Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-03-05
eepsrisA.. iaia. by Harry Irving Greens

! hare been notified and an holding
myself II readiness
And this rotice-hEd you been Ell.
pec;ing it, she inquired. mauifestly
little pleased al the mystery OF his
manner. He uegatired.
No. Il came TO ne a couple OF
days ago as lightning out Of a clear
sky. Il may be because OF business
reasons. IL may be for any other cause,
IL may be today or a week from now,
Il nay be with grez, s~uidenness or
may have a short notice-those are
things ! know no more about than do
you. simply know that | have been
notified and must bold myself In
readiness to obey" He saw March's
thin smile OF ~increduHty and gave him
a queer look In return.
Il know II sounds as though | were
wandering mentally. yet you will find
out that IL Is all true" he added cold
ly. He arose and took a step towards
his horse, addressing himself solely
TO Doris. And now am going to
leave you for today. hoping that may
see you again before I depart upon
the longer trip Of which have Just
spoken" The girl springing to her
feet stepped close before him.
Ride back with U.s." she urged.
He shook his head. speaking to her
rapidly and in a voice too low for
Alan TO hear his words. NO, this
afternoon belongs to you two. But |
shall endeavor to make an opportuni-
~ to at least say goodby to you before
leave. And always remember
her lids dropped before the light she
saw burning in his eyes-"what told
you the other day, Doris-that all that
I possess, even to ny life Itself, Is
ever at your service" The snort OF
his horse caused him Il wheel Just as
that animal, raising its head, started
at a brisk trot down the canyon with
the bride reins trailing. Much to the
astonishment Of the girl and Alan
their own well broken horses. which
heretofore had been standing quietly.
now faced about and started in the
others tracks, heads and ears erect.
In an instant March was upon his
feet.
Now. what the mischief ails those
brutes?" he exclaimed angrily as he
started in quick pursuit, loudly COM
manding them to whoa. Tolliver, equal
ly provoked at the actions OF his own
beast. was hurrying along BY his
rivals side as he called his animal BY
name.
They must have winded some beast
up there in the mountains and become
uneasy. They are not particularly
frigbtened-just restless. See! They
have stopped already" he exclaimed.
A hundred yards further down the
pass the beasts had stopped short in
their scamper, snd wheeling about
were now awaiting the approach OF
their masters. their ears pr!cked for.
ward and tails Jerking nervously.
Rapidly the men pressed on to cap
ture them while the opportunity Of
fered.
And then from behind them there
arose a scream so shrill. SO penetrat-
ing, SO awful In its horror that their
blood curdled within them and their
hearts seemed to stop at its first wild
note. They p upon their heels with
every nerve bristling. My God"
gasped Clay, Keeling as though from a
fierce blow In the face, while March.
sickened to the very core Of his soul
by what he saw, felt a deathly faint
ness sweep over him. Doris, a hun
bred yards away from them and to all
appearances already unconscious from
terror and shock, was being lifted bod
lily from the earth by the Flying Man.
Again the horses were stampeding
down the canyon with terrified snort
ings.
With an inarticulate cry Of horror
March jerked his revolver from his
pocket and went leaping backward
towards her, Tolliver racing by his
side with weapon in hand. But even
as they made their first step the
winged one. leaping into the air as
lightly as a tiger who bears but a
fawn leaps a jungle deadfall, he smote
the air with his tremendous wings.
Upward he forged with swift b~eatings,
upward and away. shielding himself
perfectly from the drawn weapons OF
those below by the form Of the n
he bore. peering malevolently over the
top of her head with his enormous IN
sect like eyes at those who were rag
ing below like men bereft Of their
reason. With brain Keeling as
though he would 90 mad March
glanced at Tolliver. His rivals face
was distorted almost beyond the sem
blance OF a human beings. his eyes
filled with the dull glare Of stark
madness, his teeth barred like q
wounded panther's. his big revolver al
ready raised for the shot which even
though It missed the girl and pierced
the forehead OF the one who bore her
must bring her also crashing down
upon the rocks to certain mutilation
and death. With the qulckness OF
thought he struck the weapon from
the Others hand and sent 1t ringing
upon the stones. Without pausing to
see what his ertswhile rivals next
move would be he went dashing up
the canyon In wild pursuit, his eyes
fastened upon those above. the horror
m a ma Fnnnnu aHI u-- - E-,u