lettering on one Of
the three arms time and weather had
spared, and he learned that he was
seven miles from Dover.
"Dover?" he said voicelessly. Eyes.
Dover will serve as we'll as another
place.
| He filled and lit his pipe, and went
on again, saunteringly, like the man
who has the day before him. AS the
day broadened it revealed him as a
person of possibly respectable exteri-
or, possibly an artisan of the better
class. He was dressed in decent gray
tweed. His linen was little frayed
and disordered, and he was dusty
from his ride, but there was nothing
in his aspect which would have drawn
second glance to him.
1 A mile or so outside the town he
drew handful of hay from stack
near the roadside and plated it leis-
urly into such wisp as grooms some
times use to impart the last polish to
a horses coat. With this he brushed
the signs of travel from his dress and
then sat down to smoke and idle until
such time as the town before him
should be astir. II he had any re-
morse for the deed so recently COM
mitted, he gave no sign Of it. AS the
rays Of the sun grew warmer, he
sought patch of shadow, and, sitting
there with his back against gate
post, he fell insensibly into doze.
This deepened into slumber, and he
did not awake until the sound of
church bells broke upon his ear. At
this he arose and shook himself.
II am hungry" he said, half aloud.
4, drawing cheap watch from his peck
ct and turning it over in his palm.
"This is all that have, and 1t will not
go for much. It may find food for q
day or two, and with the help Of q
night in the fields 1t may see me up
to London. And once there, hey for
Mr.. Brangwyn with message from
the brave Grimaud.''
cHAprEasx vifs Is.