The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-11-06

81 can understand how unpleasant
the subject must be to you, my dear
Jules. What do you imagine she knows
of NJ. Armitage? If he is the man we
think he is, and possible heir to a
great throne. it would be impossible
for her to marry him."
His tastes are democratic. In Mon
tana he is quite popular"
Durand flung away his cigarette and
laughed suddenly.
HAS it occurred to you that this
whole affair is decidedly amusing?
Here we are in one Of the free Ameri-
can states about to turn q card that
will dethrone a king If we are lucky.
And here is man we are trying to get
out of the way-a man we might make
king If he were not a fool! In Ameri-
ca! 1t touches my sense Of humor, my
dear Jules!'
An exclamation from Zmai arrested
them The Servian jerked up his horse,
and they were instantly at his side.
They had reached a point near the
bunting preserve in the main highway.
1t was about half past o'clock, an
hour at which Virginia mountain
roads are usually free Of travellers,
and they had been sending their horses
along as briskly as the uneven roads
and the pace Of Zmai's laggard beast
permitted.
The beat Of a horses hoofs could be
heard quite distinctly in the road
ahead of them. The road tended
downward, and the strain of the as
cent was marked in the approaching
animals walk. In a moment the three
men heard the horses quick snort Of
satisfaction as 1t reached leveler
ground. Then, seeming the other AMI
mails, 1t threw up its head and neighed
shrilly.
In the dusk Of starlight Durand saw
Zmai dismount and felt the Servian's
big, rough hand touch his in passing
the bride Of his horse.
"Waitw said the Servian.
The horse of the unknown paused,
neighed again and refused to go far
ther. A mans deep voice encouraged
him in low tones. The horses Of
Chauvenet's party danced about rest
lessly, responsive to the nervousness
of the strange beast before them.
"Who goes there?"
The strangers horse was quiet for
an instant, and the rider had forced
him so near that the beasts upreined
head and the erect shoulders Of the
horseman were quite clearly defined.
"Who goes thereT shouted the rider,
while Chauvenet and Durand bent
their eyes toward him, their hands
tight on their brides, and listened,
waiting for Zmai They heard a sud-
den rush Of steps, the impact Of his
giant body as lie flung himself upon
the shrinking horse, and then a cry Of
alarm and rage. Chauvenet slipped
down and ran forward with the quick,
soft glide of cat and caught the
bride of the strangers horse. The
horseman struggled in Zmafs great
arms, and his beast plunged wildly.
No words passed. The rider had kick
ed his feet out of the stirrups and
gripped the horse hard with his legs.
LILO al liz NCiC hdhS w W plOlCCI hio
head, over which Zmai tried to force
the sack.
1.-THE knife" bawled the Servian.
"Now answered Chauvenet.
"The devilw yelled the rider, and
dug his spurs into the rearing beasts
TANKS.
Chauvenet held on valiantly with
both hands to the horses head. Once
the frightened beast swung him clear
Of the ground. A few yards distant
Durand sat on his own horse and held
the brides of the others. He soothed
the restless animals in low tones, the
light of his cigarette shaking oddly in
the dark with the movement of his
lips.
The horse ceased to plunge. Zmai
held its rider erect with his left arm
while the right drew the sack down
over the head and shoulders of the
prisoner.
Tie him." said Chauvenet. and Zmai
buckled strap about the mans arms
and bound them tight.
The dust in the bag caused the man
inside to cough, but save for the one
exclamation he had not spoken,
Chauvenet and Durand conferred in
low tones while Zmai drew out a
tether strap and snapped it to the curb
bit Of the captive's horse.
''The fellow takes it pretty coolly,"
remarked Durand, lighting fresh Gig
arctic. "What are you going to do
with himr'
1--WE will take him to his own place
it is near-and coax the papers out of
him. Then well find a precipice and
toss him over. 1t is simple matter"
Zmai handed Chauvenet the revolver
he had taken from the silent man on
the horse.
81 am ready" he reported.
"Go ahead; we follow" And they
started toward the bungalow, Zmai
riding beside the captive and holding
fast to the led horse. Where the road
was smooth they sent the horses for
ward at a smart trot. But the cap
tive accepted the gait. He found the
stirrups again and sat his saddle
straight He coughed now and then,
but the hemp sack was sufficiently
porous to give him n little air. - AS
they rode or his silent submission
oorood e. ocI.