The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1907-09-28
Substituted Hero.

OF his own lie was attentive . .s-..e
Clark. bot was waiting t.e more prom
eTty before ASKING .e4 &. i,. Is WIFE.
Belle was poor AMI w.>-eI Ae would
hurry Up.
one morning while Alec was out
looking after his sheep Le sax ia lie
distance something far U9.e --c.tl..c
An Indian was gall9qHg acryss tie
plains carrying a woman. Alec cs-ll
not recognize her al such a distance TX
cept IL her dress. which was rel Red
was the color Of tie only dress Belle
Clark possessed. What would have
puzzled \ &c had be rot been too horri-
fed 70 think dispassionately was that
there were no hostile indians IN the
eighbO-hOod-indeed. no Indians at
all-there being no reservation within
200 miles.
The Indian was taking his captive
from north to south. Alec booking di-
rectly east. As Alec was about 20
start ia pursuit he saw far IN rear o.
the abductOr a dozen mounted men.
evidently in pursuit. One Of their num-
Der was gaining on the rest and soon
put considerable space between him
and them. II was not long before
Alec recognized in this person Bill
Kearney, the only man IL feared
might take Belle Clark away from him
Alec was riding the best horse he
owned and lad q shorter distance TO
go 10 reach the flying Indian than
Bill-that is, if either OF them could
oveTtake him. Alec had the advantage
Of looking at the chase from compare
;ive!y high ground. He saw how the
Indian must make detour about 4 bit
Of swamp which would shorten the
distance between him and Alec. Alec
therefore shaped his course according
~. hoping 10 overtake them before they
entered a wood toward which they
were moving. He was spurred not
only by q desire 10 save the girl be
loved, but by dread Of her being res
cued by Bill, and so bitter is the spirit
Of rivalry between men In such cases
that ii is questionable whether the lat
ter impulse was not as strong in Alec
as the former.
Alec was not in time 10 head off the
Indian. He could only follow in his
wake. But Alec was pleased to find
himself some distance ahead Of any
other pursuers, including Bill He was
now within range and had his rife
with him. but he would be obliged to
halt TO fire. and even a halt would not
prevent the likelihood of his killing
the girl instead of her abductOr once
he turned his head TO look behind and
saw the other horsemen frantically
beckoning to him. But he would not
stop, feeling that the life OF the girl
depended upon his losing not a mo-
ment Of time. He fired a shot over the
heads OF the fugitives in hopes of dis
concerning the Indian. Hearing a shout
behind, he turned again and saw the
men wildly reckoning He concluded
that they were warning him against
an ambush; but ambush or no am
bush. he would not leave his girl in the
clutches of 4 savage.
The couple ahead were now about to
enter the wood. and Alec decided 10
make an attempt TO shoot the abduct-
or. He fired, but dared not aim below
the Indians head. and doubtless aimed
too high, for he evidently produced 10
effect After firing he heard a COM
bined yell from behind, but paid 10
attention to it The fugitiveS dashed
into the timber, and Alec darted after
them.
At the entrance of the wood he was
surprised TO see on a temporary plat
form box set up, and beside the box
stood a man. Alec also heard a faint
buZzing. The man looked at him as
lie passed. but without any of the ex-
citement incident to such narrowing
occasion. He seemed to be unaware
OF the frightful features of the scene
enacted, though the Indian and his cap
tive must have passed very near him.
Alec had ridden but 4 short distance
into the wood when he came upon the
Indian dismounted and Belle standing.
wildly agitated, near by. The Indian
was pointing a rife at his pursuer
ready TO fire. Indeed, he fred as Alec
came in sight. Alec slid off his horse
behind for protection and, taking de-
nberate aim, fired. The Indian fell.
Belle gave shout of Joy. but a mo-
ment later. seeing blood oozing from a
hole in her abductor's shoulder. il be-
came a shrek. At that moment Bill
kearney came crashing through the
brush
You stupid ass" be shouted.
you've killed him. cried Belle.
What does il all meang" asked Alec.
astonished
We've been acting a scene for NOV
ing pictures" roared Bill, "or tried TO
till you interfered"
BY thunder" exclaimed Alec.
The whole thing is spoiled" called
a new voice. Its n dead loss"'
Alec turned and saw a man standing
by a box similar 10 tie one he had
passed on the edge Of the wood.
The finale was 10 have shown the
rescue hv Bill KearI1pv vz-b, WIS p,