Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-31

Ut his pipe IoT SOluo lilic III oiiSANS'
"Well, what do you think of it?' he
queried after time.
l shook my head. II felt better this
afternoon"
$50 did r." he returned.
you're not going to give up? asked
Montgomery.
We both laughed. mot yet" 1 said.
There's plenty Of time for despair"
"Well, we'll consider the position to-
morrow" said Sheppard, yawning.
With which we got to bed, and for
one slept like the graveyard dead.
I rode into Raymond next morning
with Montgomery, taking the road
upon the south side Of the valley, away
from the Woodman. upon which Shep-
puru promised to keep his eyes. was
anxious to discover what progress
Jones had made in his Investigations.
and, moreover, l felt slightly uneasy
as to our own posture in the affair.
Had the law got wind of us? And
were we connected in Jones mind with
the mysterious transactions Of the
Gwent?
AS luck had it, we did not find Jones.
who had returned to Raymond very
early in the morning, but had been
.nstily summoned back into the Gwent
fter breakfast He had, my inform
mt imagined, crossed us, but l &C
ounted for not meeting him by the
new route we had taken. Therefore,
none the wiser for our excursion, we
turned the horses homeward and,
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 of, 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 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 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 prodigious,
and clouds of dust few up and en-
veloped horse, vehicle and driver in
their course. Thinking that this must
be 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 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, in 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
dering on this curious maneuver the
trap drew near enough for me to notice
the driver, and, to my establishment, l
saw that it was Hood.
His face was all a 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 flow
OF thoughts rushed through my brain,
but it was not until he came well nigh
abreast of nae that the inspiration
seized me. He made as if to pass,
civilly touching his hat, but by q sud-
den movement / wheeled my horse
across the road and barred his way.
Had he been going at his previous rate
l confess that l should have. thought
twice ere took this hazard; but, as it
was, there was no harm done. Hood
himself, taken by surprise, pulled back
and jerked his left rein, sending the
beast toward the ditch. cried to
Montgomery and, leaning over, caught
at the reins.
cts all up. Hood" I said. you're
q done man this time"
BEG your pardon, sir" said he, star
ing at me. But was going to Ray
mond"
Eyes, and dare say you were," said
l. "But now you're going to the cas-
tie"
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
men," he said.
.'Call it what you WILL" replied,
with nonchalance Montgomery, I'll
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 a 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 50 engrossed with the
i~asaaa& Tint MA had MT noticed the