The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-11-05

rider. struggling to control him, addet
to the confusion. The fog shut then
in with each other. and Armitage ani
Claiborne, having flung back their OWL
horses at the onset. had an instant'l
glimpse OF Chauvenet trying to swinf
his horse into the road, of Zmai hall
turning as his horse reared to lister
for the foe behind and of Durand's i'm
passive white face as he steadied his
horse with his left hand and leveled Q
| revolver at Armitage with his right.
With cry Claiborne put spurs to his
horse and drove him forward upon Du
rand. His hand knocked the leveled
revolver flying into the fog. Then
Zmai fired twice. and Chauvenet's
frightened horse, panic stricken at the
shots. reared, swung round and dashed
! back the way he had come. and Du-
/ rand and Zmai followed.
The three disappeared into the mist,
| and Armitage and Claiborne shook
themselves together and quieted their
horses. l.....
THAT was too close for fun. Are
you all thereY asked Armitage.
'Still In It, but Chauvenet's friend
won't miss every time. There's mur-
der in his eye. The big fellow seemed
to be trying to shoot his own horse"
"Oh. he's knife and sack man and
clumsy with the gum"
They moved slowly forward now,
and Armitage sent his horse across the
rough ditch at the roadside to get his
bearings. The fog seemed at the point
Of breaking, and The mass about them
shifted and drifted in the growing
light.
This is my land, sure enough. Lord,
man. wish you'd get out Of this and
60 home. You see, they're an ugly lot
and don't use toy pistols"
Remember the potato sack! That's
my watchword." laughed Claiborne.
They rode with their eyes straight
ahead. peering through the breaking.
floating mist. It was now SO clear and
light that they could see the wood at
either hand. though fifty yards ahead
in every direction the fog still lay like
q barricade.
II should value change Of raj
ment," observed Armitage. There
was an advantage in armor-your duds
might get rusty on damp excursion.
but your shirt wouldn't stick to your
hide"
"Who cares? Those devils are pref
ty quiet, and the little sergeant Is
about due to bump into them again."
They had come to a gradual turn in
the road at a point where a steep wood
ed incline swept up on the left. On
the right lay the old hunting preserve
and Armitage's bungalow. As they
drew into the curve they heard a re-
volver crack twice, as before, followed
by answering shots and cries and the
thump of hoofs.
"Ohee! Oscar has struck them again.
Steady now! Watch your horse!' And
Armitage raised his arm high above
his head and fired twice as warning
to Oscar.
The distance between the contending
parties was shorter now than at the
first meeting. and Armitage and Clai-
borne bent forward in their saddles.
talking softly to their horses. that
had danced wildly at Armitage's shots.
Lord, If we can crowd them in here
now and back to the Port!
'There"
Exclamations died on their lips at the
instant Ahead Of them lay the fog,
rising and breaking In soft folds, and
behind it men yelled and several shots
snapped spitefully on the heavy air.
Then curious picture disclosed itself
just at the edge Of the vapor as though
1t were a curtain through which actors
in drama emerged upon stage.
Zmai and Chauvenet flashed into view
suddenly. and close behind them Oscar,
yelling like mad He drove his horse
between the two men, threw himself
fat as Zmai fired at him and turned
and waved his hat and laughed at
them; then just before his horse reach
ed Claiborne and Armitage he checked
its speed abruptly. flung it about and
then charged back, still yelling. upon
the amazed foe.
Hes crazy: he's gone clean out Of
his headw muttered Claiborne, re-
straining his horse with difficulty.
what do you make of it2"
"He's having fun with them. He's
just rattling them to warm himself up,
the little beggar didn't know it was
in him."
Back went Oscar toward the two
horsemen he had passed less than q
minute before. still yelling. and this
time he discharged his revolver with
seeming unconcern for the value OF
ammunition. and as he again dashed
between them and back through the
gray curtain Armitage gave the word.
and he and Claiborne swept on at a
gallop.
Durand was out Of sight, and Chau-
venet turned and looked behind him
uneasily; then he spoke sharply to
Zmai Oscars wild ride back and forth
had demoralized the horses. which
were snorting and plunging wildly. As
Armitage and Claiborne advanced
Chauvenet spoke again to Zmai and
drew his own revolver.
"Oh. for a saber nowr' growled Oai-
borne.
But it was not moment for specula-