The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-04-28


desperate need of aid.
Then, with his heart in his mouth. he
slowly began to rctracc his steps. walk
ing where he had GalIoped moment
before. 4 turn in the road caused him
to draw rein SHARPLY. y hundred yards
ahead five or six men We're struggling
with n riderless bay horse
"By Jove!" calculated Hobbs. It's
his horsc.'
AS he drew nearer it struck him
forcibIy that the men were not what
he had thought them to be. They were
an evil looking lot, more like the strik
ers he had seen in the town earlier in
the day. Even as he was turning the
new thought over in his mind ono Of
them stepped out Of the little knot
and, without n wo. OF warning, lifted
his arm and fred point blank at the
little Englishman. y pis ,ol ball whi2zcd
close by his head. His horse lcapcd
to the side Of the road in terror, al
most unseating him.
But Hobbs had fighting blood in his
veins. What Is more to the point. he
had Mauscr revolver in his pocket
He jerked 1t out and, despite n second
shot from the picket. prepared 10 ride
down upon the party. An instant later
half n dozen rcvolvcrs were blazing
away at him. Hobbs turned ut Cncr
and rode in the opposite direction.
whirllnG to fire twice at the unfrieI dly
group. Soon he was out of range.
The only thing left for him to do was
to ride Mt once to the city and give
the alarm.
Suddenly his horse swcrved and
leaped furiously out Of stride. stIm-
bling. but recovering himself almost in
Simultaneously. In the same second he
heard the sharp crack of n fircarm fer
down the unbrokcn ravine to his ie;'.
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 barrel"
in time to escape being pinioned to the
ground. 4 stream of blood was pour
ing from the side OF the poor beIs'.
AGhast Mt this unheard of wantonne ss.
the little interpreter knew not which
way to turn. but stood there daZcd I'M
til n third shot brought him to his
senses. The bullet kicked up the Gust
near his feet. lie scrambled for the
heavy underbrush ut the roadside and
darted OF into the roadside. his rcvolv-
er In his hand, his heart palpitat ing
like mad. Time and again as he i"d
through the dark thickcts he heard tn"
hoarsc shouts of men in the distance.
At 10 o'clock the next morning Colo
mel Quinnox and n company of soldiers.
riding up from the city gates toward
the north in RESPONSE to 4 call for
help from honest hcrderS who reported
attacks and robbcrics OF an alarming
nature came upon the stiff. foots IRE.
thorn scratched Mr.. Hobbs not far
from the walls of the town. The colo
mol In IL
stance of Hobbs revelations. He rode
of at once for the witch's howell. send
ing Hobbs with II small, instructed cS-
cort TO the castle. where Baron Dan
gloss was In consultation with Mr.. I'ul-
lis and certain ministers.
The city was peaceful enough, much
to the surprise of Hobbs. No disturb
ancc had been reported. said til"
guardsmcn who rode beside him. Up
in the hills there had been some dcpre-
dations. but that was all.
"All:" rroancd Mr.. Hobbs. All:
Hang II all. man. wot do you call all:
You haven't heard 'alf of 1t yet. l tell
you. there's been the devil to lay.
Wait till the colonel comes back from
Ganlook gap. Hell have news for
you; take it from me. he will. Tint
poor chap as gone up in smoke as
sure as my name : Hobbs
They met Baron Dangloss near the
barracks. across the park from the
castle. He was in close. earnest con-
versation with John Tullis and Count
Halfont. both of whom seemed labor
ing under intense excitement.
The arrival of Hobbs. n pitiful but
heroic object. at once arrested the at
tention OF every one. His story was
heard by n most distinguished audi
ence.
There is nothing supernatural abnu:
Kings disappearance. said TulliS
sharply. That's all nonsense. lie had
money about him. and it perhaps turns
out that there really was Il man ut
the crack in the door. n clever briGand
who today has got the better of our
vninglorious friend The shooting in
the hills is more disturbing than this.
to my mind.
This mystery coming on top of tn"
other is all the more difficult to under
stand-l mean the disappearance of
the Countess MarlanX.' said Baron
DanGloSs. pulling at his imperial in
plain pcrplcXity. But we must not
stop here talking Will you come will
me, Mr.. TulliS. to the tower? | shall
send out my best man to work on th"
case of the lady. 1t is Il most anna
ing thing. | still have hope that She.