Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-01-22

nastura hevond Claiborne Sndtchcd a
Meanwhile Os- '"''''' - '''''' ~"
car, thinking Zmai badly hurt. did not
fire again, but flung himself upon the
fellows broad shoulders, and down
they crashed against the door of the
nearest pen. Zmai swerved and shook
himself free. while he iiercely cursed
his foe. Oscars hands slipped on the
fellows hot blood that ran from a long
crease in the side of his head.
AS they fell the pen door snapped
free, and out into the starry pasture
thronged the frightened sheep.
THE letter-give me the letter" COM
handed Oscar, his face close to the
Servian's. He did not know how badly
the man was injured but he was anx-
ious to complete his business and be
off. Still the sheep came budding
through the broken door, across the
PROSTATE men and scampered away
into the open. Captain Claiborne, run
ming toward the fold with his lantern
and not looking for obstacles, stumbled
over their bewildered advance guard
and plunged headlong into the gray
f1eeces. Meanwhile into the pockets Of
his PROSTATE foe went Oscars hands
with no result. Then he remembered
the mans gesture in pulling the hat
c1ose upon his ears, and Off came tie
hat and with it a blood stained envel
ope. The last sheep in the pen trooped
out and gallopcd toward its comrades.
off ha
plunged into the rear guard Of the
sheep, fell, stumbled to his feet and
confronted Captain Claiborne as that
gentleman in soiled evening dress fun
Ped for his lantern and swore at the
5heep in language unbecoming an off,
GER and gentleman.
at is sheep-yes?" and Oscar started
to bolt.
"Halt!
The authority of the tone rang ia
hillary in Oscars ears. He had after
considerable tribulation learned to stop
short when an officer spoke to him.
and the gentleman of the sheepfold
stood straight in the starlight and
spoke like an officer.
fred that shot?"
Oscar saluted and summoned his best
English
ut was an accident, sir"
"Why are you running and why did
you fire? Understand you are tres
passer here, and l am going to turn
you over to the constable"
ctr
He is yonder by the pens, and we had
some little fighting, but he is not dead
-no?"
At that moment Claiborne's eyes
caught sight of burly figure rising
and thrashing about by the broken
pen door.
THAT is the sheep stealer," said Os-
car. I'VE shall catch him-yesT
| Zmai peered toward them uncertain
ly for a moment then turned abruptly
and ran toward the road. Oscar start
ed to cut of his retreat, but Claiborne
caught the sergeant by the shoulder
and flung him back.
"One of you at a time! They can
turn the hounds on the other rascal.
What's that you have theref Give it
to me-quick"
"It's piece of WOOL
But Claiborne snatched the paper
from Oscars hand and commanded
the man to march ahead of him to the
house. So over the meadow and
through the pergola they went, across
the veranda and into the library. The
power of army discipline was upon
Oscar. If Claiborne had not been an
officer he would have run for it in the
garden. AS it was, he was taxing his
wits to find some way out of his pre-
dicament. He had not the slightest
Idea as to what the paper might be.
He had risked his life to secure it. and
now the crumpled, blood stained paper
had been. taken away from him by a
person whom it could not interest in
any way whatever.
He blinked under Claiborne's sharp
scrutiny as they faced each other in
the library.
You are the man who brought a
horse back to our stable an hour ago"
Eyes, sir"
"You have been a soldier
"In the cavalry, sir. | have my dis