The Washington herald., 1909-10-19
Copyright. 1905.
by the
B0bbs-AierTin Co.

of the wilderness by stealing a prisoner /
from his enemies. and this was anus 1
ing, and sent bubbling in her heart /
those quiet springs Of mirth that ac-
counted for so much in Jerry Danger |
field.
AS they walked their horses through a |
bit of sand, the prisoner spoke:
who air yu. little gal?''
Jerry turned IN the saddle so that Apple !
weight enjoyed full view of her face. /
L am perfectly willing to tell you
my name, but first it would be more
courteous for you to tell me yours.
particularly as I am delivering you from
a band Of outlaws who undoubtedly In
tended 10 do you harm"
I reckon they air skeered TO foller us.
gal They air afeard TO tackle tn ole
man, onless they jump in two { one; and
they CANT tell who helped me git away.
He laughed curious, chuckling laugh.
He had ceased to struggle at his bonds,
but seemed resigned 10 his strange fate.
He had not answered Jerry's question,
and had no intention OF doing so. The
sudden attack at the church had aroused
all his cunning. Appleweight, alias Po-
teet, was an old wolf. and knew well
the ways of the trapper; but the bold
attempt to kldnap him was a new fea-
ture Of the game as heretofore played
along the border. He did not make II
out; nor was he wholly satisfied with
the girls explanation Of her own pres
ence in that out-of-the-way place. She
might be a guest at Ardsley, as she pre-
tended. but women folk were rarely seen
on the estate, and never in such re-
mote corners Of it as Mount NebO
Church As he pondered the matter. II
seemed incredible that this remarkable
young person, whose innocence was so
beguiling, should be IN any way leagued
with his foes.
He had several times called out direc-
tons as they crossed other paths in the
forest, and they now reached the main
trunk road Of the estate. The red bunga-
low, Jerry knew, was not far away. Her
prisoner spoke again.
Little gal, I'm an ole man. and 1
hain't never done y'u no harm. Your
haouse is only a leetle way up thar, and
I CANT be no more use TO y'u. I want
L go home and II yum holp me ontie
this yere harness" and he grinned as
he viewed his bonds In the fuller light OF
the open road.
Then hoOf-beats thumped the soft earth
Of another of the trails that conyerged
at this point. and ArdmOre and Collins
e
amid a wild panic OF horses.
Appleweight twisted and turned in his
saddle but Jerry instantly held up her
hand and arrested the inquiries Of her
delverers.
Mr.. Ardmore, this gentleman was most
rudely set upon by two strangers as he
was leaving a church over there some
where in the woods I was lost, and as
his appearance at the time and place
seemed almost providentiel, begged him
20 guide me toward home. which he has
most courteously DONE" anad Jerry TO
give the proper touch TO her explanation.
twitched the strap by which she held
her prisoners horse so that IL danced,
adding a fresh absurdity TO the wabbling
figure OF it's bound rider.
You are safe" cried Ardmore in a
low tone, TO which Jerry nodded care
lessly. in way that directed attention
70 the more immediate business at hand
He was not at once sure Of his cue but
there seenled 10 be something familiar In
the outlines of the man on horseback. and
full identification broke upon him now
with astounding vividness.
Jugs" he began, addressing the pris-
oner smilingly. dear old Jugs, To think
we should meet againi Since you hand
ed me that jug on the rear end OF the
train. a few nights ago. life has had
new meanings for me, and I'm just as
sorry as can be that / gave you the
buttermilk. I wouldn't have done such
thing for billions in real money. And
now that you have fallen into the excel
lent hands OF Miss Dangerheld-"
'Dangerfeld!' screamed the prisoner.
lifting himself as high In the saddle as
his bonds would permit
Certainly" replied Ardmore. "Your
rescuer is none other than Miss Geral-
dine Dangerheld."
why. gal began the outlaw "ef your
pas the guv'nor Of Moth Caroline, him
an mes old friens."
Then will you kindly tell me your
nameT' asked Jerry.
ALLOW me 20 complete the introduce
tons" interrupted Collins. who had hung
back in silence. Unless my eyes de-
ceive me, which Is wholly improbable.
this Is gentleman whom I once inter-
viewed In the county jail at Raleigh. and
he was known at that time as William
Appleweight. alias POteet"
You air right admitted the prisoner,
without hesitation. and then, addressing
Jerry: Eyer pa would be glad to know
his dorter helped an ole frien' like me.
gal. Ye may hev heard him speak o.
me-"
But how about that message in the
cork Of the jug you put on the train
at Kildare?" demanded Ardnore. And
why did you send your brother to try
to scare me TO death at Raleigh"
That's not OF the slightest Importance"
interrupted Jerry, gently playing with
the tether which held Mr.. Appleweight;
nor does it matter that papa and this
ca, rf-r-,-
the famous outlaw, Mr. William Apple
weight then, papa or no papa, friend OF
no friend, he is a prisoner Of the State
of North Carolina"
"Pris'ner! bawled Appleweight.-"an
you the guv'nors gal
You have hit the situation exactly.
Mr.. Appleweight; and as far as the Office
OF governor is concerned. 1t is capably
filled by the young gentleman on your
left, Mr.. Thomas ArdmoTe. Let us now
adjourn TO his house, where, II I am not
mistaken, a bit of cold fowl Is usually to
be found on the sideboard at this hour.
But hold and Jerry checked her horse
where can we lodge this gentleman. Mr..
Ardmore. until we decide upon his fur
Their fate?"
1--WE might put him in the wine cell
lar" suggested Ardmore.
No" intorposed Collins II fancy that
much Of your fluid stock has paid rev.
enue tax, and most Of It has passed
none too lightly through the custom
house. It would be fundamentally cruel
to lock Mr.. Appleweight in such quarters.
with the visible marks of taxation ali
around him Still. the sight OF the
stamps would probably destroy his
thirst, though his rugged independence
might so far assert itself that he would
smash few Of your most expensive
importations out OF sheer deviltry."
He shall be treated with the greatest
consideration said Jerry; and thereafter.
no further adventure Detailing them. they
reached Ardsley. where their arrival
occasioned the greatest exclfernent