Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-09

you can possibly be; but these men
know where they are. How far is it,
Billy,"-he addressed the silent guide
Ito Mount Nebo?"
about four mile, and l reckon we'd
better let out little now ore they'll
sing the doxelogy before we git thar
Whats that light away off there?"
asked Habersham.
The guide paused to examine it, and
the faint glow far down the vale seem
ed to perplex him. He spoke to one or
two other natives and they viewed the
| light ruminatively as is their way.
Tibet must be on Ardmore's land"
said the leader finally. "It shoots out
all sorts o'ways round hyeh, and |
reckon thet's about wheh Raccoon
Creek cuts through"
That's very likely said Haber-
sham. 1--WE seen the plat of what
Ardmore owns on this side the border
at the court house, and | remember
county that is Ardsley land. Ardmore
has houses of one kind and another
scattered all over the estate and those
lights may be from one of them. You
know the place, don't your"
SS, 1 We NlSlISu lu6I0,
Griswold. But we'd better give it
wide berth. The whole estate is
simply infested with scarlet fever.
They're quarantined."
81 guess that's joke said Haber-
sham. There's big party on there
now, and l have seen some of the
guests in Turner's within a day or
two"
within how many days?" demand
ed Griswold, his heart sinking at the
thought that Ardmore had lied to keep
him away from Ardsley-from Ard.
more's house! The thought of it really
hurt him now. Could it be possible
that Ardmore has guests so disting-
uished that he, Griswold,. was not
worthy to make their acquaintance!
He experienced real pang as he
thought that here he was, within
short ride of the home of his dearest
friend, the man whom most he loved
of all men, and that he had been de-
ried the door of that friends house.
Come on!" called Habersham
Half the company rode ahead to
gain the farther side of the church;
the remainder, including Griswold
and Habersham, soon dismounted and
tied their horses out of sight of the
country road which they had latterly
been following.
1--WE are in plenty of time" said
Habersham, looking at his watch.
THE rest of the boys are closing in
from the other side and they will be
ready for Appleweight when he fin
ishes his devotions. We've been
studying the old mans habits and he
has a particular place where he ties
his horse back of the church. It's
little apart from the fence where most
of the congregation hitch, and he
chose it, no doubt, because in case OF
a surprise he would have plenty of
room for maneuvering. Two men are
going to lay for him, seize and gag
him and carry him into the wood back
of the church; and then we're off
across the state line to lock him up in
Jail at Kildare and give Governor Dan
gerfield the shock of his life"
"It sounds simple enough; but it
won't be long before Appleweight's
friends miss him. You must remem-
Der that they are shrewd lot"
We've got to take our chances.
Let's hope we are as shrewd as they
are" replied Habersham.
They moved softly through the wood
and presently the faint sound of sing
ing reached them.
"Old Rabdick has finished his ser
mon and we'll know the worst in few
minutes"
One of the party had already de-
tached himself and crept forward
toward the church, to meet his ap-
pointed comrade in the enterprise, who