The Washington times., 1909-11-02
CHAPTER X.
STRANGE DIsAPPEARANCE

Hobbs on this memorable after
noon are quickly chronicled, nos-
withstanding the fact that he
lived an age while they We're tTanspir-
ing. and experienced sensations that
would still be fresh in his memory If
ne lived TO he a hundred.
He was scarcely well out OF sight OF
the cabin when his conscience began 10
sInite him: after ALL his patron might
be in dire need Of his services, and here
he was feeing from an ole woman and
Whit of smoke Hobbs was not a
physical coward, but II took more than
a mile of hard-ridden conscience 10
bring his horse to 2 standstill. Then,
with his heart in his mouth, he slowly
began to retrace his steps. walking
where he had gallOped a moment before.
A turn in the road brought him in view
Of something that caused him to draw
rein sharply. A hundred yards ahead,
i've or six men were struggling with a
r1derieSS bay horse.
My Cawdr' calculated Hobbs IT'S
mis- horse I might have known"
He looked eagerly for his patron.
There was no sign Of him, 50 Hobbs
rode slowly forward, intent upon ask
ing the WOOdmen-fOr such they appear
ed to be-tO accompany him 10 the
glen, now but "a short distance ahead
A g ne drew nearer, II struck him for
chilly that the men were not what he
had thought them 10 be. They We're
an eVil-lOoktng lot more ike the stTik-
ers he had seen in the town earlier in
the day EVen as he was turning the
new thought over in his mind, one of
them stepped out Of the little knot and.
without a word Of WarniPS. lifted his
arm and fred point blanl BIT the little
EngiShnlan. \ pistol ball WhizZed Go Sc
by his head. His horse leaped 10 lie
side Of the road in terror, almost uIe-
But Hobbs had hghting blood in his
veins. What is more 10 the point. he
had a Mauser revolver in his pocket
"a 4Hr-f- a
shot from the picket, prepared TO ride
down upon the party An instant later
half dozen reVolvers We're blazing
away at him. Hobbs turned at once and
rode in the opposite direction, whirling
to fire twice at the unfTiendiy group
Soon he was out of range and at leisure
He saw the utility of any attempt 10
pass them. The only thing left for him
10 dc was 70 ride as quickly as possible
70 the city and give the alarm, at the
same time 10 acquatnt tire police with
the deliberate assault Of the desl} era-
does.
Ills mind was so fun of the disaster
10 Truston King-he did not doubt for
an instant that he had been destroyed
by the sOFceTess-th8t he gave little
thought 70 his own encounter with the
rdScals in the roadway. He had come
10 Ike the impetuOus young man with
the open purse and the open heart. De-
spite his way wardHess in matters, con-
ventional 10 the last degree he could
not but admire him for the smile he
had and the courage that never failed
him, even when the smile met the frown
Of rebulIe
Riding swiftly through the narrow,
sunless dehle he was nearing the point
where the road connected with the open
highway, firm there on the way was
easy and devoid Of peril. Suddenly his
horse swerved and leapCd furiOusly out
Of stride, stumbling, but recovering him
self almost insJautaneOusly- In the
same second he heard the sharp crack
ravine to his left. a second shot came
this time from the right and quite close
at hand. His horse was staggering
sWaying-then down he crashed. Hobbs
swinging clear barely In time TO escape
being plnlOned 70 the ground. A stream
OF blood was pouring from the side Of
the poor least. AghaSt At this unheaTd
Of WantOunesS. the little interpret r
knew not which way 90 turn, but stood
there daZed until a third shot brought
him TO his senses. The bullet kicked
up the dust near his feet. He scrambled
for the heavy UndprhTUsh al the road
side and darted of into the forest his
revolver iu his hand his heart palDita-
led through the dark thicl.ets. he heard
the hOaTse shouts Of men IN the dis
lance. II dawned upon him at last thar
there had been an uprising Of some
and murder going on-that these men
were not ordinary bandits but desper-
ate strikers in quest of satisfaction for
grievances ignored.
Night came and he dropped 10 the
Toft, dank earth. utterly exhausted ami
"a bsoluteIy lost FOR the time being in
the painless hills
At 10 O'Clock the next morning
Colonel Quinnox and a company Of
soldiers. riding from the city gates to-
ward the north In response 20 "a call
for help from honest heTdeTs who re-
ported attacks and rObberies Of an
alarming nature, came upon the stiff,
f0otsore. thorn-scFatched MT. Hobbs
not far from the walls OF the town.
The colonel was not long IN graspiug
the substance Of Hobbs revelations.
He rode or at once foT the Witch's
howell Sending Hobbs with a small
instructed escort 10 the castle where
Baron Dangioss was ia consultation
Mr. Tullis and certain ministers.
The city WAS peaceful enough. much
TO the surprise Of Hobbs. No disturb
ance had been reported, said the
guardsmen who rode beside him. Up
iations but that Was ALL
'+All2" grOaned Mr.. Hobbs. ''Ail?
Hang Il all. man. wot do YOU call aUg
You haven't heard 'alf an of in vet.
tell you, there's been the devil 10
pay wait till the colonel comes back
from Ganlook Gap. He'll have news
for you; take IL from me. he will That
poor chap as gone up in smoke, as
sure as my names Hobbs
They met Baron DanglOss near the |
barracks. across the park from the |
castle. lie was in close, earnest con-