The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-10
CHAPTER XVIII.
tContinued.l

The girls face whitened. AS the
man spoke they had turned from the
pike road and were going deeper into
the woods. A scant light of day had
come. The faces OF the two were
hagRard and worn.
y es, I'm the only onei" cried Lot
tie-May Doggett suddenly. And that's
what Id do now II had the chance
tel the whole truth amt thinkin'
no more about me. amt thinkin' no
more about you. I'm thinkin' about
Tom Strickland!"s
A forlorn and dilapidated cabin was
revealed In barren little opening
ahead. The man laughed aloud as he
saw IL.
you'll have to take II out thinkin.'
lottie-May!" he exclaimed triumph.
antly I've got you now where you're
safe When you and me leave that
shack tonight there'll be no more
talk o you savin' Tom Strickland.
Wen be headed straight for Okla
bona. then"
The girls eyes rested on the mis-.
cradle little cabin An ominous light
was In them. The man drew up at
the hut and assisted his companion
from the wagon. He pushed open a
creaking door The cabins interior
showed black and forbidding.
That's where We stay till night
time" he said. "I'll take the horse
and wagon round where they won't
be seen IL anybody happens to come
along. And | don't want no more o.
your foolishness. Lottie-May!"
The girl started as II struck. Don't
talk TO me like that" she cried. Il
amt your niger yet"
The man seemed TO lose all patience
AT this. Grasping the girl by the
shoulders he forced her into the hut.
Then he disappeared A moment later
he returned
The girl was standing against the
wall Her face was buried In her
arms. Sobs shook her body. The man
closed the door behind him.
Five miles back, on the road along
which the fugitives had come, two
men on horseback were galloping
. swiftly in pursuit One was tall. with
cool gray blue-eyes under shaggy
brows, gray hair. white mustache and
old.fashioned imperial. His seat in
the saddle was that OF seasoned cav
alryman. The other was small. wiry,
with a smooth-shaveu. hard-set face,
a mouth like steel trap, cold hazel
eyes that kept themselves fixed on the
! road ahead.
I'VE oughtn't TO be very fur behind
EN- now, jim" spoke the first man
18th amt no way they could ha-
lodged from the main road, is there?
mo Colonel, they amt" returned
the other. Not till they come 10 the
old dirt road that leads TO the cabin
I told you about That's where they
are headin for, Colonel Todhunter
and it's where we're goin' TO ruI
llup on EN-. Well be there pretty
soon, too"
q Colonel Todhunters face was grim
81 hate to think OF Lottie-May Dog
\ gett," he spoke. It's mighty bad
mighty bad, sub. feel that sorry for
{ poor old Rafe Doggett-Lord, Lord
the shame OF II all is a-goin TO Kill
that good old man.
The wiry little man TO whom he
spoke snapped his jaws in angry
scorn.
That can't be helped now, Colonel,
The made answer. II got TO do my
duty, woman or no woman"
II amt askin' you TO do anything
llcss'n your duty. jim" replied Col
onel Todhunter. And I'm just as re
, tsponsible as you are. But I'm sorry
and I'm afraid, too. II there's any
serious trouble, hope there1l be
some way O. seein that girl dom
get hurt"
She won't IL she behaves herself,
said the other But she's got to de
that for there amt goin' TO be no time
for foolishness. You've got 70 forge
the girl part OF this business II yot
want to come out on top, Colone
lTodhunter."
Colonel Todhunter sighed. Il reck
on that's straight, jim" he agreed.
The two rode on abreast without
further words until they reached the
cross-road.
Here we are, Colonel" spoke tn,
little man, his voice low. TITS a SAT,
bet they're layin' up till dark in tina
old shanty."
The two riders checked their horses
to a walk.
Suddenly a woman's shrek brok,
the stiffness. For Gods sake, Jesse,
the cry sounded. you amt a-goin
TO kill me like a dog, are you?"
Instantly, hearing the cry. Colone
Todhunter pressed his horse to a full
gallop. His companion did the same
They threw themselves from the sad
die in front Of the cabin. Colonel Tod