The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-03-31

turning for a last desperate double.
1t saw the man in the foreground and
it's bounding, agonized little wild heart
that so prayed for life gave way.
With final effort, it gained the porch
and crouched down in it's corner, an
abject, sweated, hunted morsel, at
hopeless bay.
Like a fash, Valiant 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
overlooked with pandemonium of
nosing leaping hounds, he saw the
golden chestnut refined sharply down
among the ragged box-rows. with q
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 squirting in a galloping zig
| gag: a genialfaced man of middle age
in khaki who sat his horse like a
cavalryman, younger one with a
reckless dark face and straight black
hair, and following these a half-dozen
youthful 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 curling
from thes 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
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? 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 its in
herent profigacy and weakness. DARK
as the girl was light, his features haG
the same delicate chiseling, the in
breeding, nobility and indulgence Of
generations. He stared a moment
and the somewhat supercilious lool
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 tt
get it fit for occupancy. / presume?'
Yes
The other turned. well, Judg,
Chalmers, what do you think of that
The unexpected has happened at last
He looked at the porch. Who's t,
occupy it?''
THE owner"
Wonders will never ceaseI" sail
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. Witt
your permission I'll take one of then
in and see." He stopped and snappe,
leash on dog-collar.
I'm really very sorry" said Valiant
'.but I'm living in it at present"
The edge of smile lifted the care
fully trained mustache over tn
others white teeth. 1t had the pei
fectly courteous air Of saying, 30
course. if you say so. But"
(TO BE. CONTINUED.)