Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-05-20

80 goou OF you, d con-
ventionally as Steele dropped slightly
back among the others who had by
this time drawn near-''to arrive at
such an questionable hour. l mean"
His pleased but rather suspicious
eyes studied her. He answered light
ly. Behind them now. he who had
been riding with my lady could hear
their gay laughter.
Good looking beggar. isn't he?" OBJ
served the nobleman suddenly. his
gaze sharpened on her.
"Who?" asked the girl.
THAT chap Steele" be answered In
sinuatingly.
rs hep" Her voice was hutelike.
what is that noise?' abruptly.
"Noise?" Lord Ronsdale listened.
That's music. or supposed to be: un-
less I am mistaken The Campbells
Are Coming" he drawled.
"The Campbells? Oh. | understand.
Let us watt"
They drew in their horses. The
black one became FESTIVE. eyed with
obvious disapproval a gayly bedecked
body of men swinging smartly along
toward them.
And at the sight and sound the girls
horse, unaccustomed to the pomp and
pride of martial display. began to
plunge and rear. She spoke sharply.
tried to control it. but found she could
not. Lord Ronsdale saw her predica-
ment. but was powerless to lend as
~sistance. being at the m engaged
in a vigorous effort to prevent his own
horse from boiling.
The bagpipes came directly opposite.
The black horse reared viciously. For
the 1t seemed that Jocelyn
would either be thrown or that the af-
w1feh Il nun sbrang f0fWaFd aud
a hand reached up. He stood almost
beneath the horse. AS it came down "A
hoof struck his shoulder a %glancing
blow. grazed hard his arm. tearing the
cloth. But before the animal could
continue his rebellious tactics Il hand
like iron had reached for. grasped the
bride. Those who watched could real
ize great strength in the restraining
fingers. the unusual power of steele S
muscles. The black horse. trembling.
soon stood still. the bagpipes passed
on, and Steele looked up at the girl.
Few riders could have kept their
seats so WELL" he answered, with i'll
concealed admiration.
81 have always peer accustomed to
horses. In Australia we ride a great
deal"
For the instant" his face slightly
paler. II thought something would
happen"
ut might have" she returned. a
hand. My horse apparently does not
appreciate Scotch airs"
Ugly brute." Lord Ronsdale. a dis
satisfied expression on his handsome
countenance. approached. "A little of
the whip The words were arrest
ed. The nobleman stared at John
Steele or rather at the bare arm which
the torn sleeve revealed well above
the elbow.
Th white. uplifted arm suddenly
dropped. Steele drew the cloth quick
~ about it. but not before his eyes
had met those of Lord Ronsdale and
caught the amaZement. incredulity,
sudden terror-was it terror?-in their
depths. The nobleman's face looked
drawn and gray. With one hand he
seemed almost clinging TO his saddle.
John Steele turned his back. He was
bending over the girth of his saddle.
and his features could not be seen.
but the hand. so firm and assured a
moment before, seemed a little uncer-
tain as it made pretext to readjust a
fastening or buckle.
"Why. man. you look i'll" Captain
Forsythe. turning to Lord Ronsdale.
exclaimed suddenly.
Its nothing much" With vacant
expression the nobleman regarded The
speaker, then lifted his hand and
pressed it an instant to his breast.
Heart" he murmured mechanically
"beastly bad heart. you know, and
sometimes a little t~hing-slight shock
Miss Wray's danger
take some of this" The captain.
with solicitude. pressed a flask on him.
The nobleman drank deeply. There.
thatll pick you up"
Are you ready. Mr.. Steele?' Jocelyn
Wray waited a ONE as the others
started. looked down at that gentle
man. Her voice was gracious. Its
soft accents seemed to say; You may
ride with me. 1t is your reward
For one restored so quickly to favor.
with a felicitous prospect of gay words
and bright glances. John Steele seem
ed singulafly dull and apathetic. 1t
was impossible she should not notice