Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-20

ter in harness. Gentle: kid" broke.
Reward of s25 offered for capture Of
thief and return of pony.
Frank Emery, otumwa. Iowa.
nodded at hardy. The American ad-
justed his pince-nez and raised his
rifle to his shoulder 1t was long
shot, but he had done better in the
Adirondacks at deer. His nerves
were good and his muscles as tense
as steel Just as he was about to
/ press tue trigger, the chief swung
his rifle about his head. pointed at
the .oat and came plugging on again.
1t was a more difficult matted now,
as the man was in motion. Yet he
was splendid mark, looming big and
| dark there against tho bright water,
with dash or two ct vivid color about
him, evidently ribbons or a sash.
Hardy shot end the chief still came
on, followed by his men, shouting
like wild Indians, in their barbaric
tongue.
The American shot again with
out result.
Then he swore softly, a good, hon
est Saxon OATH, removed his eye
glasses, wiped his eyes with his
handkerchief, replaced his glasses,
laid his cheek on his weapon and
shot a third time. The chiefs rifle
dropped into the yellow Amur, his
arms fell to his side, and he plunged
over his horses flank, head-first into
the water The animal whirled about
and charged on the line behind him,
dragging his riders body, which
hung by one stirrup. The other bri-
gands turned and followed their lead
er's body to the bank and disappeared
Tito the dark Manchurian woods.
The Princess approached Hardy and
extended her hand.
II congratulate you again Mon
sicur,' she said, "on your splendid
craftsmanship"
1 4 take your hand, Madame" he re
piled, "but I can not accept the con
gratu,at.ons. 1t was very bad shoot
ing. My only excuse is that this Is
the first time have used this rifle
Smulders dropped his boat-hook &c
the deck, and, running up to the Amer
lean, seized both his hands in his fat
pink palms
"You hafe saved my Chulia!" he
4 sobbed.
Il There was. indeed, no further attack
|, on the part Of the Chinese that after
1 noon, and at night, before the moon
arose, the besieged received an i'm
Iportant recruit. A man heard shout
ing from the Russian side was allow
ed to approach and come on board
Hardy could not see his face, as
; lights were not allowed on deck, but
he though he recognized the voice
even though it was speaking Russian
The newcomer went below immediate
ly. Half an hour after his arrival
Hardy was summoned by the Princess
to her cabin.
"Mr. Hardy" she said in French
. "this is my cousin, Boris Romanoff
1 take pleasure In introducing
two brave men to each other. Mr.
Hardy has saved my life, and Bori;
has braved the most fearful danger
to reacn my side. When he arrive:
at Vladivostok, and inquired for me
he learned that had started for Mos
COW SO he did not wait moment
but fairly flew up the river. Had h
: known what gallant defenders wer'
already by my side, he would not hav,
felt such anxiety"
Hardy took this last remark as sim
ply complimentary to himself and thu
brave old general and he acknowl
edged 1t by polite bow; how coult
he know that Boris Romanoff was {
sutton for mis- fair cousins nand, VIII
} was a cousin far removed, after al!
!. and that the Princess often tried tn,
big fellows temper in the most III
sidious and seemingly innocent ways
: "This is an unexpected pleasure
Mr.. Hardy" said Romanoff i'll Englisl
extending his hand, II hardly hope,
to meet you again in Russia. / fear
ed you would not be able to breal
away from the destinations of tn
geisha girls, who so strongly appeal
ed to you Hardy ignored the hand.
81 believe that you played a scound
reilly trick on me in Japan" ne said
looking Romanoff coolly in the ey
and speaking with great calmness 'bu
am cc,tont. for the nrcecnt to mas
1t by. I-ah- suppose you have yo1
own code as gentleman. Aecordin
to mine, it is our duty now to sinl
all private differences and unite il
the rescue Of this lady from mos
perilous position"
"You are right replied Romanofi
becoming insolent; ian addition to tn
, crew is not to be despised at tim
) like this, especially fellow who ca
j shoot as you can. You ought to ope,