The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-09-18
knowledge II.

You'll find me at the Blue Boar inn.
Here's money for the Journey, If any
thing happens, you can leave your
horse and come forward by post
horses, you understands
Darlington gathered up the reins,
sprang upon the mares back and
without looking over his shoulder, gal
loped on ahead. The delay had given
him time to come to his senses.
he swept over the ground rapidly, and
after two hours of terrific going he
pulled up at a wayside inn. He
sprang from his horse the instant he
stepped before the entrance. Lord
Darlington was we'll known in the Vi
cinity, and in moment dozen obse-
uuious hostlers and horse boys scram-
bled about him while mine host came
bowling before the door.
"a horse, the best YOU have in the
stables!"
My lord" began the host, I'm very
sorry
"No words" interrupted Darlington,
bring me horse and draught of
wine"
MY best horse has been taken, your
| lordship, some three hours ago, and
have naught but Indifferent ones left
Bring me the best you have. I
don't care what it is, said Caring.
ton. Don't you see my mare can go
no farther and I must have some sort
of a horse. How far is it to the next
posting station?"
"a matter of ten miles
well, give me something that can
make the distance in an hour, and II
| founder him or kill him, III pay you
we'll for him."
Here, Dick" said the landlord, you
hear my lord. Bring old Joe. TITS
the best we have. There's bay horse
in the stable, if he were only fresh.
He came in two hours ago, and Lord
Strathgate-"
who came, did you say" cried Car
rington, turning quickly.
The earl of Strathgate, your
honor"
WAS he here?"
1.-TWO hours agone, sir. He took
bite of breakfast and a draught OF
wine and our best horse and rode ca u
WAS he alone?"
Alone, your lordship. There's sum
mat strange about it, too, for his head
was all bloody, his coat was streaked
with mud, he was riding a bay horse
looked like carriage horse, bareback
with bits of harness dangling to it
He had no hat on"
where is that bay horse?" crieG
Darlington, tingling with excitement
"Yonder, in the stable yard being
rubbed down."
"My horse Betty! By heaven!" hi
exclaimed. What is the meaning o
this?" He turned and faced thu
astonished landlord once more. "Dit
you say that Strathgate was alone?'
absolutely alone"
Did he ask any Questions?"
''He asked me if there was woman
and a young man had got horses ant
ridden on ahead, if anybody had seel
anything of any kind of coach, o
wagon, or carriage, or people on horse
back"
"And what answer made your"
"Cept the coach for Portsmouth
which went up empty, and some farr
wagons driven by men, we knew tina
nobody had passed this morning"
and you say Strathgate was in
hurry?"
Il never seed man more in
hurry, your lordship, unless it wa
yourself" added mine host.
You're right" cried Darlington.
He was utterly bewildered by tn
situation. His calculations were all s
sea. What could be the meaning
u Strathgate alone upon the road, wit
q a broken head and muddy coat RI
10 ing on coach horse and driving til
q beast even as he had forced Sailt
% and the mare? Where were Ellis
r. and Deborah?
% 1t must be that he was pursuiI
n some one, but If SO, who? Who, b
N Ellen and Deborah, and how cou
n. they keep ahead of such furious cha
N ing? They had not gone off togethe
ia then. In some way they had give
70 Strathgate the slip. Lord CarriA
h ton Jumped at this conclusion and h
30 heart bounded
i, MY lord rode with as heavy hal
~ as before, but with considerab
~ lighter heart. OF one thing he w
"A certain, that Ellen was not wi
ID Strathgate.
~ CTO BE CONTINUED)
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