Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-03

Meanwhile os. lantcTn and ran. car. thinking Zmai badly hurt, did not fire again. but flung himself upon the fellows broad shoulders. and down they crashed against the door of the nearest pen. Zmai swerved and shook himself free, while he fiercely cursed his foe. Oscars hands slipped on the fellows hot blood that ran from a long crease in the side of his head.
 As they fell the pen door snapped free. and out into the starry pasture thronged the frightened sheep.
 "The letter-givs me the letter" com manded Oscar, his face close to the Servian's. He did not know how badly the man was injured. but he was anx- ious to complete hls business and be off. Still the sheep came huddling through the broken door. across the prostrate men and scampered away into the open. Captain Claiborne, run ming toward the fold with his lantern and not looking for obstacles, stumbled over their bewildered advance guard and plunged headlong into the gray f1eeces. Meanwhile into the pockets of his prostrate foe went Oscars hands with no result. Then he remembered the mans gesture in pulling the hat close upon his ears, and off came the hat and with 1t blood stained envel ope. The last sheep in the pen trooped out and galloped toward its comrades.
 Oscar, making off with the letter, plunged into the rear guard of the sheep, fell, stumbled to his feet and confronted Captain Claiborne as that gentleman in soiled evening dress fum- bled for his lantern and swore at the sheep in language unbecoming an off, Ger and a gentleman.
 Tt is sheep-yes?" and Oscar started to bolt.
 "Haltw
 The authority of the tone rang fa- miliarly in Oscars ears. He had after considerable tribulation learned to stop short when an officer spoke to him, and the gentleman of the sheepfold stood straight in the starlight and spoke like an officer.
 What are you doing here, and who fired that shotT'
 Oscar saluted and summoned his best English.
 "It was an accident, sir"
 "Why are you running and why did you fire? Understand you are tres passer here, and I am going to turn you over to the constable"
 There was g sheep stealer-yes? He is wonder by the pens, and we had some little fighting, but he is not dead --no?"
 At that moment Claiborne's eyes caught sight of burly figure rising and thrashins about by the broken 1 pen door.
 That is the sheep stealer." said Os- car. we shall catch him-yesY'
 Zmai peered toward them uncertain ly for a moment, then turned abruptly and ran toward the road. Oscar start ed 10 cut off his retreat, but Claiborne caught the sergeant by the shoulder and flung him back.
 "One of you at time! They can turn the hounds on the other rascal. What's that you have there2 Give 1t to me-quick"
 Its piece of WOOL l But Claiborne snatched the paper from Oscars hand and commanded the man to march ahead of him to the house. So over the meadow and through the pergola they went, across the veranda and into the library. The power of army discipline was upon Oscar If Claiborne had not been an officer he would have run for 1t in the garden. AS 1t was. he was taxing his wits to find some way out of his pre- dicament. He had not the slightest idea as to what the paper might be. He had risked his life to secure 1t, and