Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1910-07-20
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administration Is q fizzle." said Ard.
more, as they resumed their march
through the forest There was Q
wilder fling to the roll of the land
now, but the underbrush was better
cleared, and the trail had become a
bridle-path that had known mans
care
This is some OF Pauls work." said
Ardmore; and If am not very much
mistaken we are on my lard 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 1 never
before appreciated how complicated
they are"
The path stretched away through
the heavy forest. and they climbed to
ridge that commanded a wide region
that lay bathed in silver moonlight,
so softly luminous that 1t seemed OF
the stuff of shadows made light. West
ward, mile distant, lay Ardsley, only
little below the level of the bridge
and touched with faint purple as of
spring twilight.
Ardmore sat his saddle. quietly con.
templating the great house that
struck him almost for the first time az
imposing. He felt. too, little heart
ache that he did not quite understand.
Wed better be moving" suggested
Cooke. Look below there!"
Looking off from the ridge they saw
man and a woman riding along q
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 a screen.
The slow even motion of the riders
was interrupted suddenly. Tho man.
who was nearer the remote observers,
had stopped and bent toward the
woman as though to snatch her rein,
when her horse threw up it's head
| and fell back on it's launches. Then
the woman struck the man blow
with her riding-crop. and galloped
swiftly away along the white ribbon
like road. In the perfect night-silence
it was like a 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 bridlo
path, which once more dipped sharply
down into heavy timber Cooke lead.
ing the way, and three of thu 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; tho
girls brow and flight had translated
1t into language explicit enough.
Ardmore thanked his German for.
ester thousand times for the admir-
able bridle-path over which they gal
ioped, with its certain footing beneath
and clean sweep from the boughs
above. The blood surBed hotly through
mis- heart, and he was angry for the
first time In his life; but his head wal
cool, and the damp air of the forest
flowing by tranquilIized him into
new citation of spirit. Jerry Danger
field was the dearest and noblest ami
bravest girl in the world-he kneN
mat; and she was clever and resources
ful enough to devise means for pre-
serving her fathers official and priv.
ate honor; and not less quick to do
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 sheN
road
He'll be along in a minute. Let I'd
got into the shadow of the bungalow,
and when he comes wen ride out and
nall him. The bungalows a sort OF
way house. l often stop here When
I'm out on the estate and want to
rest. / have the key in my pocket"
AS Ardmore's keys jingled 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 rods
out to meet him
Il say" painted the duke.
You are our prisoner. Disn,ounI
and come into this house"
(TO BE CONTINUED