The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1910-10-27

forcibly that the men were not what
he had thought them to be. They were
an evil looking lot. more like the strlk.
eFs he had seen In the town earlier In
the day. Even as he was turning the
new thought over in his mind one of
them stepped out Of the little knot
and, without n word OF warning, lifted
bis arm and fired point blank at the
little Englishman. A pistol ball whizzed
close By bis head. His horse leaped |
10 the side OF the road I'm terror, al |
most unseating him.
But Hobbs had fighting blood In bis |
veins. What IL more 70 the point. he |
had a Mauser revolver In his pocket |
lie jerked II out and. despite a second |
shot from the picket, prepared to ride
down upon the party. An instant later
half n dozen revolvers we're blazing
away at him. Hobbs turned at once
and rode in the opposite direction.
whlrllng to FIRE twice at the unfriendly
group. Soon he was out Of range.
The only thing left for him to do was
TO ride nc once to the city and give
the alarm.
Suddenly his horse swerved and
leaped furiously out OF stride. STUN
bling. but recovering himself almost sn-
simultaneously. In the same second he
heard the sharp crack OF a firearm far
down the unbroken ravine TO his left
A second shot came. this time from the
right and close at hand. His horse was
staggering swaying: then down he
crashed, Hobbs swinging clear barely
ia time 70 escape being pinloned to the
ground. A stream of blood was pour
ing from the side OF the poor beast.
Aghast at this unheard OF wantonness.
the little Interpreter knew not which
way to turn, but stood there dazed I'M
I'll a third shot brought him TO his
senses. The bullet kicked up the dust
near his feet. He scrambled for the
heavy underbrush at the roadside and
darted or into the roadside. his revolv-
or IN his hand, his heart palpitating
Ike mad. Time and again as he fed
through the dark thickets be heard the
hoarse shouts OF men I'm the distance
AT 10 O'Clock the next morning Colo
mel Quinnox ard a company Of soldiers.
riding up from the city gates toward
the north IN response TO a call Tor
help from honest herders who reported
attacks and robberies Of an alarming
nature. came upon the stiff. footsore,
thorn scratched Mr.. Hobbs not far
; from the walls Of the town. The colo
mel was not long in grasping the sub
stance OF Hobbs revelations. He rode
OF at once for the witch's howell, send
ing Hobbs with a small, instructed es
cort to the castle. where Baron Dan
gloss was IN consultation with Mr. Tul'
lis and certain ministers.
The city was peaceful enough. much
10 the surprise OF Hobbs. No disturb
ance had been reported. said the
euardsmen who rode beside him. UT
in the hills there had been some depre
dations. but that was all.
"AuY' groaned Mr.. Hobbs. "All
Hang Il all. man. wot do you call all
You haven't heard 'alf Of It yet tel
you, there's been the devil to pay
wait TIL the colonel comes back from
GanIook gap. He'll have news fol
/ YOU: take II from me. he will. Thai
poor chap as gone up In smoke al
sure as my name 3 Hobbs"
/ They met Baron Dangloss near the
barracks. across the park from tho
castle. He was In close. earnest con
versation with John TullIs and Coun
Halfont, both Of whom seemed labor
ing under intense excitement
The arrival Of Hobbs, a pitiful ou'
| heroic object. at once arrested the at
| tention OF every one. His story wa'
| heard by most distinguished audi
/ ence.
| There is nothing supernatural abou
| Kings disappearance" said Tulll
| sharply. That's all nonsense. He ha'
| money about him. and 1t perhaps turn
| out that there really was a man
/ the crack In the door, clever brigan'
| who today has got the better of on
| vainglorious friend. The shooting Il
the hills is more disturbing than this
Il TO my mind
| This mystery coming ON top OF tn
other is all the more difficult to under
stand-I mean the disappearance o
the Countess Marlanx," said Barol
Dangloss, pulling at his imperial II
plain perplexity. But we must no
stop here talking. VIII you come witt
me. Mr.. T'ullis. to the tower? | shall
send out my best man TO work on tn
case OF the lady. II is a most amaz
ing thing. / still have hope that sh
| will appear in person to explain tn
| AFFAIR"
/ 81 think not" said Tullis gloomily
Il ssrbia looks like abduction-fOul PLAY
or whatever you choose to call It, Sh
has never left her fathers house 4
lust this manner before. / believe
baron. that Marlanx has taken he
away by force She told me yesterda
that she would never go back TO hlr
If she could help It. | have alread
| given you my suspicious regarding hi
Ill 49, -. Hntnhin