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

ought 20 be south OF
lamar and near the railroad"
Armitage passed his rein TO Clai-
borne and plunged down the steep road
TO reconnoitcr-
Its a strange business" Claiborne
muttered. half aloud
The cool air or the ridge sobered him.
but lie reviewed the events OF the night
without regret Every young officer Do
the service would envy him this adven-
ture- he was so intent with the
thought that he hummed reveule and
was about 20 rebuke himself for unsol-
dieriy behavior on duty when Armi-
tage whisued for him 20 advance.
cts all right; they haven't passed
yet ! met q railroad track walker
down there. snd he said be had seen
no one between here and Lamar. Now
they re handicapped by the big country
horse they had 20 take for that Servian
devil and we can push them as hard
ms we like. We must get them beyond
lamar before we crowd them. and
don't forget that we want TO drive
them into my land for the round up.
I'm afraid were going TO have a wet
morning"
They rode abreast beside the railroad
through the narrow gap. A long freight
train rumbled and ratified by. and lite
tie later they passed a coal shaft
where q begrimed night shift loaded
cars under faring torches.
Their message 10 Winkelried is still
on this side Of the Atlantic" said AT
mitage. but Winkelried is in n strong
room by this time II the existing pow
ers at Vienna are what they ought TO
be. I've done my best 10 get him there.
The message would only help the case
against him II they sent H."
Claiborne Eroaned mockingiy.
81 suppose I'll know what It's an
about when I read IL In the morning
papers. ] ike the game well enough
but IL might be more amusing TO know
what I'm fighting for"
you enlisted without reading the ar
ucles OF war. and you've got 90 take
the consequences. You've done what
you set out 20 DO, you've found me. and
you're travelling with me over the Vir
ginia mountains 20 report my capture
TO Baron Won Marhof On the way YOU
AAE HWAAA 10 AreArN Al AMWNlEL MN a.N
that VIII be equally 70 your credit and
then II all goes well with us I'm going
20 give myself the pleasure OF allow
ing NJ. Chauvenet 20 tell YOU exactly
who i am. The incident appeals 90
my sense OF humor. / assure YOU
have one. or course n were not "a
person OF very great distinction Chau
venet and his friend Durand would
not have crossed the ocean aud
brought with them r professional as
-assin, skilled In the use OF smothering
asd knitting, to do away with me. Yot
are IN luck 20 be alive. We are dan
gerously near the same size and build
and In the dark. on horseback"-
THAT was funny. i knew that If ]
ran for II they'd plug me for sure and
that II waited until they saw their
mistake they would be afraid TO klu
me. Ughl I still taste the red soil OF
the Old Dominion"
Come. captain. let US give the horses
q chance 10 prove their blood These
roads viii be paste IN a few hours"
The dawn was breaking sullenly
and out OF a gray, low hanging mist q
light rain fell In the soft. monotOnous
fashion OF mountain rain. Much OF the
time II was necessary 10 maintain sin
gle file. and Armitage rode ahead. The
fog grew thicker as they advanced. but
they did not lessen their pace. which
had now dropped 10 a steady trot
Suddenly as they swept on beyond
Lamar. they hear the beat OF hoofs and
halted.
seRufIv g. NJ w. -. - 49,
of theml Can you count them, Clai
borneT'
There are three horses all right
enough. and they're forcing the beasts
What's the word?"
"Drive them backi Ready-here we
go!' roared Armitage In a voice In
tended 10 be heard
They yelled al the top Of their voices
as they charged. plunglng into the ad-
vancing trio after a forty yard gallop
"'Not later than Friday'-back you
go" shouted Armitage and laughed
aloud at the enemy's rout One OF the
horses-it seemed from its riders yellS
TO be Chauvenet's-turned and bolted
and the others followed back the way
they had come.
A'NOA NAANs 0ADllitA AAAtlA pace 10 Il
trot but the trio continued to fly be-
fore them.
They're ratified" said Claiborne.
"and the fog isn't helping them any"
Were getting close 10 my place"
said Armitage. and as he spoke two
shots fired in rapid succession cracked
family through the fog and they jerk
ed up their horses.
ITS Oscarl He's n good way ahead
If judge the shots right"
"If he turns them back. we ought 60
hear their horses IN a moment" OBJ
served Claiborne. '.The fog mufies
sounds The roads pretty level in
here"
I'VE must let them out OF 1t and into
my territory for safety. We're within
a mile Of the gate. and we ought TO be
able 10 crowd them into that long open
strip where the fences are down. Hang
the fogT
The agreed signal OF two shots