The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-17
THE FATAL RUBY

fancy ii is dry enouSh-and reacl
the road below by short cut. I've
not been here for years
Reece would have liked to have
said. For heavens sake, stick to
the parent road and don't risk my
valuable neck; but he remained
silent. and looked about and before
MIN apprehensively. Evelyn bore tc
the right: the indications OF a
road grew fainter and seemed to dis
appear: the horses danced rather
than ran on the short, springy turt;
the wind blew the soft tendrile OF
hair about her forehead and face
her color rose. her eyes grew bright
er, and her lips weres lightly apart.
as if she were drinking in the glO-
rious air which thrilled every nerve
of her.
Eyes. think this is the way" she
said cheerfully. Isn't it delightful
up here? There is no air in the
world like it-a mixture of sea AMI
moorland. always want to sing
when | am on the moor; indeed,
! there is no place like it,
II should think not" said Dexter
Reece, devoutly hoping there was
not, and that they would soon get
away from it.
we shall have a splendid view
presently, Mr.. Reece,' she said. you
will see the river vending below
and running out by the estuary to
the sea; and the great woods on
the other side Why, what's this ?'
she asked, as she looked at a dark
mass which suddenly rose from the
brow of the hill. 'Oh, it's the old
mill. | remember now It's so long
since | was on this part Of the moor
that ! had quite forgotten it, Why,
it is going," she added. with sur
prise, as they drew near enough
W Sct tHt iN"t ooiiS lC'oi'A'
against me cloudless sky.
Ought it not to be going?" asked
Dexter Reece.
well, it wasn't going when
was here last she replied; and
thought that it was not working
that it was unoccupied. Oh, | nHrst
go and see!'
The horses muttered Reece,
out she did not hear him, and put
them to a quicker psce
The carriage rollei ioltinsly over
some broken ground, and presently
they came almost abreast of the
mill. The cobs had been staring at
i apprehensively for some time;
and now, as they approached the
terrible thing, they threw up their
neads, snorted began to swerve
away and then stood stock still
"Oh, go on, dears!" demonstrated
Evelyn. It's only a mill, and won't
hurt you
Perhaps-er-we had better
turn?' suggested Dexter Reece. try
ing to speak carelessly.
"Oh, We mustn't do that said
Evelyn; 'or they'd be troublesome
whenever they came this way again
You foolish things. it's only a mill
for grinding the corn you love So"
She drew the whip across their
backs, but they dil not respond;
and she touched them more sharply.
with a firm little, Go on, stupids,"
They moved at last, and drew a lit
tie nearer; but they were really
frightened by the great revolving
sails, which seemed to them limbs
of some new and altogether horrible
kind of animal; they SHE'D violent
ly, reared until they were almost
on their launches; then, receiving
sharp cut, came down on all fours,
and, making a half-turn, tried to
bolt
Reece, white as sheet. clung to
the rail, but looked around as if
he meditated ieaping from the car
riage. Evelyn's lips Grew straight
and her brows came down. She knew
that if they did bolt she would not
nave the slightest chance of check
ing them down the hillside; and she
remembered the wide ditch and high
fence which divided the moor from
the ROAD. But her pluck did not de-
sert her; she grippe6 the reins tight
ly and. with stern but soothing
voice, tried to reassure the scared
animals.
But they were beyond soothing,
and, with heads down. they strained
at their bits. The carriage went
over a large stone, and Reece was
almost shot into the air, and he