The Washington herald., 1909-10-17


rUmored disappearance OF North Caro-
lina's governor. His campaign of pub
Lefty for the State administration was
broadly planned. though he was losing
great opportunity 10 beat the world
with a stunning story OF the amazing
nerve with which Ardmore. the young
millionaire. had assumed the duties Of
governor Of North Carolina in the un
accountable absence OF Gov. Dangerheld
from his capital. The whole thing was
almost too good TO he true, and Collins
put away the idea Of flight only upon
realizing the Joy Gus possibilities Of shar-
ms. no matter now humbly. i'm the fate
OF an administration which was fashion
iEg the drollest OF card houses. He did
not know. and was not to know until
long afterward, just how the young.
master OF Ardsley had leaped into the
breach. but Ardmore was an extraordi-
nary person. whose whims set him quite
apart from other men, and while, even
If he escaped being shot, the present
entrpcise would undoubtedly lead 10 "A
long term in jail. Collins had committed
himself 10 ArdmOres cause ana would
be faithful 70 II, no matter what hap
pened.
Ardmore took Collins more fully into
his confidence during the lingering twi-
light. and the reporter made many sug-
gestions that were OF real value. Mean
while Cookies men brought three horses
from the depths Of the forest. and saddled
them. Cooke entered the caboose for
final conference. with Ardmore and a
last look az the maps
Too bad" remarked the acting gov
ernor. that we must wait until to-
morrow night 20 pick up the Apple
weights, but our present business is
more important It's time TO move,
Cooke"
They rode OF in single ale on the
faintest of trails through the woods,
Cooke leading and Ardmore and Collins
following Immediately behind him. The
great host OF summer stars thronged the
SKY. and the moon sent its soft efful-
gence across the night They presently
fOrded a noisy stream, and while they
were seeking the trail again on the
farther side an owl hootCd a thousand
yards up the creek, and while the line
reformed Cooke paused and listened.
Then the owls call was repeated far
Their of and 50 family that Cooke alone
heard IT, He laid his hand on Ardmore's
rein:
There's a foot-tran that leads along
that creek. and it's very rough and diff
cult 10 follow Half a mile from here
there used 10 be a still, run by one OF
the Appleweights. We smashed il once.
out no doubt they are operating again
by this time. That boot Of the owl Is
warning common among the pickets put
out by these people Wireless biography
Isn't IN Il with them. Every Appleweight
within twenty miles will know in half
an hour how many there are Of us and
just what direction we are taking. We
must not come back here tonight We
must put up on your place somewhere
and let them think. If they will, we are
guests Of yours out for an evening
ride
That's all right. Unless we complete
this Job IN about two days my admins
tration is a fizzle," said ArdmOre, AS
they resumed their march through the
forest. There was a wilder fling 20 the
roll OF the land now. but the under
brush was better cleared, and the trail
had become a bride path that had known
mans care.
This is some OF Pauls work" said
Ardmore; and II I am not very much
mistaken We are on my land now and
headed straight enough for the wagon
road that leads south beyond the red
bungalow. These roads IN here were
planned 10 give variety, but I never be-
fore appreciated how complicated they
are"
The path stretched away through the
heavy forest, and they climbed to ridge
that commended a wide region that lay
bathed in silver moonlight, so softly
luminous that it seemed Of the stun Of
shadows made light. Westward. a mile
distant. lay Ardsley. only a little below
the level OF the ridge and touched with
a faint purple as Of spring twilight.
Ardmore sat his saddle, quietly con-
tenplating the great house that struck
, 'm almost for the first time as imposing.
lie felt, too, a little heartache that he did
not quite understand. He was not sure
whether II was the effect of the moon.
or whether he was tired, or what it
was. though he thought perhaps the moon
had something 70 do with H. His own
house. Of which he was sincerely fond.
seemed mist!ly hung between heaven and
earth in the moonlight. thing not wholly
Of this world and in his depression OF
spirit he reflected for a moment on his
own aimless, friendless life; he knew then
that he was lonely and that there was
a great void in his mind and heart and
soul, and he knew also that Jerry Dan
gerfield and not the moon was the cause
OF his melancholy.
Wed better be moving" suggested
Cooke.
It's too bad to leave that picture"
remarked Collins. signing. Had l the
Tyre OF Gray should compose an ode
on a Distant Prospect OF Ardsley Castle
which would ultimately reach the school
readers and bring me fame more endur-
ing than brass"
Did you say brass?" ironically scoTed
Cooke.
Whereupon the Palladlum's late repre-
sentative laughed softly and muttered to
himself
Proud pile. by mighty Ardmore's hand uproaredy'
cut It out" commanded Cooke. "or
I'll drop you into the ravine Look be-
low therev
Looking of from the ridge they saw
a man and woman riding along
strip OF road from which the timber
had been cut The night was so still
the gray light so subdued, that the two
figures moved as steadily and softly as
shadow pictures on a screen.
The slow. even movement OF the riders
was Interrupted suddenly The man. who
was nearer the remote observers. had
stopped and bent toward the woman as
though 10 snatch her rein. when her
horse threw UP its head and fell back
on its launches. Then the woman struck
the man q blow with her riding-crop
and galloped swiftly away along the
white ribbon-llke road. In the perfect
it was Ike a scene of pan
tomime
That's all rightg' cried Cooke. Come
along. Wen cut into that road at the
bungalow"
They swung their horses away from
the ridge and back into the bridle-path.
which once more dipped sharply down in
TO heavy timber, Cooke leading the wav.
and three Of the best hunters known to
the Ardsley stables few down the clear
but winding path The incident which
the trio had witnessed required no inter-
probation: the girls blow and flight had
translated 1t into language explicit