The Elbert County tribune., 1910-07-01


Whats that light away on there!'
asked Habersham.
The guide paused to examine, and
the faint glow far down the vale
seemed 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 Ardmores land"
said the leader finally. 1T shoots out
all sorts O. ways round hyeh. and ]
reckon thet's wf1eh Raccoon creek
cuts through"
That's very likely" said Haber-
sham. I've seen the plat OF what
Ardmore owns on this side the border
at the courthouse. and remember
that there's long strip in Mingo
county that is Ardsley land. AYdmore
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 you?"
Yes: I've visited there" admitted
Griswold. But we'd better give it a
wide berth. The whole estate is sim
ply infested with scarlet fever
They're quarantined''
Il guess that's joke" said Haber-
sham. There's "a big party on there
now, and / 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 him
to keep him away from Ardsley-
from Ardmore's house! The thought
OF 1t really nurt him now.
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 coun-
try road which they had latterly been
following.
I'VE 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 study
ing the old mans habits and he has
particular place where he ties his
horse back of the church It's lit
tie apart from the fence where most
of the congregation hitch. and he
chose 1t, 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 Gov.
Dangerfield the shock of his life"
1T sounds simple enough; but it
won't be long before Appleweight's
friends miss him You must remem-
ber 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
singing reached them.
"Old Rabdick has finished his SER
mon and we'll know the worst. in a
few minutes"
One of the party had already de-
tached himself and crept forward to
ward the chuch to meet his appointed
comrade In the enterprise, who was to
come in from the other side.
The clapboard church presented in
the moonlight the austerest outlines,
and as the men waited, rude though
unseen hand was slamming the wood
en- shutters that protected the win
dows from impious violence.
1--WE could do with less moon," NUT
tered Habersham. as he and Griswold
peered through the trees into the
churchyard
There goes Bill Appleweight now,
whispered one of the natives at his
elbow. and Griswold felt his heart
beats quicken as he watched tall
figure silhouetted against the church
and moving swiftly toward the rear
of the building At the front of the
church voices sounded, as the de-
parting worshipers rode or drove slow
ly away.
Habersham laid his hand suddenly
on Griswold's arm.
They've got him! They've nailed
him! See! There! They're yanking
him back into the timber They've
taken him and his horse,"
Griswold saw nothing but momen-
tary confusion of shadows. then per-
feet silence hung over the woods be-
hind the little church. The congre-
cation was slowly dispensing. riding
away in little groups, Suddenly a
voice called out in the road 100 yards
beyond the church;
Hey, there, Where's Bili?-
"Oh. he's gone long ago." yelled
another.
In moment more the church door
slammed and last figure rode rapid
ly away.
,To BE coNTINUED)