Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1910-07-07
CHAPTER xIv.-contInued.

The messages were composed by
their Joint efforts at the station, with
not 30 much haste but that an asso-
ciate professor of admiralty, 20 years
old, could defer in the most trifling
matters to the superior literary taste
of girl of 20, whose brown eyes we're
very pleasant to meet In moments Of
uncertainty and appeal.
He signed the messages Charles Os.
borne, governor, with flourish in
dicative of the increased confidence
and daring which Miss Osborne's ar
rival had brought to the situation.
And now" said Griswold, as they
rode through the meager streets of
Turner's, I'VE will go to Mount Nebo
church and see what we can learn of
Appleweight's disappearance"
'SThe North Carolina papers are
making great deal of Gov Danger
fields activity in trying to put down
outlawry on the border" said Barbara.
Marked copies of the newspapers
are pouring into papa's office. can
but hold Mr.. Bosworth responsible for
that We may count upon 1t that he
win do all in his power to annoy u.s.
and then, as Grlswold looked at her
-ddfaIvly, he was aware that She mad
colored and averted her eyes; and
while, ASA lawyer, he was aware that
words of two letters might be provoca-
tive of endless litigation of the bitter
est sort, he had never known before
that "us," in itself the homeliest of
words, could cause so sweet dis
tress.
1--WE are quite near the estate of
your friend, Mr., Ardmore, aren't we?'
asked Barbara presently.
81 fancy we are" replied Griswold,
but with tone so coldly at variance
with his previous cordial references
TO the master of Ardsley that Barbara
looked at him inquiringly,
I'm sorry that l should have given
you the impression, Miss Osborne,
that Mr.. Ardmore and are friends, as
] undoubtedly did at Columbia He
has, for some unaccountable reason,
cut my acquaintance in manner so
unlike him that | do not pretend to
explain IL; nor, | may add is 1t of
the least Importance, He had, only a
few days ago, invited me to visit him,
though l had been to his house so
often that the obscurest servant knew
that was privileged even beyond the
members OF Mr.. Ardmore's own fam
lily in my freedom of the place. When
saw that his house would be a con-
venient point from which to study the
Appleweight situation, l wired him
that | was on the way, and to my
utter amazement he replied that he
could not entertain me-that scarlet
fever was epidemic on the estate-on
those almost uncounted acres!"
And with gulp and mist in his
eyes, Griswold drew rein and pointed,
from hill that had now borne them
to considerable height, toward Ards.
ley itself. dreamily basking in the
bright morning sunlight within its
cincture of hills, meadows and for
est.
He knew the ways Of Ardsley thor
oughly; better, in fact. than its owner
ever had In old times; but in his an
ger at Ardmore he would not set foot
on the estate If he could possibly
avoid doing 30 In reaching the scene
OF the nights contretemps. He found
without difficulty the trail taken by
Understands men, and In due course
of time they left their horses short
distance from the church and proceed
ed on foot.
1T seems all the stupider in broad
daylight" said Griswold, after he had
explained just what had occurred,
and how the captors. in their super
stitious awe OF Appleweight, had been
afraid to carry him off the moment
they were sure OF him, but had
slipped back among their fellows to
wait until the coast was perfectly
clear. To ease his deep chagrin Bar
bara laughed good deal at the oc.
currence as they tramped over the
scene discussing II. They went into