The Mena weekly star., 1909-12-30

!
 short winter day, and the roads were ] becoming softeRed by the sun. Lucy
 had no dinlculty in tracking the } horse for g couple of miles, the bare
 hcof showing plainly every few yards. Then came a stretch of hilly
 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. 2
 She had met no one; doubtless the
 approaching rig had entered way.
 side farmyard.
 At tho 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 it
 was very difficult to note any
 one track She stopped an
 old woman in Portland cutter. It
 was not easy to make herself under stood. for inc woman was very deaf i but Lucy learned that she had met
 a 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 tho man. No one was seen, and care
 ful search at the corner failed to 1 reveal any telltale tracks
 Hcr two teams arrived, one from the county seat, the other from the south. [ Neither driver had met red pung 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 hesi- tated. but finally drove on toward the village, and Lucy declined a ride with one of the other men who was going her way.
 The first cross-road showed noth- ing, as did the next. It was nearing sundown, and the girl was both tired and hungry, but she went doggedly ahead.
 Then she came to mere farm lane that led to an isolated barn across meadow. The path was worn chief l ly by cattle-tracks. but runners had passed that way. a double sleigh hay I ing been driven out very recently A gate stood at some distance from ( the road, but it was closed Lucy at it, turned away, then turn { ed back and. with a sudden i'm I 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 therel
 The girl glanced at the lonely barn and hesitated. No one was in sight In the road or in the fields; but she c paused only a moment and then, forgetting her weariness, fairly ran toward the building It was a com | Dination barn. painted red, and made T to hold both stock and grain The louble doors were unlocked.
 Thrustlng them open, she saw the Dung on the gangway ofcr. Old Side, stil harnessed, was munching hay rom a mow. But the sleigh was smpty!
 She hurried through to the stables. Three stalls were unoccupied; in 7 ourth was handsome young horse. U Apparently there was no one in. the ' building, although the yard was full U # cattle, clustered about a straw tack. z
 A foot-path led down to house below the hill on the main road, With Ter Younglove blood thoroughly ! Lucy rushed along this path O rout out the robber. She knocked t the side door, which was opened " smiling young man. v
 'sTs that your barn up there?' she demanded.
 Ut is," he replied, looking curious Y at her flushed face.
 "Well. our horse and pung are in- idle. but the pork Is gone. Where is !. t?"
 @whati" he exclaimed. staring c ,lankly at her '
 Lucy repeated her statement U
 "Please come in.' he said, polite ' y. T don't understand you, but ' -ou don't act quite crazy. Come here, Q ennie,s he called to his wife. Three ! leads are better than two in mis- 
 The young farmer continued smil ng for a minute, but before Lucy lad finished her story he had become Terv grave
 Get her 8 lunch, Jennie" he sud lenly exclaimed. She's half-starved '
 know" Then he ran to the barn, md it was with difficulty that Lucy vas kept from following him.
 In a very few minutes he was back and at the telephone calling up the produce-dealers and butchers of Nor ton. He learned nothing there. The old teams gone, and so are the bo5s," he said to his wife. Turning to Lucy he asked:
 Did your father ever employ a fellow named Lem Decker?'
 ''Yes. last summer, but father said he was good for nothing.
 Your father is an excellent judge the young man remarked. grimly. "Did you ever hear of a Frank Min erg'
 Why, yes Lem said he had work