Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-10-21

lIsS1l11E11lI71i1I lIl1l1l 1IE11G1El1pI1
| Durand. And not Ieast important ne
has tonight snatched away that little
cablegram that was the signal to Win
kelried to so ahead. he is very an
noying and vexatious person, this Ar
mitage. Even Zmai. whose knife made
him terror in Servia. seems unable to
cope with him."
"And the fair daughter of the val
ley
"Pish! We are not discussing the
young lady"
81 can understand how unpleasant
the subject must be to you my dear
Jules. What do you imagine she knows
of NJ. Armitage? If he is the man we
think he is. and possible heir to
great throne. it would be impossible
for her to marry him."
Ills tastes are democratic. In Mon
tana he is quite popular"
Durand flung away his cigarette and
laughed suddenly.
HAS 1t occurred to you that this
whole affair is decidedly amusing?
Here we are in one of the free Ameri-
| can states about to turn card that
will dethrone king If we are lucky.
And here is n man we are trying to get
| out of the way-a man we might make
king IL he We're not fool! In Amert-
| ca! 1t touches my sense of humor, my
dear Julesv'
An exclamation from Zmai arrested
them. The Seryian jerked up his horse.
and they We're instantly at his side
They had reached point near the
bunting preserve in the main highway.
1t was about half past o'clock, an
hour at which Virginia mountain
roads are usually free of travellers,
and they had been sending their horses
along as briskly as the uneven roads
and the pace of Zmai's laggard beast
permitted.
The beat of horses hoofs could be
heard quite distinctly in the road
ahead Of them. The road tended
downward, and the. strain of the as
cent was marked in the approaching
animals walk. In moment the three
men heard the horses quick snort of
satisfaction as it reached levelel
ground. Then, scouting the other ami
mails, it threw up Its head and neighed
shrilly.
In the dusk of starlight Durand saw
Zmai dismount and felt the Servants
big, rough hand touch his in passing
the bride of his horse.
"Wait!' said the Servian.
The horse of the unknown paused
neighed again and refused to go far
Their. A mans deep voice encouraged
him in low tones. The horses Of
Chauvenets party danced about rest
lessly, responsive to the nervousness
of the strange beast before them.
"Who goes there?"
The strangers horse was quiet FOL
an instant, and the rider had forced
him SO near that the beasts upreinet
head and the erect shoulders Of til,
horseman We're quite clearly defined.
"Who goes there?' shouted the rider
while Chauvenet and Durlnd ben
their eyes toward him. their hand.
tight on their brides, and listened
waiting for Zmai They heard sud
den rush of steps, the impact of hi.
giant body as he flung himself upol
the shrinking horse, and then cry o.
alarm and rage. Chauvenet Slipped
down and ran forward with the quick
soft glide of cat and caught the
bride of the strangers horse. The
horseman struggled in Zmai's greal
arms, and his beast plunged wildly
No words passed The rider had kick
ed his feet out of the stirrups an(
gripped the horse hard with his legs
His arms were flung up to protect lii
head, over which Zmai tried to fore,
the sack.
THE knifeY bawled the Servian.
mo" answered Chauvenet.
1.-THE devil!" yelled the rider. an,
dug his spurs into the rearing BEAST
tanks.
Chauvenet held on valiantly witt
both hands to the horses head. Once
, the frightened beast swung him clea
of the ground. A few yards distan
Durand sat on his own horse and HEX
the brides of the Others He soothet
the restless animals in low tones. tn
light of his cigarette shaking oddly Ii
the dark with the movement Of hi
lips.
The horse ceased TO plunge. Zma
, held its rider erect with his left arm
while the right drew the sack dow
!. over the head and shoulders of th
! prisoner
"rie him." said Chauvenet. and Una
buckled strap about the mans arm
and bound them tight.
The dust in the bag caused the maj
inside to cough. but save for the on
exclamation he had not spoken
Chauvenet and Durand conferred Ii
low tones while Zmai drew out
, tether strap and snapped 1t to the cur
bit of the captivc's horse.
1.-The fellow takes 1t pretty coolly,i
, remarked Durand. lighting fresh Gig
arctic. what are you going to d
with him?'
ave will take him to his own place
it is near-and coax the papers out O
him. Then we'll find preclpice an
= toss him over 1t is n simple matter"
, Zmai handed Chauvenet the revolvc
: be had taken from the silent man o
tie horse.
4 II am ready" he reported.
go ahead; we follow" And the
started toward the bungalow, Zma
t riding beside the captive ana holdin,
' fast to the led horse. Where the roa,
t was smooth they sent the horses for
u ward at smart trot. But the cap
tive accepted the gait. He found til
: stirrups again and sat his saddl
: straight. He coughed now and then
e but the hemp sack was sufficient.
t porous to give him little air. A
S they rode off his silent submission
/ caused Durand to ask: 3li
b ''Are you sure of the man. my dea
i Jules?"
Y Undoubtedly. didn't get n squar
e look at him, but he's gentleman b.
e the quality of his clothes. He is tn
n same build. 1t is not pillow horse
II