Milford chronicle., 1908-12-18


the fog"
The agreed signal Of two shot
reached them again. but clearer. lik
drum taps. and was Immediately an
swered by scattering shots 4 momen
later as the two riders moved FORWARD
at walk. a sharp vOlley rang on
quite clearly and they heard shots anC
the crack Of reviewers again
by George they're coming! Here
we CO.
They put their horses to the gallon
and rode swiftly through the fog. The
beat Of hOofs was now perfectly audi.
bic ahead Of them, and they heard
quite distinctly a single revolver SNAP
twice
oscar has them on the run Bully
for Oscar! They're getting close
Thank the Lord for this level stretch
Now howl and let 'er co."
They went forward, with a yell that
broke weirdly and ehokingly on the
gray cloak of fog their horses hoofs
pounding duly on the earthen road
The rain had almost ceased, but enough
had fallen to soften the ground
They're terribly brave or horribly
scared from their speed" shoutel
Claiborne Now for itn'
They rose in their stirrups ami
charged. yelling Justify, riding necl
and neck toward the unseen foe. and
with their horses at their highest pace
they broke upon the mounted trio tina
now rode upon them grayly out Of tae
mist
There was a mad snorting and
shrinking Of horses. One Of the anil
mails turned and tried to bolt and his
rider, struggling to control him. added |
to the confusion. The fog shat them 1
in with each other and Arnitage and |
Claiborne, having flung bass their own
horses at the onset. h. 0n instant's |
glimpse Of Chauvenet - ~ to swing
his horse into the road. Of Zmai halt
turning as his horse reared to Sten
for the foe behind aad of Durand's i'm.
passive white face as he steadied his
horse with his left hand and leveled
revolver at Armitage with his right.
With cry Claiborne put SPURS to his
horse and drove him forward upon Du
and. His hand knocked the leveled
'evolver flying into the fog. Then
zmai fired twice. and Chauvenet's
frightened horse. panic stricken at the
IhOts. reared. swung round and dashed
Jack the way he had come. and Du-
and and Zmai followed.
Tho fhran f1A- eI,a r,sre /
nd Armitage and Claiborne shook
themselves together and quieted their
IOrses.
"That was too close for fun. Are
on all thereT asked Armitage.
"StiIl in It. but Chauvenet's friend
7on't miss every time. There's muir
er in his eye. The big fellow seemed
} be trying to shoot his own horse"
ooh, he's a knife and sack man and
umsy with the gun"
They moved slowly forward now,
nd Armitage sent his horse across the
,ugh ditch at the roadside to get his
earrings. The fog seemed at the point
breaking, and the mass about them
lifted and drifted in the growing
CHIT
This is nv land, sure enough. Lord.
an. wish you'd get out of this and
} home. You see, they're an ugly lot
ID don't use toy pistols"
Remember the potato sack! That's
y watchwOrd." laughed Claiborne
they rode with their eyes straight
ead. peering through the breaking
ating mist. 1t was now so clear ana
hit that they could see the wood al
her hand though fifty yards aheaI
every direction the fog still lay like
Darricade.
i should value a change of raj
mt" observed Armitage. There
IS an advantage in armor-your duds
ght get rusty on a damp excursion.
your shirt wouldn't stick to your
Ie."
Who cares? Those devils are pref
quiet. and the little sergeant is
)ut due to bump into them again"
hey had come to a gradual turn in
road at a point where a steep wood
incline swept up on the left On
right lay the old hunting preserve
Armitages bungalow. As they
" into the curve they heard a re-
YER crack twice, as before, followed
answering shots and cries and the
mp of boots.
)heel Oscar has struck them again
ldy nOwl Watch your horseT' And
nitage raised his arm high above
head and fred twice as a warning
oscar.
le distance between the contendine
les was shorter now than at the
meeting, and Armitage and Clai
lie bent forward in their saddles.
ing softly to their horses. thai
danced wildly at Armitage's shots
ord, If we can crowd them in here
and back to the Portl"
herew
died on their lips at the
int Ahead Of them lay the fog
g and breaking in soft folds. and
nd 1t men yelled and several shote