The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-10-08

They put their boracs 70 the galio
and rode swiftly through the fae IN
beat ~ hopfs was now perfectly anal
bile ahead Of them and they hear
quite distinctly a single revolver saal
twice
oscar has them on the run Bun1
for Oscar, Theyp getting close
Thank the Lori for this level stretch
Now howl and let or SOL"
Thoy went forward. with yelI tha
broke weirily aud ehokingly on ID,
gray cloak ot log. their horses hoar,
pounding duly on the carthcn road
The rain bad almost ceased, but enough
bad fallen 20 soften the ground
They're terribly brave or horribly
scared, from their speedr shouted
| Claiborne Now for M"
They rose IN their stirrups and
charged, yelling Justify, riding neck
and neck toward the unseen Zoe. and
with their horses AZ their highest pace.
they broke upon the mounted TITO that
now rode upon them grayly out OF the
mist
There was mad snortlng and
shrinking OF horses. one OF the ami.
mails turned and tried 10 bolt, and his
rider. struggling 10 control him, added
10 the confusion The fog shut them
In with each other. and Armltage and
Claiborne, having flung back their own
horses at The onset had an inslant's
glimpse OF Chauyenet trying 10 swing
bis horse into the road. OF Zmai half
turning as his horse reared 10 listen
for the Zoe behind and of Durand's i'm
passive white face as he stcadied his
horse with his left hand and lcveled a
revolver at Armitage with his right
With a cry Claiborne put spurs 20 his
horse and drove him forward upon Du
rand His hand knocked the leyeled
revolver flying into the fog Then
Zmal Ared twice. and Chauyenets
frightened horse, panic stricken Mt the
shots, reared, swung round and dashed
back the wny he had come aud Du
rand and Zmai followed
The three disappeared into the mist,
and ArmItage and Claiborne shook
themselves together and quieted their
horses.
THAT was too close for fun Are
you all therer' asked Armitaee
"Stll In II, but Chauvenets 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 aud |
clumsy with the gun
They moved slowly forward now, |
ana Armltage sent his horse across the |
rough ditch at the roadside 90 get his |
bearings. The fog seemed AT the point |
OF breaking, and the mass about them
shifted and drifted In the growing
light.
This IL my land, sure enough Lord |
man, wish you'd get out Of this ana
90 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. II was now SO clear and
light that they could see the wood al
either hand though iifty yards ahead
In every direction the fog still lay like
A barrIcade
II should value change OF raj
ment." observed Armltage There
was an advantage In armor-your duds
might get rusty on u damp excursion,
but your shirt wouldn't stick to your
hide"
"Who cares7 Those devils are pret.
Iy quiet, and the little sergeant Is
lbout due TO bump into them again"
They had come 10 a gradual turn IN
he road at point where n steep wood
ID incline swept up on the left On
he right lay the old hunting preserve
md Armitage's bungalow As they
lrew into the curve they heard re-
'olver crack twice. as before. followed
~ answering shots and cries aud the
hump OF hoofs
"Oheel Oscar has struck them again
steady nowl Watch your horser And
Nrmitage raised his arm high above
lis head and lired twice as "A warning
o Oscar.
The distance between the contendlng
'arties was shorter now than at the
lrst meeting. and Armltage and Clai.
,orne bent forward In their saddles.
alking softly 10 their horses. that
Iad danced wildly at Arnllage's shots
Lord, If we can crowd them IN here
low and back 10 the Port"
There"
Exclnmatlons died on their lips al the
Instant Ahead OF them lay the fog
ising and breaking In soft folds, and
ehind II men yelled and several shots
mapped spitefuIly on the heavy air
hen n curious picture disclosed itself
ust at the edge OF the vnpor as though
were a curtain through which actors
0 drama emerged upon stage
mai and chuuvenct flashed into view
and close behind them Oscar.
clling like mad He drove bis horse
etween the two men. threw himself
at as Zmai fred nj him and turned {
nd waved bis hat and laughed at
hem. then just before his horse reach n
. Claiborne and Armitage be checked /
= speed abruptly, nung Il about and i
len charged back. still yelling. upon
be amazed foe
Hes crazy; he's gone clean ont u A
Is head" muttered Claiborne. re 4
hs horse with diiiiculty 4
What DO you make Of M" r
Hes having fun with Them Hes
ist rnttllng them 10 warm himself nn.
ne little beggar didn't know Il was
him.
Back went oscar toward The two
DrseDcn he had passed less than a
inuts before, still yelling. and this I
me be discharged his revolver with 4
'eining unconcern for the value OF a
and M be again dashed +
stween them and bnck through the