The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-19

in the buckboard. The team had strayed =
tho side Of the road and commenced -
grace.
.And they needn't have been 70 realistic
with their knots" he said, as he struggled
to free himself Of the rope.
It was ten minutes before no wrigeled
free. He picked up the lines and drove on
toward the ranch-s little nervous now
over the reception he would get. but still
laughing.
At the fork where the road to the noun.
tains left the main highway, Haines flashed
out his revolver in real excitement. An
other group OF fve masked men had driven
their horses out of clump Of small trees.
They fired their revolvers ~ they sur.
rounded the blackboard. Then suddenly dis
covering that there was no woman passen-
ger, they tore on their masks and came m
with quick, eager inquiries.
Hal Haines turned pale. Perhaps for the
hrst time in his life the big fellow know
what fear was-not fear for himself. but for
another.
Boys, there was another party on the
road. They took her. I took 'em for you"
give me your horse: take the rig back and
tell Mrs. Haines."
His long. 1.-the form swung into the saddle.
and. filing their revolvers as they rode. the
band OF testers. who had suddenly turned 10
srimly serious. dashed back toward town.
TWO miles from where Tom Patten had
swung Pauline to his saddle bow they picked
up the train hoofs that left the mad and
The men who had set out 20 gayly Q lew
hours before rode silently, Aercely now
Mile after mile swept behind them az they
held to the trail Sometimes Il followed the
roads. sometimes It broke over open counp
try; it reached the hills and at last the
river. It stopped at the river.
Patterns band had ridden in the water IN.
stream. After . mile OF 1t the leader ordero0
three OF them out on the south aide. ThaV
left silently. rode dve miles across country
md tAA at
Patten and one companion kept on-With
Pauline.
She was almost fnsensible now from the
fright and pain Of the long journey.
The bandits rode without speaking. Az
last they left the stream on the north bank
and climbed into the higher hill country.
Pauline opened her eyes to find that they
entered a thiclret and stopped
Here We are" said Patten. His compan.
lon dismounted and lifted Pauline from The
others saddle.
With a swift and daring dexterity. horn -
.ear, she flung aside his arms ana spranS
toward the horse he had just left. She trie1
10 mount, but her strength was gone: theV
were close upon her. She was seized and
They tied her feet with Z rome ana .....a
ner on q great fallen tree. while they clearss
aMsy Z tangle Of bushes and began 10 ~
VII their combined strength at a giant rocf
which the. bushes had concealed. 49,
The stone moved inch BY inch until be,,,rA
e Pauline saw. with . chill shudder. ths
black opening Of a cave s1s
she hung herself from the log ana kr.,,
before her captor., pleading piteousiy. Thsv
c c me rope that bound her feet and led Ia
. 20 me cave One Wild. far-echoing CRY M
uttered before the giant stone Wa yr, ~
darkness. 'eAs IN
Patterns conpanion removed bis b.,x..-
chief mask and mopped his brow with - -
was the scanned. squat brow Of HicE. u
To BE contlnuod Ness3 Wosie.