Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-02-12

able to crowd them into tndt lOIE ODeL
strip where the fences are down. Hang
the fog
The agreed signal of two shots
reached them again. but clearer, like
dRum taps, and was Immediately an.
swered by scattering shots. A momen;
later, as the two riders moved forward
at a walk, a sharp volley rang out
quite clearly, and they heard shots and
the crack of revolvers again.
by George. they're coming! Here
we go"
They put their horses to the gallop
and rode swiftly through the fog. The
beat of hoofs was now perfectly audi
BILE ahead of them, and they heard
quite distinctly a single revolver snap
twice.
oscar has them on the run. Bully
for Oscar. They're getting close
Thank the Lord for this level stretch.
Now howl and let 'er go!"
They went forward, with a yell that
broke weirdly and chokingly on the
gray cloak Of fog, their horses hoofs
pounding duly on the earthen road
LIZ lam hdo w NCdSCds Dot ChOuSu
had fallen to soften the ground.
They're terribly brave or horribly
scared. from their speed" shouted
Claiborne. Now for it,"
They rose in their stirrups and
charged. yelling Justify, riding mech
and neck toward the unseen foe, and.
with their horses at their highest pace.
they broke upon the mounted trio that
now rode Upon them grayly out of the
mist.
+ There was a mad snorting and
Shrinking Of horses. One of the anil
mails turned and tried to bolt, and his
rider, struggling to control him, added
to the confusion. The fog hut them
in with each other, and Armitage and
Claiborne, having flung back their own
horses at the onset, had an instant's
glimpse of Chauvenet trying to swing
his horse into the road, of Zmai half
turning as his horse reared to listen
for the foe behind and of Durand's i'm
passive white face as he steadied his
horse with his left hand and leveled a
revolver at Armitage with his right.
With a cry Claiborne put spurs to his
horse and drove him forward upon Du-
rand. His hand knocked the leveled
revolver flying into the fog. Then
Zmai fired twice, n Chauvenet's
frightened horse, panic stricken at the
shots, reared, swung round and dashed
back the way he had come. and Du-
rand and Zmai followed.
The three disappeared into the mist,
and Armitage and Claiborne shook
themselves together and quieted their
horses.
THAT was too close for fun. Are
you all thereY' asked Armitage.
Still in it, but Chauvenet's friend
won't miss every time. There's muir
der in his eye. The big fellow seemed
to be trying to shoot his own horse" .
"Oh, he's a knife and sack man and
clumsy with the gun"
They moved slowly forward now,
n Armitage sent his horse across the
rough ditch at the roadside to get his
bearings. The fog seemed at the point
of breaking, and the mass about them
shifted and drifted in the growing
light.
This is my land, sure enough. Lord,
man, | wish you'd get out of this and
go home. You see, they're an ugly lot
and don't use toy pistols"
Remember the potato sack! That's
my w~atchword." laughed Claiborne,
They rode with their eyes straight
ahead, p%eering through the breaking,
floating mist. 1t was now so clear and
light that they could see the wood at
either hand, though fifty yards ahead
In every direction the fog still lay like
a barricade.
81 should value a change of raj
ment." observed Armitage. There
was an advantage in armor-your buds
might get rusty on a damp excursion,
but your shirt wouldn't stick to your
hide"
who cares? Those devils are pref
ty quiet. and the little sergeant is
about due to bump into them again"
They had come to a gradual turn in
the road at a point where "A steep wood
ed incline swept up on the left. Or
the right lay the old hunting preserve
and Armitage's bungalow. As they
drew into the curve they heard a re-
volver crack twice, as before, followed
by answering shots and cries and the
thump of hoofs.
"Ohee! Oscar has struck them again
Steady now! Watch your horse!' And
Armitage raised his arm high above
his head and fired twice as a warning
to Oscar.
The distance between the contending
parties was shorter now than at the
first meeting. and Armitage and Clai
borne bent forward in their saddles
talking softly to their horses. that
had danced wildly at Armitage's shots
Lord, if we can crowd them In here
now and back to the Port!"
There.
Explanations died on their lips at the
instant. Ahead of them lay the fog
rising and breaking in soft folds, and