The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-18

whenever the ground changed from
hard to soft their hoofs rang out the
instant the roan's Were muffied.
The joy Of that wild ride through the
gum trees to the sea, He forgot the
little value he had set upon his life and
rode for it now as men ride for moth
ing else Yet he rocked but little of the
result. He knew no fears and no re-
grets, but instead an exhilaration such
as he had never known before. 1t
might. be his last hour He reveled in
it the more-was the more grateful for
it-on that account. To have tasted
such life as this at life's endi To die
after this with no more pain! To reach
the sweet sea and swim out to rest
And now he smelt it, The rushing
air was spiced with salt Even in the
pungent forest he detected it through
all the odors and was mistaken in that
no more. Only one question remained
IN his mind. Would the roam hold out ?
Would the roam hold out?
Long ago the pace had slackened.
Long ago Tom had stopped and ripped
his big boots down to the ankles and
cast them from him with all else that
had been the Italians. He was now
riding a light ten stone in his shirt
and trousers His bare feet We're
numb from standing In the stirrups
to ease the roam. But the trees had
been rushing past in myriads half the
night. and still they stood against the
morning skyline, like blots of ink upon
a slate. in myriads more.
On the other hand. he had heard
nothing of his pursuers for some time
and was beginning to wonder whether
they had given up the chase. Their
horses might well have started less
fresh than his. Had they given it up
or had they not?
Tom had asked himself the question
for the twentieth time when some
thing happened, and he had his an
swer sitting stupidity on the ground.
The roam was disappearing amid the
trees, with the saddle beneath its belly.
Its startled gallop died away like the
roll of a drum. But heavier hoofs were
coming up behind.
Tom sprang up, but sat down again
with n yelp of pain. His ankle was
badly sprained. He felt for weapon,
but he had thrown them all away.
Even his knife he seemed to have hurl-
ed after the long boots or left in a
pocket Of the blue jacket, which had
been iettisoned in its turn.
He sat still and groaned. To have
to surrender sitting still! What an
end to his ride! What a beginning Of
the end of all!
The heavy hoofs came nearer, near
err. Three troopers labored into view.
gave n yell and put spurs to their tired
horses, but ceased to spur them when
they saw their man.
why, who are your" cried they.
1.-THE man you want
II wish you were. You're all we
shall get with these horses. But you
must have heard him pass"
A light broke over Tom. He said he
had heard it, but some time since,
when it was darker and he was half
asleep.
And what made you think you We're
our MANI" asked another trooper sus-
piciously.
.I-I-I'm runaway convict"
"Then you're better than nothing"
cried the former speaker. You'll come
with us. But the man we've lost is an
italian, and there's precious little of
the Italian about you"
There was less than little. He had
thrown everything away, but without
d thought of saving his neck by so do
ing. Nor indeed had he saved 1t yet.