Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1912-09-27

night"
II adore Quive"
You can't possibly have an engage
ment for tomorrow night either" he
said refectively.
IL don't see how could. l expected
to be on Il Pullman sleeper"
''Ill come for you at Sis, then"
You are very good, Mr.. Crosby, but
/ have an Gther plan
II beg your parGon for presuming
to- he began, and hot flush mount
ed to his brow.
You are to como at for dinner"
she supplemented delightedly.
What Il nice place the seventh heav-
Ell is.' he cried warmly.
"Sh." she whispered suddenly. and
both stepped stock still. There is a
man with a lantern at the lower gate.
See? Over yonder."
What of it? Who's afraid of Ian
term"
But it is rather odd that the man
should be there. Just see what he is
! doing with the lantern she eXpostu-
| lated.
Hes putting it on the top Of the
gatepost that's all
We'll, ere must be an object in
that"
III ask the man
1T is foolish of me to be alarmed,
MI Crosby. but | feel in my bones
that something is going to happen
Il agree with you. only l don't feel
it in my bones. 1t affects my stom-
ach. Why should we stand here and
discuss a man with a lantern when
both of lis are starving to death by
yards? We have a mile and half
walk ahead Of us
Look. A buggy is stopping at the
gate-and there is another. What does
it mean?'
Two vehicles. dimly outlined against
the darkness, had drawn up at the
gate, and the man with the lantern
advanced to converse with the occu-
pants.
THAT YOU. Mr. Austin?" called a
voice from the first buggy as the Ian
tern advanced.
Yes. How many men have you with
you:"
'Robert Austin.' gasped the fair
watcher, clutchins Crosby's arm.
There are five Of us, Mr.. Austin. l
guess we can take him all right"
Crosby started violently.s
''They're after me, Mrs. Delaney
he whispered. A moment later they
were off the road and in the dense
shadow Of the hedge
is he still III the barn, Mr.. Austin:"
demanded the man in the buggy
Il am positive he is. No human be
ing could get away from that dog of
mine Crosby chuckled audibly, and
Mrs. Delaney With difficulty suppress
ed a proud giggle.
We'll. we might as we'll go up and
get him then. Do you think he's Il
desperate character?"
Il don't know anything about him,
Davis. He says he is Il lawyer. but
his actions were so strange that |
thought you'd best look into his case
A night in the Jail won't hurt him. and
IL
he is. let him go tomorrow. On the
other hand, he may turn out to be a
very important. capture"
''Oh. this is rich whispered Crosby
eXcitediy "Austin is certainly doing
the job up brown. But wait till he
consults Swallow, the nfalible; he
won't be so positive For a few min
utes the party of men at the gate con
versed in low tones. the listeners being
able to catch but few of the words
uttered.
please let go Of my arm. Mrs. De-
lancy," said Crosby suddenly.
where are YOU going?"
II am going to tell Austin what
think Of him. You don't expect me to
stand by and allow pack Of jays to
hunt me down as if / were Jesse
James or some other desperado do
you?"
do you suppose they would credit
your story? They will throw you into
Jail and there you'd stay until some
one came down from Chicago to iden-
tify you"
But word from you would clear
me-" he said in surprise
"If they pinned me down to the truth
could only say had never seen you
until this afternoon.
Great Scott! You know l am Cros.
by, don't your"
81 am positive you are, but what
would you as lawyer say to me if you
were cross examining me on the wit
ness stand? You'd ask some very en-
barrassing questions, and could only
say in the end that the suspected horse
thief told me his name, and | was
goose enough to believe him. No. my
, dear friend, l think the safest plan is
to take advantage Of the few minutes
start we have and escape the law"
"You mean that l must run from
these fellows as if l were really a