Alma record., 1914-02-05
CHAPTER xI.
Sanctuary.

turning for last desperate double.
1t saw the man in the foreground and
its bounding, agonized little wild heart
that SO prayed for life gave way.
With a final effort, it gained the porch
and crouched down in it's corner, an
abject, sweated, hunted morsel, at
hopeless bay.
Like flash, Val ant stopped, caught
the shivering thing by the scruff, and
as it's swapping jaws grazed his thumb,
dropped it through the open window
behind him: Sanctuary" quoth he,
and banged the shutter to.
At the same instant, as the place
overfiowed with a pandemonium OF
nosing leaping hounds, he saw the
golden chestnut reined sharply down
among the ragged box-rows. with
shamefaced though brazen knowledge
that the girl who rode it had seen.
She sat moveless, her head high,
one hand on the hunters foam-hecked
neck, and their glances met like
crossed swords. The look stirred
something vague and deep within him.
For an unforgettable instant their
eyes held each other, in a gaze rigid,
challenging, almost defiant; then it
broke and she turned to the rest of
the party spurring in a galloping zig
gag a genial-faced man of middle age
in khaki who sat his horse like a
cavalryman, a younger one with a
reckless dark face and straight black
hair, and following these half-dozen
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 curling
from the kitchen chimney. He said
something to her, and she nodded.
The younger man, meanwhile, had
flung himself from his horse, wild
eyed roam, and with his arm thrust
through its bride, strobe forward
among the welter of hounds, where
they scurried at fault, hither and
tnitner, yelplng ana eager.
What rotten luck!" he exclaimed.
Gone to ground after twelve miles!
After him, Tawny! You mongrels!
Do you imagine he's up a tree? After
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 It's in
herent profiigacy and weakness. Dark
as the girl was light, his features had
the same delicate chiseling, the in
breeding, nobility and indulgence Of
generations. He stared moment,
and the somewhat supercilious look
travelled over the gazer, from dusty
boots to waving brown hair.
Obi" he said His view slowly
took in the evidences Of occupation.
The house Is open, l see. Going to
get it fit for occupancy, l presume?"
Yes"
The other turned. well, Judge
Chalmers, what do you think Of that?
The unexpected has happened at last
He looked 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 l 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 dog-collar.
I'm really very sorry" said Valiant,
but I'm living in it at present.
The edge of a smile lifted the care
fully trained mustache over the
others white teeth. 1t had the per-
fectly courteous air of saying, "Of
course, if you say so. But"
Valiant turned, with a gesture that
included all IF you care to dismount
and rest" he said, Il shall be honored,
though I'm afraid l cant offer you
such hospitality as should wish
The judge raised his broad soft hat.
Thank you, sir" he said, with a 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 it was to acquire tenant. You
will overlook our riding through, |
hope. I'm afraid the neighborhood
has got used to considering this sort
of no-man's land It's a pleasure to
know that the Court is to be re-
claimed, sir. Come along, Chilly" he
added. Our fox has burrow under
the house, l reckon-hang the cunning
little devil!"
He waved his hat at the porch and
turned his horse down the path, side
by side with the golden chestnut.
After them trooped the others, horses
walking wearily, riders talking in low
voices, the girls turning often to send
swift bird-like glances behind them
to where the straight masculine figure
still stood with the yellow sunshine on
his face. They did not leap the wall
this time, but filed decorously through