The Elbert County tribune., 1910-06-24

Tnat9 all rfgnt- unless we COM
plete this job in about two days my
administration is a fzzle." said Ard
more, as they resumed their march
| through the forest. There was a
wilder fling to the roll of the land
now, but the underbrush was better
cleared, and the trail had become q
bridle-path that had known mans
| care.
This is some Of Pauls work." said
Ardmore; "and II am not very much
mistaken we are on my land now and
headed straight enough for the wagon
road that leads south beyond the red
bungalow. These roads in here were
| planned to give variety, but / never
before appreciated how complicated
they are"
The path stretched away through
the heavy forest. and they climbed to
a ridge that commanded a wide region
that lay bathed in silver moonlight.
so softly luminous that it seemed Of
the stun of shadows made light. West
ward, a mile distant, lay Ardsley, only
little below the level of the bridge
and touched with 6 faint purple as OF
spring twilight.
Ardmore sat his saddle. quietly con-
templating the great house that
struck him almost for the first time as
imposing. He felt. too, little heart
ache that he did not quite understand.
Wed better be moving" suggested
Cooke. Look below therel"
Looking on from the ridge they saw
a man and a woman riding along a
strip of road from which the timber
had been cut. The night was so still,
the gray light SO subdued, that the
two figures moved as steadily and
softly as shadow pictures on screen.
The slow even motion of the riders
was interrupted suddenly. The man,
had stopped ard bent toward the
woman as though to snatch her rein.
when her horse threw up its head
and fell back on its launches. Then
the woman struck the man a blow
with her riding-crop. and galloped
swiftly away along the white ribbon
like road. In the perfect night-silence
1t was like scene OF pantomime.
That's all right" cried Cooke.
Come along! Well cut into that
road at the bungalow"
They swung their horses away from
the ridge and back into the bridle-
path, which once more dipped sharply
down into heavy timber, Cooke lead
ing the way, and three of the best
hunters known to the Ardsley stables
flew down the clear but winding path.
The incident which the trio had wit
messed required no Interpretation: the
girls blow and flight had translated
it into language explicit enough
Ardmore thanked his German for
ester thousand times for the admir-
able bridle-path over which they gal
loped. with its certain footing beneath
and clean sweep from the boughs
above. The blood surged hotly through
his heart. and he was angry for the
first time in his life; but his head was
cool, and the damp air of the forest
flowing by tranquillized him into q
new elation of spirit. Jerry Danger
field was the dearest and noblest and
bravest girl in the world-he knew
that; and she was clever and resource
full enough to devise means for pre-
serving her fathers official and priv
ate honor; and not less quick to de-
fend herself from insult from a titled
scoundrel
The three men rode out into the
broad highway at the red bungalow and
paused to listen.
He hasn't got here yet Only one
person has passed and these must be
the tracks of the girls horse" said
Cooke, who had dismounted and struck
matches. the better to observe the
faint footprints in the hard shell
road.
He'll be along in minute. Let us
got into the shadow of the bungalow,
and when he comes we'll ride out and
nail him. The bungalows a sort of
way house. often stop here when
I'm out on the estate and want to
rest. / have the key in my pocket
AS Ardmore's keys iingled in the
lock Cooke cried out softly. Their
quarry was riding swiftly toward
them, and he drew rein before the
bungalow as Cooke and Collins rode
out to meet him.
II say" painted the duke
You are our prisoner Dismount
and come into this house"
(TO BE CoNTINUED.)