Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-22
Of THE House Of a Thousand Can

reached them again, put clearer, ike
drum taps, and was Immediately an
swered by scattering shots. A moment
later as the two riders moved forward
at walk, sharp volley rang out
quite clearly, and they heard shots and
the crack Of revolvers again.
"By George. they're coming! Here
we go"
They put their horses to the gallop
and rode swiftly through the fog. The
beat Of hoofs was now perfectly audi
BILE ahead of them, and they heard
quite distinctly 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 yell tina;
broke weirdly and chokingly 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 speedw shouted
| Claiborne. Now for itv'
|, They rose in their stirrups and
charged. yelling Justify, riding neck
and neck toward the unseen foe, and.
with their horses at their highest pace.
| they broke upon the mounted trio that
now rode upon them grayly out Of the
mist.
There was q mad snorting and
shrinking Of horses. One OF the AMI
mails turned and tried to bolt, and his
rider, struggling to control him, added
to the confusion. The fog shut them
In with each other, and Armitage and
Claiborne, having dung back their own
horses at the onset, had an instant's
| glimpse of Chauvenet trying to swing
his horse into the road, Of Zmai half
| turning as his horse reared to listen
for the foe behind and Of Durand's Inn
passive white face as he steadied his
| horse with his left hand and leyeled q
revolver at Armitage with his right
With cry Claiborne put spurs to his
horse and drove him forward upon Du-
rand. His hand knocked the leveled
revolver flying into the fog. Then
Zmai fred twice, and Chauvenet'a
frightened horse, panic stricken at the
shots, reared, swung round and dashed
back the way be had come, and Du-
rand and Zmai followed.
Tho three disappeared into the mist.
i and Armitage and Claiborne SHOOK
themselves together and quieted their
1 horses.
THAT was too close for fun. Are
you all therey' asked Armitage.
"Shll in it. but Chauvenet's friend
won't miss every time. There's muir,
der In his eye The big fellow seemed
to be trying to shoot his own horse"
"Oh, he's knife and sack man and
clumsy with the gun"
They moved slowly forward now,
and Armitage sent his horse across tue
rough ditch at the roadside to get his
bearings. The fog seemed at the point
Of breaking, aud the mass about them
shifted and drifted in the growing
light
''],his is my land sure enough. Lord.
man, wish you'd get out OF this and
70 home. You see, they're an ugly Lot
and don't use toy pistols"
Remember the potato sack! That's
nv watchword." laughed Claiborne
They rode with their eyes straight
ahead, peering through the breaking.
floating mist. 1t was now so clear and
light that they could see the wood at
either hand. though fifty yards ahead
in every direction the fog still lay like
barricade.
II should value change of raj
ment," observed Armitage. There
was an advantage in armor-your buds
might get rusty on damp excursion,
but your shirt wouldn't stick to your
hide"
"Who cares? Those devils are pref
ty quiet, and the little sergeant is
about due to bump into them again"
They had come to a gradual turn in
the, road at point where steep wood
ed incline swept up on the left. On
the right lay the old hunting preserve
and Armitages bungalow. AS they
drew into the curve they heard re-
volver crack twice, as before, followed
nv answering shots and cries and the
thump of hoofs.
"Oheel Oscar has struck them again.
Steady now! Watch your horse" And
Armitage raised his arm high above
his head and fired twice as warning
to Oscar.
The distance between the contending
parties was shorter now than at the
first meeting, and Armitage and Clai-
borne bent forward in their saddles.
talking softly to their horses. that
had danced wildly at Armitage's shots
Lord, If we can crowd them In here
now and back to the Port!"
"There"
Explanations died on their lips at the
instant. Ahead Of them lay the fog,
rising and breaking in soft folds. and
behind it men yelled and several shots
snapped spitefully on the heavy air;
Then curious picture disclosed itself
just at the edge Of the vapor as though
1T were curtain through which actors
I'm a drama emerged upon stage
Zmai and Chauvenet flashed into view
suddenly. and close behind them Oscar
yelling like mad. He drove his horse
between the two men, threw himself
flat as Zmai fired at him and turned
and waved his hat and laughed al