The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-06
CHAPTER XIV.
Sanctuary

yard. turning for last desperate
double. IL saw the man In the fore
ground and its bounding, agonized lit
Ito wild heart that SO prayed for life.
give way With final effort. II gain
ed the porch and crouched down In its
corner. an AFFECT. sweated, hunted
morsel at hopeless bay.
Like a fash. Valiant stopped caught
the shivering thing by the scruff and
az its Swapping jaws grazed his thum D.
dropped 1t through the open window
behind him. Sanctuary" quoth he,
and banged the shutter TO.
Al the same instant, az the plao @
ovcrfowcd with pandemonium Of
nosing leaping hounds. he saw the
golden chestnut refined sharply down
among the ragged box-rows, with a
sbamefaced though brazen knowledge
that the girl who rode 1t had seen.
She sat mOveless, her head held
high, one hand OH the hunters foam
fieccked neck, and their chances met
like crossed swords. The look stirred
something vague and deep within him.
For an unforgettable instant their
eyes held each other, in gaze rigid.
challenging, almost defiant; then II
broke and she turned TO the rest of
the party squirting in galloping zig
gag a genialfaced man OF middle age
lin Khaki who sat his horse like u cav
alryman, a younger one with a reck-
less dark face and straight black hair,
and following these a half-dozen youth
full riders OF both sexes. one OF the
lads heavily plastered with mud from
a wet cropper. and the girls chiefly
| gasps and giggles.
The elder OF the two men pulled
up beside the leader, his astonished
| eyes sweeping the house-front, with
Its open blinds. the wisp OF smoke curl
Ing from the kitchen chimney. He
| said something to her. and she nod
ded. The younger man meanwhile,
had flung himself from his horse, a
wild-eyed roam, and with his arm
thrust through its bride, strobe for
ward among the weller OF hounds.
where they scurried at fault, hither
and thither, yelping and eager
What rotten luck" he exclaimed
Gone to ground after twelve miles
After him. Tawny. You mongrels,
Do you imagine he's up tree? AZ.
ter him, Bulger. Bring him here"
He glanced up, and for the first
time saw the figure in tweeds looking
on. Valiant was attracted by his face,
Its dash and generosity everything its
inherent profiigacy and weakness
Dark as the girl was light. his fea-
lures had the same delicate chiseling.
! the inbreeding, nobility and indulgence
Of generations. He stared a moment.
and the somewhat supercilious look
travelled over the gazer, from dusty
boots to waving brown hair.
oh" he said. His view slowly
took In the evidences Of occupation.
The house Is open, I see. Going to
get Il fit for occupancy, | presume"
Yes"
The other turned. Well, Judge
Chalmers. what do you think Of that?
The unexpected has happened at last.
He looked again at the porch. Who's
to occupy it,"
The owner"
Wonders will never cease!' said
the young man easily. Struggling.
We'll, our quarry is here somewhere.
From the way the dogs act | should
say he's bolted into the house. With
your permission I'll take one OF them
In and see." He stopped and snapped
leash on a dogcollar.
I'm really very sorry said Vail
ant. but I'm living in 1t at present
The edge Of smile lifted the care
fully trained mustache over the others
white teeth. 1t had the perfectly
courteous air Of saying. "Of course.
II you say SO. But"
Valiant turned with a gesture that
included all IF you care TO dismount
and rest" he said. II shall be honored,
though I'm afraid | can't offer you
such hospitality as l should wish
The Judge raised his broad soft hat.
Thank you, sir" he said, with soft
accent that delightfully."- disdained the
letter "r." But we mustn't intrude
any further. As you know, OF course.
| the place has been uninhabited for
any number of years. and we had no
idea 1t was to acquire tenant. You
will overlook our riding through,
hope. I'm afraid the neighborhood
mas got used to considering this a
sort of no-man's land. It's pleasure
to know that the Court is to be re-
claimed, sir Come along. Chilly" he
added. "Our fox has burrow under
the house. reckon-hang the cunning
devil"
He whistled sharply to the dogs,
who came leaping about his horses
legs for their need of praise-and
clubbing. Down, FAM Down Tro-
Jan! Come on, you young folks. to
| breakfast. We've had prime run or
1t. anyhow, and well put him up an
other day.
He waved his hat at the porch and
turned his horse down the path side
by side with the golden chestnut At
ter them trooped the others, horses
walking YEARLY. riders talking in low
voices. the girls turning often to send
swift bird-like glances behind them
to where the straight masculine fig-
ure still stood with the yellow sun
shine on his face. They did not leap
| the wall this time. but filed decorous-
| ly through the swinging gate to the
Red Road Then, as they passed from
view behind the hedges. John Valiant
heard the younger voices break out
together like the sound OF bomb
thrown into poultry yard.
| After a time he saw the struggling
bunch of riders emerge at a slow can
ter on the far-away field. He saw
the roam spurred beside the golden
chestnut and both dashed away. neck
and neck In race. the light patrician
form of the man leaning forward and
the girl swaying TO the pace as II she
and her hunter were one.
John Valiant stood watching till the
| last rider was out of sight. There
was warm flush OF color In his face.