The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1908-08-28
knowledge II.

and do you take Sailor. He's cast a
shoe. Lead him on the road to the
nearest shop and come after me as
fast as is safe. but don't kill the
horse. I'm bound for Portsmouth
You'll find me at the Blue Boar inn
Here's money for the journey. ANY.
thing happens, you can leave your
horse and come forward by post
horses. you understand"
Darlington gathered up the reins
sprang upon the mares back and
without looking over his shoulder, gal.
loped on ahead. The delay had given
him time to come to his senses.
he swept over the ground rapidly, and
after two hours of terrific going he
pulled up at wayside inn. He
sprang from his horse the instant he
stepped before the entrance. Lord
Darlington was we'll known in the vi.
cinity. and in a moment a dozen obse-
quious hostlers and horse boys scram.
bled about him while mine host came
bowling before the door.
"A horse, the best you have in the
stables!"
MY lord" began the host, I'm very
sorry"
mo words" interrupted Carrington,
bring me horse and a draught OF
wine"
My best horse has been taken, your
lordship. some three hours ago, and I
have naught but Indifferent ones left"
Bring me the best you have. I
don't care what it is" said Caring.
ton. Don't you see my mare can 20
no farther and must have some sort
of horse. How far is it to the next
posting stauon?"
"A matter of ten miles,"
We'll, give me something that can
make the distance in an hour, and il
founder him or kill him, I'll pay you
well for him."
Here, Dick" said the landlord, "you
hear my lord. Bring old Joe. 'Tis
the best We have. There's bay horse
in the stable, If he were only fresh
He came in two hours ago, and Lord
Strathgate-"
Who came, did you say?" cried Car
rington, turning quickly.
THE earl of Strathgate, your
honor"
Was he here?"
1.-TWO hours agone, sir. He took
bite of breakfast and draught of
wine and our best horse and rode on"
Was he alone?"
Alone, your lordship. There's sum
mat strange about it, too, for his head
was all bloody, his coat was streaked
with mud, he was riding bay horse,
looked like carriage horse, bareback
with bits of harness dangling to it.
He had no hat on"
Where is that bay horse?" cried
Darlington, tingling with excitement.
"Yonder, in the stable yard being
rubbed down"
MY horse Betty! By heaven!" he
exclaimed. What is the meaning Of
this?" He turned and faced the
astonished landlord once more Did
you say that Strathgate was alone?"
Absolutely alone"
did he ask any questions?"
He asked me II there was woman
and young man had got horses and
ridden on ahead, If anybody had seen
anything of any kind of coach, or
wagon, or carriage, or people On horse
back"
And what answer made you?'
"'Cept the coach for Portsmouth,
which went up empty, and some farm
wagons driven by men. we knew that
nobody had passed this morning."
and you say Strathgate was in a
hurry?"
Il never seed a man more in q
hurry, your lordship, unless it was
yourself" added mine host.
You're right" cried Darlington.
He was utterly bewildered by the
situation. His calculations were all at
sea. What could be the meaning of
Strathgate alone upon the road, with
a broken head and a muddy coat, rid
ing on coach horse and driving tho
beast even as he had forced Sailor
and the mare? Where were Ellen
and Deborah?
some one. but if SO, who? Who, but
Ellen and Deborah. and how could
they keep ahead of such furious chas-
Ing? They had not gone off together,
then. In some way they had given
Strathgate the slip. Lord Caring.
ton jumped at this conclusion and his
heart bounded.
Ny lord rode with as heavy a hand
as before, but with considerably
lighter heart OF one thing he was
certain. that Ellen was not with
Strathgate.
(TO BE CONTINUED
PROMISES OF ELECTRICAL ERA.