Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1911-02-23

listen, and heard through the still
night first n 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 a young wom-
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. 1 saw
you, I came along and brought you
with me, thinking to a " your life.
1 want to get home as quickly as pos
sible, and though / do not know you,
and Am quite sure we never met be-
fore, I hope you will kindly guide me
to Ardsley, and thereby render me a
service l shall always deeply appre.
ciate."
Mr.. Bill Appleweight, alias Poteet,
was we'll hardened to the shocks of
time, but the pleasant-voiced girl,
coolly sitting her horse, and holding
his w lank steed by a strap, was the
most amazing human being that had
yet dawned On his horizon. He was
not stupid, but Jerry's manner of
speech had baffled more sophisticated
minds than Appleweight's, and the
sweet sincerity of her tone, and her
frank countenance, hallowed as it 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
nounced, and Appleweight was moth
ing if not a man of action.
"Take these things off 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 l will accommodate
my pace to that of your own ONE
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, 1 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 bafled Jerry when first she
broke into the clearing.
"Thet's the highest" said Apple
weight. land we'd better git"
Size set the pace at a trot, and was
relieved in a few minutes to pass one
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
she should strike the high
road to Ardsley which she abandoned
throw off the duke of Ballywinkle.
1t was now ten o'clock, and the
moon was sinking behind the forest
Jerry took advantage of an
occasional straight strip of road to go
forward at a gallop, but these
stretches did not offer frequently, and
two riders kept pretty steadily to
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
enjoyed a full view of
her face.
Il am perfectly willing to tell you
my name, but first it would be more
for you to tell me yours,
particularly as 1 am delivering you
rom a band of outlaws who undoubt-
intended to do you harm"
He laughed-a curious, chuckling
augh. He had ceased to struggle at
lis bonds, but seemed resigned to his
strange fate. He had not answered
question, and had no intention
doing so. The sudden attack at
he church had aroused all his cum
ling. ~Appleweight, alias Poteet, was
IN old wolf, and knew we'll the ways
If the trapper; but the bold attempt
o kidnap him was a new feature of
he game as heretofore played along
he border. He did not make it out;
Tor was he wholly satisfied with the
,irl's explanation of her presence in
hat o~ut-of-the-way place.
He had several times called out d.
ections as they crossed other paths
n the forest, and they now reached
ne main trunk road of the estate.
The red bungalow, Jerry knew, was
lot far away. Her prisoner spoke
gain.
(TO BE CONTINUED.1
~Turpentine and Forests.
You do not know the turpentine tap