The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-12-20
Me
REFUGEES
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.
Asher Of The Return Of shsrIeeh
Helmss-
Copyright. iss, by Harper q Brothers

cnance, said the American graVcly
swinging himself on his horse. why
what is this? My other leather Is cut
And so is mine. ! can feel II wher
pass my hand along Have you q
finder box? Let US strike a light"
mo, no; the man who IL In the darL
is In safety. let my enemy strike
lights"
my rein is cut also"
''And so IL mine"
'And the girth Of my saddle"
1T is a wonder that we came so far
with whole bones. Now, who has
played us this little trickT
who could II be but that rogue
Jacques? He has had the horses In his
charge. BY my faith. he shall know
what the strappado means when see
Versailles again.
But why should he do itr'
"Ah. he has been set on to II. He
has been tool In the hands OF those
who wished TO hinder our Journey"
Very like. But they must have had
some reason behind. They knew well
that TO cut our straps would not pre-
vent us from reaching Paris, since we
could ride bareback or. for that mat.
ter. could run II IL need be-"
They hoped to break our necks."
"one neck they might break. but
scarce those OF two. They could not
have thought 10 stop us. What did
they mean. then? They could only
have meant 10 delay us. And why
should they wish 10 delay usf'
For heavens sake broke In De
Catinat lmpetuously
why should they wish TO delay us.
them There's only one reason that
can see-in order TO give other folk
time 10 get In front OF MS and stop us.
That Is II, captain. I'd lay you
beaver skin TO a rabbit pelt that I'm
on the track. There's been a party OF
n dozen horsemen along this ground
since the dew began 10 fall II we
were delayed they would have time 10
form their plans before we came"
by my faith. you may be right"
said De Catinat thoughtfully. what
would you proposes"
1'That we ride back. and go by some
less direct way"
ut IL impossible. We should have
20 ride back 10 the Meudon crossroads.
and then 1t would add ten miles to our
journey. We are surely not 10 be
turned from our path by a mere guess.
There Is the st. German crossroad
about mile below. When we reach
Il we can strike to the right along the
south side OF the river and 80 change
our course"
They mounted and rode on. Sud-
denly De Catinnt's eye caught some
thing In the gloom which brought a
smile TO his face. Away In front OF
them. between two dark tree clumps,
lay vast number OF shimmering. gilt
tcring yellow points, as thick as flow
ers In a garden. They We're the lights
Of Paris.
See he cried, pointing there is
the city. and close here must be the
~. German road. We shall take II.
so us TO avoid any danger"
VERY good! But I should not ride
too fast. when your glrth may break
nj any moment"
Nay. come ON. We are close to our
journeys end. The Sc. Germain road
opens Just round this corner, and then
we shall see our way. for the lights
win guide u.s.
He cut his horse with his whip, and
the two galloped together round the
curve. Next instant they were beth
down in one wild heap OF tossing heads
and struggling hoofs. DE Catinat part
ly covered by his horse. and his COM
rade hurled twenty PAGES. where he
lay silent and motlonless In the center
of the road.
NJ de vivonne had laid his ambus-
cade with discretion. With a closed
carriage and a band OF chosen rufiians
he had left the palace good half hour
before the kings messengers. On
reaching the branch road he had or
dered the coachman to drive some lit
tie distance along II and had tethered
all the horses to fence under his
charge He had then stationed one OF
the baud as n sentinel some distance
up the main highway to fash a light
when the two couriers were approach
ing. A stout cord had been fastened
eighteen inches from the ground to the
trunk Of wayside sapling. and on re-
celvlng the signal the other end was
tied TO n gatepost upon the farther
side. The two cavaliers could not pos
sibly see II. coming as II did ut the
very curve OF the road. and as conse-
quence their horses fell heavily TO the
ground aud brought them down with
them. In an Instant the dozen ruffians.
who had lurked In the shadow OF the
trees. sprang out upon them, sword In
hand, but there was no movement from
either Of their victims.
NJ. de yivonne lit lantern and
flashed II upon the faces of the two
unconscious men. This Is bad busi-
ness, Major Despard," said he to the
man next him. II believe that they
are both gone"
Tut. tut! BY my soul, men did not
die like that when was young!' an
swered the other. leaning forward his
fierce, grlzzled face into the light OF
the lantern. Pass your rapler under