The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-03-26

Iuoh ApPAS" 'ohS anu Vic
sweet sincerity of her Tone and her
frank countenance, hallowed as it was
by the moonlight. wrought in the out
avs mind befuddlement not wholly
unlike that which had possessed the
wits of many young gallants south of
the Potomac who had laid siege to
Jerry Dangerfield'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 fercely. land I'll see v
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 I 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
took his bearing. Then he nodded TO-
ward one of the three trails which
had so baffled 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 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 60
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
a bit Of sand, the prisoner spoke;
| who air y'u, little gal?"
| Jerry turned in the saddle, so that
Appleweight enjoyed full view of
her face. 80
II 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 band Of outlaws who undoubt-
eddy intended to',do you HARM"
He laughed, curious, chuckling
laugh. He had ceased to struggle at
his bonds, but seemed resigned to his
strange fate. He had not answered
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 bod attempt
to kidnap him WAS a new feature of
the game as heretofore played along
the border. He did not make 1t out;
nor was he wholly satisfied with the
gifl's 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
not far away. Her prisoner spoke
again.
Little gal, I'm an ole man, and I
1 hain't never done y'u no harm. Your
haouse is only a leetle way up thar,
and / CANT be no more use to y'u. I
want t go home, and If y'u'll holp me
ontie this yere harness" and he
grinned as he viewed his bonds in the
fuller light of the open road.
Then hoof-beats thumped the soft
earth of another of the trails that
converged at this point, and Ardmore
and Collins flashed out upon Jerry
and her captive, amid a wild panic Of
horses.
Appleweight twisted and turned in
his saddle but Jerry instantly held up
her hand and arrested the inquiries
of her deliverers.
"Mr. Ardmore this gentleman was
most rudely set upon by two strangers
as he was leaving church over there
somewhere in the woods. ! was lost,
and as his appearance at the time and
place seemed almost providential. I
begged him to guide me toward home,
which he has most courteously done"
and Jerry, to give the proper touch
to her explanation. twitched the strap
by which she held her prisoners
horse. so that it. danced. adding a
fresh absurdity to the wobbling figure
Of it's bound rider.
"You are safe" cried Ardmore in a
low tone, to which Jerry nodded care
lessly in a way that directed atten-
ton to the more immediate business
at hand. He was not at once sure of
his cue, but there seemed to be some
thing familiar in the outlines of the
man on horseback and full identified.
tion broke upon him now with as.
founding vividness.
Jugs" he began, addressing the
prisoner smilingly, dear old Jugs, to
| think We ahou1d meet apains Since