Evening star., 1913-12-14


ageous voice asked what they wanted with MN. VINO
he could only guess, for they wore black
hoods that covered their heads and faces all but the
They did answer. One of them took hold OF
the reins and with sudden vicious energy erked them
ou Of Pe1ons hands. Another swung himself to the
back of the off leader and goading the mule with his
heels caused him forward The remaining four,
each side, trudged along by the sleigh
When the mules turned from the road into
forest of widespread pines Peyton spoke
clearly and briskly:
What do with me?'
given. 1t IL hds
cap;ors yet reveal themselves a
risk SO doing. Better wait until they had Peyton
just they wanted him before taking any chances
Even if he suspected that they the five brothers
whom he had justly sent to Jail. he could not swear
it, But he might recognize and swear to voice
Well, let him-la.cr UIon that point they would take
their
If Peyton had been dressed in an ordinary way he
would have jumped the sleigh and tried to escape
by running (That would actually their
guns he did peeve) But dressed Santa Claus.
a stomach of five sofa cushions the attempt
would have been preposterous
The sleigh moved deeper into the forest
clearing that Peyton could not place. half
frozen swamp, more entered among pines.
here, men, said Peyon "a lot of people
will be disappointed lot children especially if
don't show up morning-let off. and tomorrow
III come and meet anywhere you say.
There answer.
rang little.
Il give word OF honor. he SAID
There
that, sulen, angry really alarmed he did
a
OF compass firmly fixed in his mind. but owing to
the thck tang and the fact that the slelsn did
not move long given direction. inns was oue
OF the question. He realized at last that he mad not
the slightest where he was-except that 1t WAS some
where land. 1t was when he realized sh's
he spoke again -
rs there amount OF money 1ndt edh olIei
he began.
And this time he answer.
who rode upon the on leader iausneu-~
short mirthless laugh.
Peyton tried In vain 10 dlsenSaSe mo per
sonalites their disguises But tnls
as if prove picayune value of appearances ne
found impossible beyond the primitive dferentia'
ton; the riding capor the slightest and hghtes
Of fve but only the one walking second on 'ne
of the sleigh could have been called larger than
the average He however. for locality OF poor
people, underfed mentally and physically. was some
thing of a giant-though very lean
three might have been interchanged ike
triplets. leaving stranger any the wiser az
to individual identity. They of the same height
the length leg and of curious similarity In
swinging whichever hand not at the moment en-
gagged n shouldcdng The four small men seemed
In no hurry. giant. with occasional grunt as
Of disdain mpasience, continually mending his
pace lag with theirs.
Doctor Peyton further appeal He endured
the situation with show of indifference and PATIENCE
but all the while worked rapidly upon strata
gems of escape been great reader. but could
remember nothing from fiction history that seemed
10 offer a solution for his predcament
At procession canle by a tortuous way, half
road, half path clearing surrounded by a dense
second growth pine scrub oak. and hickory.
\ log house. whose vast chimney a feeble smoke
arose occupied the clearing. Attached
it. what probably the north end. was barn, as
you could by the door, also built of logs
Peytons capaors hustled MIN the sleigh into
the barn, closed door after them Through
roof descended and lay without melt
the dirt floor With the exception of one of those
huge iron kettles in which the bistles scaded from
pigs place innocent of farm implements. In one
heap Of wooden decoy ducks, very roughly
mace. very much battered; many Of them lacked
a head One whole o the bar stacked with
nrewood. In the other a rickets pre-
HI he harm wifi
paroxysn Of coughing could be heard from
beyond And without giving the matter
attention Peyton diagnosed the cough as that OF
far gone in consumption Whenever it began. ana
while it lasted the big captor kept his inscrutable mask
turned he opened the door little. poked
his head through and could be seen to nod two or three
times.
The cold pierced upward into Peyton's
feet and legs his nose began 10 rum throat
began to stamp his feet and to beat his
gloved hands against each other.
The man had ridden the mule looked up from
dragging big into the center OF the floor.
Well warm you soon'' ne said In dull emotion
less voice
Il should like to what you going o
with me- said Peyton
You'll see and feel" answered the man-"at
Peytons eyes wandered to where his captors
leaned their guns; and he began to edge toward them
achieved about yard; and was brought up by
iaugH. big crossed the barn and stood by ths
guns.
Meanwhile the who had dragged the kettle into
the middle to fetch and stack hrewood
about it. Peyxon the kettle occupied a position
q
il was perhaps, a quarter filed with cold tar.
Then as if settle all doubts as to what be
done of the produced from the corner
In which was he heap decoys bag OF
sacng feathers cluns and from which feathers
Observation-Disclosures feathers canvasback, quail turkey
and hen-tfe remainder of an illicit hunt. Then
the irewood had been laid about the kettle was
lighted and bitter, singing smoke arose, and half filling
the barn. began in desultory manner through
the hole in the roof.
Peyton heard fresh paroxysm of coughing, and then
a tiny shrill piping sound. Good God. he thought
forgetting his own danger Its woman and shes got
a little baby
e looked directly the big man who guarded the
guns.
a sick woman my man. he said
The man started forward with kind OF stumble
stopped, suspicious.
How do you know she's my wife?' he said DO you
who 1 arn?"
Il do not" said Peyton 81 think she Is your wife,
because the cough you, and not the