Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-04-05

utAt Sccou0 ut otOpfftNt x pIl3S'A esi>
whip, and, as it seemed to nae. reiii2sS
in his horse At all events, the ls....ce
was now much slower-in fact, but Il
comfortable amble. While / was-W Won
dering on this curious maneuyer 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? A dow
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 by sud-
den movement / wheeled my horse
across the road and barred his way.
Had he been going at his previous rate
I confess that l should have thought
twice ere took this hazard; but, as 1t
was, there was no harm done. Hood
himself, taken by surprise, pulled back
and jerked his left rein, sending the
beast toward the ditch. l 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 was going to Ray
mond."
eyes, and l dare say you were said
/. "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.
sThis is highway robbery, gentle
men," 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
malignant light, and his nostrils curled
and shivered like those of vicious
horse The next second he sprang
from his seat across the horses back
and leaped at my throat with his open
knife. My horse plunged and took the
blow upon his shoulder, which was rip
ped open in red cash. Then, without
a 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 in upon US,
startling us.
s'Thank you kindly, gentlemen. am
obliged to you," it said, and there was
Sercombe, very red and very dusty,
but with 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"
ssAh!D said |. ''That's the story, is
it?'
1t is extremely odd, and | recall the
fact now with some sense of discom-
future, but this sudden appearance Of
Sercombe and the evidence that he had
been chasing Hood completely put my
reckoning out The events had turned
things topsy turvy for the time, nor
did realize at once that we were still
antagonists, opposed upon the posses
sion of the very treasure which, had
conceived, was concealed IN the car
rage. But if / was late in coming to
my wits, not so Hood. He might quar-
rel with Sercombe privately, but as
against us he was the captains part
ner, and, siding up to him, he whis-
pered a few words Sercombe nodded,
and ere I had time to observe all this
properly he had edged his horse be-
tween the carriage and myself and
pulled forth a revolver.
every sorry, Mr.. Greatorex,' said be,
pointing it al 4s.as an IN
grateful retcn, ;aa my soul /
can't help it IA s.eed sight sooner
offer the barrel ere, but there it
is-weN are sslc.l cfe;l of fortune"
Lit SI1A1Ci l1Se>+oetAf eA3, eAu AAOV0
whipped into his seat and turned the
carriage about AS for Montgomery
and myself, we were entirely taken
aback. They had the advantage of US,
and we should have been fools to re-
fuse to recognize it. So, after the first
stare of CONSERVATION, made the best
Of it.
Delighted to be Of service to Cap
tain Sercombe any time" said. "And
now, as I presume we are all going the
same way, we shall have the pleasure
Of your company"
That's right" he observed. "Hood,
drive ahead, not too fast this time"
And the innkeeper, who had now re-
sumed his placid air, obeyed him. We
logged along together, conversing quite
affably, but the captain kept an eye
upon us, riding little to one side and
holding a hand ostentatiously in his
.,oo1za+