Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-04-24

understand that he had no intention of
marrying her? 1t would be sharp work:
but men lose no time when their fortunes
are at stake. I'VE shall see" said |, re-
turning to my work, for which l hoped
there would be no need when | went up
for Flexmore's signature.
CHAPTER VIII.
1t was two o'clock when | got into
the Doctors gig with the new will. My
house was just on the outskirts of the
town; Flexmore's was two or three miles
beyond on the other side of Beagle Woods.
The mist had been thick all the morn
ing but it was thicker than ever when
| started, so that l could not see three
yards ahead with my glasses on. How
ever, knew | could trust to the intelli-
gence of the doctors nag, who took that
road every day in the week, and nights as
well sometimes and with my collar well
up, and my nose well down in a comfort
er, off. started.
| logged along pretty comfortably un-
til we got into the Beagle Woods; there
the mist seemed to have settled down into
solid block, and the big trees that skirt
scurity. However, the nag kept on her
ambling trot-till presently, smash Down
she went, without any kind of warning,
up dashed the seat of the gig, and out 1
flew, as though | had been shot from a
catapult.
| was on my legs in a moment, for my
first thought was of the will l had stuck
under the seat cushion, and | feared the
nag would start up a ndbolt with it. 1
could hear her breathing heavily; she did
not attempt to move. | ran back in that
direction, when-Dang over l went again,
fiat on my nose. / had felt something
strike against my shins, and as l rose
to my feet once more, l discovered the
cause of both falls-a cord was stretched
across the road.
1t slackened as l touched it, and the
next moment was whisked out of my
hands. Was this the wanton mischief of
boys, or the sinister design Of some ono
bent upon plunder?
my names Anthony Keene, and you
shall suffer for this, you vagabonds, who
ever you are" I shouted, as l groped
my way to the gig. 1 am well known
in Coneyford, and I knew that If they
were boys they would scuttle off on hear
ing my name.
There was no sound of voice or foot
fall-only the old nag gasping on the
ground. Then felt sure it was the work
of a man; but l was not fearful Of any
further mischief, for the thief must be
foolhardy indeed to attac kan old law
yer, who is more likely to get him into
trouble than yield much in the way Of
booty.
Feeling about the poor old horse, I
found that both the shafts were broken,
so there was no thought of going on in
the gig even If the horses legs were not
broken as well. The will was just where
l had stuck it, under the strap of the
cushion; clapped it in my pocket, and,
after moments reflection, started off 30
walk the remainder of the journey, leav-
ing horse and trap in the road to take
their chances.
A nice walk l matchmaking into a
ditch on the right, and then into ditch
on the left, running fiat up against a
brick wall, and then pitching on to a pile
of fints by the roadside, all the time in
such darkness and impenetrable fog, that
for all l knew might have been walking
half the time in a circle. To make mat
ters worse, l found my nose was bleeding
from the fall 1 got over the cord. 1t
seemed to me 1 should never get to my
journeys end. However, after a time It
grew less obscure, which made me think
/ must have got clear of the Beagle
Woods, which was a comfort; and short
ly afterwards heard footsteps approach
ing.
who's there?" I called when I felt Il
was time to speak, lest l ran into some
thing fresh.
"Sam Martin. Be that you, Muster
Keene?" replied a well-known voice.
"Yes, it is. How far am l from Mr..
Flexmore's house?"
about half a mile-keep straight on
by the paling. Thought it were you, Mr..
Keene, by your little squeaking voice.
Shall 1 turn back wi ye?"
mo. Go straight on. I've left the
Doctors trap in the road-horse down
see what you can do with it, Sam Mar
tin, and take care no one else comes into
mischief over it."
Ito be continued.)
The Riot Act.