The state herald., 1913-02-28

horses picketed over near the creek
/ reckon the last Of them didn't leave
until dark tonight. "a they rcde north
toward the main road. There was
maybe dozen in that party"
We followed the general direction
the fellows seemed to have taken,
Conroy and | on foot, scanning the
trail by aid Of pine knot The dust
lay thick on the clay road through
the cut, where we had charged the
foragers. and 1t was easy to see the
band had turned east There was but
one conclusion possible; II this was
Fagin's gang Of cutthroats, as sus.
pected. then they were either return
Ing to their sand caves in Monmouth
county after raid. or else were start.
Ing forth on some new project near
at hand. Whichever was true. Elm,
hurst lay in the direction taken De-
termined to learn the truth. we
pressed forward. riding rapidly. yet
exercising the precaution Of keeping
two scouts well in advance. 1t must
have been nearly three O'Clock when
we reached the summit of the low hill
within a few hundred yards of the
house. and found the two scouts
awaiting us.
My first glance across the ravine
revealed the outlines of the house
above the low trees of the orchard.
All appeared peaceable enough. and |
felt sudden relief. There were lights
burning on the lower floor. streaming
through several windows. while up
stairs one window was ablaze. Late
as it was. this illumination was not
surprising, however. as the care of the
wounded man would necessitate night
watchers. while. nc doubt. Claire
would anticipate by reaching there
before morning. All this flashed over
me. as my eyes hastily surveyed the
familiar surroundings. Then l be.
came aware that the older scout was
reporting.
There's quite a bunch OF horses
picketed down there In the ravine
SIR" he said. pointing toward the
right.
How many?"
"Oh, maybe twenty-five or thirty;
Joe an couldn't get very close, as
there's n couple of men on guard on
top OF the bank. A hundred feet down
you can see 'em plain against the
| sky"
Wasn't what you saw cattle
herd?"
mo. sir" positively. They're
horses. picketed In line like cavalry
troop. and they've got their saddles
on"
What this all meant could not be
guessed at. but there must be some
scheme OF deviltry under way.
Have either Of you crossed the ra
vine?" | asked, endeavoring to reach
some conclusion.
Yes. sir. Joe did. He was up in
the edge OF the orchardT"
See any mem"
Not man. sir. outside" answered
the other. But saw shadows against
the curtains on that lower floor.
couldn't tell how many; they Just
come an go. only they wasn't dressed
alike"
One thing was sufficiently certain
We could gain little Information re.
naming where we were.
Sergeant" said, determining
swiftly on n course OF action. take
your men. dismounted. across the rs.
vine. and into the orchard. Keep un.
der cover. but get as close TO the
house as you can safely Picket your
horses back there beside the road"
And you. sir?"
circle that horse herd. and come up
TO the house from the rear want
TO discover where those fellows are,
and what they are up to. See this
whistle. sergeant"
Yes. sir"
1T gives sharp. shriil blast II
blow II twice. get your men inside
the house instantly. III not sound
II unless ] need you at once. Wen
wait here until you get across"
They disappeared into the blnck
depths OF the ravine. moving cautious.
ly and with little noise. Tom and I
plunged down the steep slope. feeling
our way through the darkness. but
moving TO the right. toward where
the scouts Ind indicated the horses
were being herded. We skirted these,
creeping along the opposite bank be.
hind fringe OF bushes. certain that
tho darkness concealed our move
mcnts from the two men on guard
We crossed ifty feet above. gnincd
the top OF the bank. and crnwied
down. sheltered from observation. un.
III we were directly above the two
guards. peerlng cautiously over. wc
could easily distinguish tho black out.
lines on the hillside below.
Ono man was standing up. leaning
against the trunk OF 4 Hmail tree,
while the other was sitting on the
ground. his head lent forward, and
his hat drawn low over his eyes. Mel.
thcr had uttered sound. but rs my
cyca strained through the darkness I
began to perceive details which