Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-11-04

morning."
They rode abreast beside the railroad
through the narrow gap. A long freight
tie later they passed coal shaft,
where begrimed night shift loaded
cars under flaring torches.
.'Their message to Winkelried is still
on this side of the Atlantic. said Ar
mitage, "but Winkelried is In strong
room by this time If the existing pow
ers at Vienna are what they ought to
be. I've done my best to get him there.
The message would only help the case
against him if they sent it.
Claiborne groaned mockingly.
81 suppose I'll know, what it's all
about when l read it in the morning
papers. like the game well enough,
but it might be more amusing to know
what I'm fighting for"
."You enlisted without reading the ar
ticles of war. and you've got to take
the consequences. You've done what
you set out to do, you've found me, and
you're travelling with me over the Vir-
ginia mountains to report my capture
to Baron Won Marhof On the way you
are going to assist in another affair
that will be equally to your credit. and
then If all goes we'll with us I'm going
to give myself the pleasure Of allow
ing NJ. Chauvcnet to tell you exactly
who am: The incident appeals to
my sense of humor. assure you I
have one. or course If were not n
person of very great distinction Chau-
venet and his friend Durand would
not have crossed the ocean and
brought with them professional as
sassin. skilled in the use Of smothering
and knitting, to do away with me. You
are in luck to be alive. We are dan
gerously near the same size and build
and in the dark, on horseback"-
THAT was funny. l knew that II
ran for 1t they'd plug me for sure and
that If | waited until they saw their
mistake they would be afraid to kill
me. Ugh! still taste the red soil OF
the Old Dominion
Come, captain. let us give the horses
chance to prove their blood. These
roads will be paste In Il few hours"
The dawn was breaking sullenly
and out of a gray, low hanging mist =
light rain fell In the soft. monotonous
| fashion of mountain rain. Much of the
time it was necessary TO maintain sin
| gle file. and Armitage rode ahead. Thu
fog grew thicker as they advanced. bu
they did not lessen their pace. which
had now dropped to steady trot.
Suddenly, rs they swept on beyond
Lamar, they hear the beat of hoofs ant
halted.
Bully for us! We've cut in ahcat
of them! Can you count them. Clal
borne?"
il "There are three horses all RICH
enough. and they're forcing the beasts
What's the word?'
Drive them back! Ready-here W
go!' roared Armitage in a voice In
tended to be heard
II They yelled Mt the top Of their voice
as they charged, plunglng into the I'D
vancing trio after G forty yard gallop.
i "'Not later than Friday'-back yo
4 go" shouted Armitage and laughe
aloud at the enemy's rout. One Of til
horses 1T seemed from its riders yell
to be Chauvenets-turned and boltet
and the others followed back the wa
they had come.
Soon they dropped their pace to
trot, but the trio continued to fly b.
fore them.
They're ratified" said Claiborne
"and the fog isn't helping them any"
We're getting close to my place,
said Armitage, and as he spoke tW
shots fired in rapid succession cracke
faintly through the fog, and they jerl
ed up their horses.
Its Oscar! He's good way ahea
If judge the shots right"
'If he turns them back, we ought
y hear their horses in moment" OIL