Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-03-03

reveal any telltale tracks. y.
The farmer fingered with her till
two teams arrived, one froml the
county seat, the other from the south.
Neither driver had met red pune
attached to a lame sorrel horse.
He's turned OF between here and
where the old lady met him. said
Lucy. Thank you, sir; I'm going
back" Her newly-made friend hest.
tated, hut finally drove on toward
the village, and Lucy declined a ride
with one of the other men who was
going her way.
The dirst cross-road showed notn-
ing, as did the next. It was nearing
shutdown. and the girl was both tired
and hungry. but she went doggedly
ahead.
Then she came to q mere farm lane
that led to an Isolated barn across q
meadow. The path was worn chief
ny ny cattle.tracks. but runners had
passed that way. a double sleigh hav-
Ing been driven out very recently.
A gate stood at some distance from
the road, but It was closed. Lucy
glanced at 1t, turned away, then turn
ed back and, with q sudden I'M
pulse, walked UP to the gate: On
the right were deep tracks beside
the path, A horse with one. bare
shoof had .sidestepped" and stamped
the snow there!
The girl glanced at the lonely barn
and hesitated. No one was in sight
in the road on In the fields; but she
paused only moment. and then,
forgetting her WEAKNESS. fairly ran
toward the building. 1t was conn
bination barn, painted red, and made
to hold both stock and grain: The
double doors were unlocked.
Thrusting them open. she saw the
pung ON the gangway oflor. Old Side,
still harnessed, was munching hay
from NOW. But the sleigh was
empty! s.ls
She hurried through to the stables.
Three stalls were unoccupied; in n
fourth was a handsome young horse.
Apparently there was no one in the
building, although the yard was full
of cattle, clustered about straw
stack.
"A foot-paths led down to q house
below the hill on the main road. With
her Youngloye blood thoroughly
aroused, Lucy rushed along this path
to rout out the robber. she knocked
at the side door, which was opened
by a smiling young man.
'sIs that your barn up thereT she
demanded.
ut Is" ne replied, looNing curious.
ly at her flushed face.
well. our horse and pung are In
side, but the pork is gone. Where Is
sit?', IS.
.What,D he exclaimed, staring
blankly at her. "A Al.
Lucy repeated her statement.
aPlease come In" he said, polite
ly. II don't understand you, but
you don't act quite, crazy. Come here.
Jennie!" he called to his wife. Three
heads are better than two In a mis-.
understanding.
The young farmer continued smil-
Ing for minute, but before Lucy
had finished her story he had become
very grave.
Get her a lunch, Jennie" he sud.
denly exclaimed. She's half-staryed.
l know Then he ran to the barn.
and 1t; was with dificulty that Lucy
was kept from following him.
In very few minutes he was back
and at the telephone. calling up the
produce-dealers and butchers OF Nor.
ton. He learned nothing there. 'srhe
old teams gone, and 80 are the hobs, =
he said to his wife. Turning to Lucy
he asked
"Did your father ever employ .
fellow named Lem Decker?.
Eyes, last summer: but father said
he was good for nothing.
'Your father ds an excellent Judge"
the young man remarked. grinly.
did you ever hear Of Frank Min
ser?'
why. yes. Lem said he had work
ed for him, OF and on"
Exactly. Web, I'm Miner. and our
friend Lem has got your pork and
my team. He took the team when
your horse gave out. And he's gone
to Bolton, to sell the pork, Tn pretty
sure. Now eat your lunch, and get
ready to go with me-" Y
Lucy was SO nearly famished that
She had barely finished her meal
when cutter drove up to the door.
Darkness yves coming on, as they
dashed OF up the road, and went
hurrydng westward over country
wholly new to her. The young horse
needed no urging. and Its driver made
no effort to check Its headlong fight.
.What makes you 80 sure 1t was
Decker?" Lucy asked.
Decause he left his old mittens
in the barn, and took my new driv.
ing gloves. ! knew he was a worth
less vagabond. but this is a greater
crime than I supposed him to be
capable OF, Z turned him on week
ago: and suppose he saw your
sleigh, recognized 1t. and thought he
could get the money for the pork
and escape before being followed"
An hour passed. and the swift
young horse never slackened Its pace.
With seeming tarelessness. the ami
NAL mounted a long hill. and : the
lights OF village CLEANED far ahead
A sleigh could be seen against the
whiteness Of a field at the foot Of
the slope.
That's Bolton" said Mr.. Miner
"and I think there's our man.
Down the hill and across the fiat
they shot like an arrow. rapidly ap
preaching the sleigh: When within
hailing distance. Mr.. Miner shouted I:
"Wait7a minute, Lem!"
The man addressed dropped the
lines. sprang out and ran Through an
orchard at one side OF the road. His
pursder made no attempt to follow
him, but instead called soothingly te
the team, till the horses recognized
| his voice and slowed to walk. when