Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-02-24

away at him. Hobbs turned at once and rode in the opposite direction, whirling to fire twice at the unfriendly group. Soon he was out of range. The only thing left for him to do was to ride at once to the city and give the alarm
 Suddenly his horse swerved and leaped furiously out of stride. stum- bling, but recovering himself almost in- simultaneously. In the same second he heard the sharp crack of frearm far down the unbroken ravine to his left. A second shot came. this time from the right and close at hand. His horse was staggering. swaying; then down he crashed. Hobbs swinging clear barely In time to escape being pinioned to the ground. A stream of blood was pour ing from the side of the poor beast. Aghast at this unheard of wantonness. the little interpreter knew not which way to turn, but stood there dazed un- til a third shot brought him to his senses. The bullet kicked up the dust near his feet. He scrambled for the heavy underbrush at the roadside and darted off into the roadside. his revolv- ,, CT in his hand, his heart palpitating like mad. Time and again as he fled through the dark thickets he heard the hoarse shouts of men in the distance.
 At 10 o'clock the next morning Colo nel Quinnox and company of soldiers. riding up from the city gates toward the north in response to call for help from honest herders who reported attacks and robberies of an alarming nature, came upon the stiff, footsore, thorn scratched Mir. Hobbs not far from the walls of the town. The colo nel was not long in grasping the sub- stance of Hobbs revelations. He rode off at once for the witch's hovel, send ing Hobbs with a small, instructed es- cort to the castle. where Baron Dan- gloss was in consultation with Mir. Tul- lis and certain ministers.
 The city was peaceful enough, much to the surprise of Hobbs. No disturb ance had been reported. said the guardsmen who rode beside him. Up in the hills there had been some depre- dations. but that was all.
 "AllT" groaned MT. Hobbs. "All? Hang it all, man. wot do you call all? You haven't heard 'alf of it yet. l tell you, there's been the devil to pay. Wait till the colonel comes back from Ganlook gap. He'll have news for you; take 1t from me, he will. That poor chap 'as gone up in smoke as sure as my name s Hobbs"
 They met Baron Dangloss near the barracks. across the park from the castle. He was in close, earnest con- versation with John Tullis and Count Halfont, both of whom seemed labor ing under intense excitement.
 The arrival of Hobbs, pitiful but heroic object, at once arrested the at tention of every one. His story was heard by most distinguished audi ence.
 "There is nothing supernatural about Kings disappearance" said Tullis sharply. That's all nonsense. He had money about him, and it perhaps turns out that there really was a man at the crack in the door, a clever brigand who today has got the better of our vainglorious friend. The shooting in the hills is more disturbing than this, to my mind"
 This mystery coming on top of the other is all the more difficult to under stand-I mean the disappearance of the Countess Marlanx," said Baron Dangloss, pulling at his imperial in plain perpleXity. But we must not stop here talking. Will you come with me, Mir. Tullis, to the tower? l shall send out my best man to work on the case of the lady. It Is a most amaz- ing thing. I still have hope that she will appear in person to explain the affair.""
 ',I think not" said Tullis gloomily. 'This looks like abduction-foul play, or whatever you choose to call it. She has never left her fathers house in just this manner before. l believe, fhot NToplo,xy hoe 4,I.c,, hon