Enterprise news-record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1910-1911, 1911-04-01
CHAPTER TX.
STRANGE DIsAPPEARANcEs.

RM He decided TO return TO the
ia 81 hut. His friend might be In
desperate need of aid.
Then. with his heart In his mouth, ne
slowly began to retrace his steps. walk
ing where he had galloped moment
before. A turn in the road caused him
to draw rein sharply. a hundred yards
ahead five or six men were struggling
with riderless bay horse.
by Jovew calculated Hobbs. "It's
his horser
AS he drew nearer it struck him
forcibly that the men were not what
he had thought them to be. They were
an evil looking lot. more like the strik-
ers he had seen in the town earlier In
the day. Even as he was turning the
new thought over in his mind one of
them stepped out of the little knot
and. without word of warning. lifted
his arm and fred point blank at the
little Engllshman. A pistol ball whizzed
close by his head His horse leaped
to the side of the road in terror, al
most unseating him.
But Hobbs had fighting blood in his
veins. What is more to the point, he
had Mauser revolver in his pocket.
He jerked 1t out and. despite second
shot from the picket. prepared to ride
down upon the party. An instant later
half dozen revolvers were blazing
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. stun
bling, but recovering himself almost In
simultaneously. In the same second be
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 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-
er in his hand. his heart palpitating
like mad. Time and again as he fed
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 a call for
help from honest herders who reported
attacks and robberies Of an alarming
nature. came upon the stiff. footsore,
thorn scratched Mr.. Hobbs not far
from the walls Of the town. The colo
mel 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 small, instructed es-
cort to the castle. where Baron Dan
gloss was in consultation with Mr. 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.
"AllY groaned Mr.. Hobbs. "All?
Hang it all. man. wot do you call al? !?
You haven't heard 'alf Of 1t yet. ! 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 g 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 a most distinguished audi
ence.
There is nothing supernatural about
Kings disappearance" said Tullis
sharply. That's all nonsense. He had
money about him. and 1t perhaps turns
out that there really was man at
the crack In the door. 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
sfOn hero talking Will vou oorna with