Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-09-12

the crack Of revolvers again.
by George. they're comiugl here
we gor'
They put their horses 20 the gallon
and rode swiftly through the fog. The
beat OF boots was now perfectly audi
ble 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 aud let 'er go"
They went forward. with a yell that
broke weirdly and chobingly on the
gray cloak Of FOG. their horses boots
pounding duly on the earthen road
The rain had almost ceased. but enough
had fallen 70 soften the ground
They're terribly brave or horribly
scared. from their speed" shouted
Claiborne 'Now for itr'
They rose in their stirrups and
charged. yelling Justify. riding neck
and neck toward the unseen foe. and.
with their horses az their highest pace.
they broke upon the mounted trio tha.
now rode upon them grayly out Of the
mist.
There was a mad snoring and
shrinking OF horses. One OF the anil
mails turned and tried 90 bolt and his
rider. struggling TO control him. added
40 the confusion. The FOG shut them
In with each other. and Armltage and
Claiborne. having funE back their own
horses at the onset had ca instants
glimpse OF Chauvenet trying 20 swing
his horse into the road. OF Zmai half
turning as bis horse reared TO listen
FOR the Zoe behind and OF Durand's i'm
passive white face rs be steadied his
horse with his left hand and leycled a
revolver at ArmitaEe with his right
With cry Claiborne put spurs 20 bis
horse and drove him forward upon Du-
rand. His hand knocked tho Ievelcd
revolver flying into the fog. Then
Zmai fred twice. and Chauvenet's
frightened horse. panic stricken at the
shots. reared. swung round and dashed
back the way be had come. and Du-
rand and Zmai followed.
The three disappeared into the mist.
and Armiage and Claiborne shook
themselves together and quieted their
horses.
THAT was too close FOR fun. Are
you all thereY' asked Armitage.
"Sdn in 10. but Chauvenets friend
won't miss every time. There's muir
der IN his eye. The big fellow seemed
20 be trying to shoot his own horse"
"Oh. he's a knife and sack man and
clumsy with the gun"
They moved slowly forward now.
and Armitage sent his horse across the
rough ditch az the roadside 10 get his
bearings. The fog seemed at the point
or breaking, and the mass about them
shifted and drifted IN the growing
light
This IS my land. sure enough. Lord.
man. ! wish you'd get out OF this and
so home. You see. they're an ugly LOT
and don't use toy pistols"
| Remember the potato sack That's
my watchword." laughed Claiborne.
They rode with their eyes straigh;
ahead peering through the breakinr
| floating mist IL was now so clear and
light that they could see the wood at
either hand. though ffty yards ahead
IN every direction the FOG stu lay like
q barricade.
u should value q change OF raj.
ment" observed Armitage. There
was an advantage in armor-your buds
might get rusty on a damp excursion
but your shirt wouldD't stick to your
hide"
''Who cares7 Those devils are pref
~ quiet. and the little sergeant is
about due TO bump into them again"
They had come TO a gradual turn iu
the road at point where a steep wood
ed incline swept up on the left or
the right lay the old hunting preserve
and Armitage's bungalow. AS they
drew into the curve they heard a re
volver crack twice. as before, followed
by answering shots and cries and the
thump of hoofs.
"Oheel Oscar has struck them again
Steady nowi Watch your horser' AND
Armitage raised his arm high abov,
his head and fred twice as q warning
60 Oscar.
The distance between the contendlnl
| parties was shorter now than at tn,
| first meeting. and Armitage and Clai
borne bent forward in their saddles
talking softly TO their horses, tha
had danced wildly at Armitage'S shots
Lord. II we can crowd them IN her,
now and back to the PortP'
"ThereY
Explanations died on their lips at tn,
| instant Ahead OF them lay the fog
rising and breaking in soft folds. anC
behind IL men yelled and several shot.
snapped spitefully on the heavy air
Then a curious picture disclosed itsel
| just at the edge OF the vapor as though
II were a curtain through which actor,
In a drama emerged upon a stage
| Zmai and Chauvenet flashed into view
suddenly. and close behind them Oscar
yelling Ike mad. He drove his hors,
| between the two men. threw himsel
| fiat as Zmai fired at him and turned
and waved his hat and laughed q
them; then just before his horse reach
ed Claiborne and Armitage ho checked
4 -.