The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-07-09

listen. and heard through the stiIl
| night first one cry and then many
voices in various keys of alarm and
rage. Then she bent toward the pris.
oner. tore the bandage from his eyes,
and with more difficulty freed him OF
the gag He blinked and spluttered
at this unexpected deliverance, then
blinked and spluttered afresh at see
ing that his captor was young WON
an, who was plainly not of his world
Jerry watched him wonderingly, then
addressed him in her most agreeable
tone
You were caught and tied by two
men over there by a church. saw
them, and when they went on and LETT
you. | came along and brought you
with me. thinking to save your life
| want to get home as quickly as pos
sible. and though l do not know you,
and am quite sure we never met be
fore, | hope you will kindly guide me
to Ardsley. and thereby render me a
service | shall always deeply appre-
ciate'
Mr.. Bill Appleweight, alias Poteet,
was well hardened to the shocks of
time, but the pleasant-voiced girl,
coolly sitting her horse, and holding
his own lank steed by a strap. was the
most amazing human being that had
yet dawned on his horizon. He was
not stupid. but Jerrys manner OF
speech had baffied more Sophisticated
minds than Appleweight's. and the
-;n nf a
frank countenance. hallowed as 1t was
by the moonlight, wrought in the Out
laws mind a befuddlement not wholly
unlike that which had possessed the
wits of many young gallants south OF
the Potomac who had laid siege to
Jerry Dangerfeld's heart. But the
cries behind them were more pro
nounced and Appleweight was moth
ing if not man OF action.
Take these things off'n me-" he
commanded fiercely, "and I'll see y
safe to Ardsley."
Not in the least" replied Jerry,
who was herself not unmindful of the
voices behind. You will kindly tell
me the way, and ! will accommodate
my pace to that of your own some
what ill-nourished beast. And as
there's a mob looking for you back
there. all ready to hang you to one
of these noble forest trees, | advise
you to use more haste and less eau
ton in pointing the way"
Appleweight lifted his head and
ward one OF the three trails which
had so baffied Jerry when first she
broke into the clearing.
"Thet's the highest" said Apple
weight. land we'd better git"
She set the pace at a trot. and was
relieved in few minutes to pass one
or two landmarks which she remem
bered from her flight through the
woods. AS they splashed through the
brook she had forded. she was quite
confident that the captive was play
ing her no trick, but that in due
course she should strike the high
road to Ardsley which she abandoned
to throw off the duke of Ballywinkle.
1t was now ten o'clock. and the
moon was sinking behind the forest
trees. Jerry took advantage OF an
occasional straight strip OF road to go
forward at gallop, but these
stretches did not offer frequently and
the two riders kept pretty steadily to
a smart trot
AS they walked their horses through
bit of sand. the prisoner spoke;
Who air y'u. little gal?"
Jerry turned in the saddle. so that
Appleweight enjoyed a full view of
her face
Il am perfectly willing to tell YOU
my name but first it would be more
courteous for you to tell me yours.
particularly as I am delivering you
from a band OF outlaws who undoubt-
edly intended to do you harm"
He laughed-a curious, chuckling
laugh. He had ceased to struggle at
his bonds. but seemed resigned to his
strange fate. He had not swered
Jerry's question. and had no intention
of doing so. The sudden attack at
the church had aroused all his cum.
ming. Appleweight, alias Poteet, was
an old wolf. and knew we'll the ways
of the trapper; but the bold attempt
to kidnap him was new feature OF
the game as heretofore played along
the border. He did not make it out:
nor was he wholly satisfied with the
girls explanation of her presence in
that out-of-the-way place
He had several times called out d.
rections as they crossed other paths
in the forest, and they now reached
the main trunk road of the estate
The red bungalow. Jerry knew, was
net far away. Her prisoner spoke
again.