Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-08-29

"Iie was good man; be was a very
great man." said Oscar slowly and
went quickly out and closed the door
softly after him
The life OF the two men in the bun.
galow was established In a definite
| routine. Oscar was drilled I'm habits OF
observation and attention. and he real
lied without being told that some seri-
Gus business was afoot He knew that
Armitage's life had been attempted
s2d that the receipt and dispatch OF
kilograms was a part OF whatever er-
rand had brought his master 10 the
Virginia hills. His occupations were
wholly TO his liking; there was simple
food 70 eat; there were horses to tend.
and his errands abroad were Of the
nature or scouting and 10 keeping with
ones dignity who had been a soldier.
He rose often at night to look abroad.
and sometimes he found Armitage
walking the yeranda or returning from
tramp through the wood. ArmItuge
spent much time studying papers. and
once. the day after Armitage submitted
his wounded arm 20 Oscars care. he
had seemed upon the verge Of a conf
dence,
"To save life. to prevent disaster. to
do little good IN the world. to do
something for Austria-such things are
70 the souls credit, Oscar" And then
Armitage's mood changed. and he had
begun chatting in fashion that was
beyond Oscars comprehension.
The little soldier rode over the hills
70 Lamar station in the waning spring
twilight asked at the telegraph Office
for messages stuffed Armitage's mail
into his pockets at the pOstofice and
turned home as the moonlight poured
down the slopes and flooded the val
leys
At the gate OF the hunting park
grounds he bent forward IA the saddle
20 lift the chain that held IL. urged his
horse inside. bent down 10 refasten It.
and as his fingers ciutched the iron
man rose in the shadow OF the little
lodge and clasped him about the mid
de. The iron chain swung free and
ratified against the post. and the horse
snorted with fright. then nc q word
from Oscar was still There was the
harcst second OF waiting. in which the
long arms frightened and the great
body of his assailant hung heavily
about him. then ne dug spurs into the
horses TANKS and the animal leaped
forward. with n snort OF rage: jumped
out OF the path and tore away through
the woods.
Oscars whole strength was taxed %
hold hts sest MS the burly figure hump
cd against the horses tanks. He had
hoped 60 shake the man or. but the
great arms stil claspod him The sit
UatiOn could not last Oscar took al
vantage OF the moonlight 90 choose q
spot in which 90 terminate H. He had
his bearings now. and as they crossed
an opening I'm the wood no suddenly
looscncd his grip on the horse and
flung himself backward His assau-
ant. no longer supported. rolled % the
ground. with Oscar on top OF him. and
the freed horse galloped away toward
the stable.
rough and tumble fight now FOL
lowed. Oscars 1.-THE. vigorous body
writhcd Ia the grasp OF his antagonist.
now free. now clasped by giant arms.
They saw each others faces plainly IN
the clear moonlight and az brcathless
pauses In the struggle their eyes main
tanned the state OF war. At one in
slant. when both men lay with arms
interiocked. half lying on their thighs.
Oscar Kissed In the giants ear:
you are Seryian- IL IS an ugly
race"
And the servian cursed him In
fierce growl.
Eve expected you. You are n had
hand with the knife" grunted Oscar.
and. feeling the bellowslike chest be
side him expand as though ln prepare
ton FOR a renewal OF the fight. ne sud
denly wrenched himself free OF the
Servian's grasp, leaped away a dozen
PAGES TO the shelter OF n great pine
and turned, revolver IN hand.
Throw up your handsr he yelled.
The Servian fred without pauslng Tor
aim, the shot ringing out sharply
through the wood Then Oscar dis
charged his revolver three times I'm
quick succession. and while the dis
charges were stlu keen on tho air he
drew quickly back 20 a clump OF un-
derbrush and crept away dozen yards
20 watch events. The Servian. with
his eyes fixed upon the tree behind
which his adversary had sought shell
ter. grew anxious and thrust his head
forward warily.
Then he heard sound as OF some
one running through the wood 10 the
left and behind him. but still tho man
he had grappled on the horse made no
sign 1t dawned upon him that the
ssaasltl