The Washington herald., 1909-10-19
CHAPTER XIII-COntinued.

so swiftly as fairly to take her breath
away. A tall. loosely articulcted man
came from the direction Of the church
and walked toward her. She knelt at
the tree and watched. the moonlight CIV
ing her q clear view OF a rustic some
what past middle age. whose chief
characteristics seemed TO be a grlzzled
beard and long arms that SWING oddly
at his side. The brim OF HIS wool hat
was turned up sharply from his fore
head, and she had a glimpse Of the
small keen, gray eyes with which he
swept the forest before him. He freed a
horse which she had not before noticed.
and she concluded that he would not
approach nearer, for she expected him
TO mount and ride away to join others
OF the congregation whom she heard
making off In a road beyond the church.
Then, with a quickness and dizziness that
baffied her eyes, two men rose beside
him just as he was about to mount;
there was no outcry and no sound OF
scufiling, so quick was the descent and
so perfect the understanding between
the captors. In moment the man was
gathered UP. bound, and flung on his
saddle. She had better view Of him,
now that he was hatless. though a gag
had been forced into his mouth and
handkerchief tied over his eyes, so that
he presented q grotesque appearance.
jerry was so absorbed tina tshe forgot to
DO afraid: never I'm her life had she
witnessed anything so amazing as this:
and now. 10 her more complete bewilder-
ment. the captors, after carefully inspect
ing their work and finding II satisfactory,
seemed TO disappear utterly from the
face OF the earth.
In the woods TO her left she thought
she heard a horse neigh then she saw
shadows moving in that direction: and
again. from the road she heard the
brief debate OF the two men as to the
whereabouts OF BILL" and It struck
Jerry humorously that he would not soon
see his friends unless they came and
helped him out OF his predicament.
1t may help 70 an understanding Of
Miss Jerry Dangerfed's character II II
is recorded here that never in her short
life had she failed to respond TO the
call of impulse. She was lost IN the
woods, and strange men lurked about:
man had been attacked. seized and left
sitting in a state OF absurd helplessness
on horse presumably his own and there
was no guessing what dire penalty his
captors had In store for him. He certain
" looked deliciously funny as he sat
there in the shadows. vigorously twisting
his arms and head in an effort to free
himself
Quiet reigned in the neighborhood Of
the church; the lights had blinked out;
the bang OF the closing shutters treasured
Jerry. and she crept on her knees to-
ward the unconscious captive. lOOsed his
horses rein and led II rapidly toward
her own horse. little farther back in
the woods. Her blindfolded prisoner.
thinking his original captOrs were carry
ing him or. renewed his efforts TO free
himself. He tested the ropes and straps
with which he was fastened by throwing
himself first 10 one side. then TO the
other. as far as his gives would per-
nit. at the same time frothily chewing
his gag.
Jerry gained her own saddle in the least
bit Of a panic. and when she had mount
ed and made sure of the leading strap
with which her prisoners horse was pro-
vided. she rode on at a rapid walk until
she reached the clearing. where the
stumps again grimly Knocked her. She
stopped 10 listen, and heard through the
still night first one cry and then many
voices in various keys Of alarm and
rage. Then she bent toward the prison.
eT. tore the bandage from his eyes, and
with more difficulty freed him of the
gag. He blinked and spluttered at this
unexpected deliverance then blinked and
spluttered afresh at seeing that his cap
tor was a young woman. who was plain
~ not of his world. Jerry watched him
wonderingly, then addressed him in her
most agreeable tone.
You were caught and tied by two
men over there by a church. I saw
them. and when they went off and left
you. l came along and brought you with
me. thinking TO save your life. l want
to get home as quickly as possible, and
though I do not know you. and am quite
sure we never met before. / hope you
viii kindly guide me to Ardsley, and
thereby render me a service / shall al
ways deeply appreciate"
Mr.. Appleweight. alias Poteet. was well
hardened to the shocks OF time. but this
pleasant-voiced girl, coolly sitting her
horse, and holding his own lank steed
by strap was the most amazing human
being that had yet dawned on his hori-
ION. He was not stupid, but Jerry's
manner OF speech had baffied more sophis-
ticated minds than Appleweight's. and
the sweet sincerity OF her tone. and her
frank countenance. hallowed as II was
by the moonlight wrought In the out
laws mind a befuddlement not wholly
unlike that which had possessed the
wits OF many young gallants south OF
tho Potomac who had laid siege to Jerry
Dangerheld's heart. But the cries be-
hind them were more pronounced, and
Appleweight was nothing II not man
of action.
Take these things off'n me-" he COM
manded fiercely, and I'll see y safe
10 Ardsley."
Not in the least" replied Jerry, who
was herself not unmindful OF the voices
behind You will kindly tell me the
way. and ] win accommodate my pace
to that Of your own somewhat ill-nour-
ished beast. And as there's a mob look
ing for you back there, all ready to
hang you TO one Of these noble forest
trees. advise you 10 use more haste
and lest caution in pointing the way"
Appleweight lifted his head and took his
bearings Then he nodded toward one
OF the three trails which had so baffled
jerry when first she broke into the
clearing.
''Thet'S the highest" said Appleweight,
land we'd better git"
She set the pace at a trot. and was
relieved in few minutes TO pass one OF
two landmarks which she remembered
from her flight through the woods As
they splashed through the brook she had
fOrded. she was quite confident that the
captive was playing her y" trick, but
that in due course she wo strike the
highroad to Ardsley which she had
abandoned to throw off the Duke OF
BallywinSle.
It was now ten o'clock. and the moon
was sinking behind the forest trees
Jerry took advantage Of an occasional
straight strip OF road to 90 forward at
Rallop, but these stretches did not offer
frequently. and the two riders kept pretty