The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-05-15

TO there, lest the rig be recognized
hut would head for Morton. the coun.
u seat, or else swing south over the
! hills to one Of the two cities a score
| Of miles away.
Suddenly Lucy reused herself
You go right back home, George
she said. land tell father. I'm going
to follow the sleigh"
Not afoot?" gasped Mr.. Rogers.
Yes; old Side has lost shoe and
| can track him. He can't go fast
! and on foot l can tell wherever hi
stops. If you'll please telephone tt
Mr.. Blakeslee and to Morton, Mr.
Rogers, I'll try to overtake the thief =
But you haven't any money, sis. y
| George interposed.
well" she began, blushing, when
Mr.. Rogers handed her a bill.
Here's five dollars, Lucy he said
"and if that doesn't carry you
through. call me up by telephone.
But you're undertaken a big contract
for a girl no older than you are.
don't know what else you can do,
! though; and I'll give the warning, as
you say"
George started reluctantly for
home, after he had seen his sister
leave. It was near noon of the
short winter day, and the roads were
becoming softened by the sun. Lucy
! had no difficulty in tracking the
horse for a couple of miles, the bare
hoof showing plainly every few
yards. Then came stretch OF hllly
country, with frozen path. once
she saw where the sleigh had turned
out, and the two drivers had paused
moment to exchange greetings, for
there the horse had "sidestepped.
She had met no one; doubtless the
approaching rig had entered way
side farmyard.
At the forks beyond the hill the
pung had turned to the right That
was toward Morton-or to the south
and out OF the county. She was
now on the turnpike, and 1t
was very difficult to note any
one track. She stopped an
old woman in a Portland cutter. 1t
was not easy to make herself under
stood, for the woman was very deaf.
but Lucy learned that she had met
pung with limping horse TWO
miles ahead.
Then the wayfarer caught ride,
with a farmer, who, being Informed
of her errand, drove briskly till they
struck the turn just outside of Nor
ton village, hoping to overtake the
man. No one was seen, and care
full search at the corner failed to
reveal any telltale tracks.
The farmer fingered with her TIL
two teams arrived. one from the
county seat. the other from the south
Neither driver had met red pune
attached to a lame sorrel horse.
"He's turned off between here and
where the old lady met him. said
Lucy. Thank you, sir; I'm going
back" Her newly-made friend hest
tated, but finally drove on toward
the village, and Lucy declined ride
with one of the other men who was
going her way.
The first cross-road showed moth
ing. as did the next. 1t was nearing
shutdown, and the girl was both tired
and hungry, but she went doggeoiy
ahead.
Then she came to mere farm laue
that led to an isolated barn across a
meadow. The path was worn chief
ly by cattle-tracks. but runners mad
passed that way. 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 it, turned away, then turn
ed back and, with sudden I'M
pulse, walked up to the gate. On
the right were deep tracks beside
the path. A horse with one bare
hoof had "sidestepped" and stamped
the snow there!
The girl glanced at the lonely barn
and hesitated. No one was In slgnt
in the road or in the fields; but she
paused only moment, and then,
forgetting her WEAKNESS, fairly ran
toward the building. 1t was COM
bination barn, painted red, and made
to hold both stock and grain. Inc
double doors were unlocked.
Thrusting them open, she saw the
pung on the gangway ofior. Old Side,
still harnessed, was munching hay
from a NOW. But the sleigh was
empty!
She hurried through to the stables.
Three stalls were unoccupied; In a
fourth was a handsome young horse
Apnarently there was no one in the
building, although the yard was fuli
- ..xx1> o1rr%orod ohO11f a StT9 r.