The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1914-11-19

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when she would be perfectly helpless
to aid them, or continue the ride ane
save at least one horse from the ter
ror Of seeing flames. She chose the
/ latter. But she did not ride with the
earlier zest She felt depressed. Sne
loved horses. and the thought Of them
dying IN those wooden stables was
horrifying.
Tn, fire. however, proved to De IN
cipient. But It was plainly incendi
airy. Some one mad set fire to 1t with
a purpose In view. Norton recognized
this fact almost as soon as the IRE
men,. He had come this morning with
the idea OF surprising Florence. He
was going out on horseback to Join
her.
His spine grew suddenly cold. A
trap! She had been left alone on the
road! He ran over to the garage, Sc
cured a car, and went humming out
toward the river road. A trap and
only by the sheerest luck had he
turned up in time.
MCdlIlulS T lVICuCc was WoAhAu6 ASA
mount slowly. For once the scenery
passed unobserved She was deeply
engrossed with thoughts, some OF
which were happy and some Of which
were sad II only her father could be
with her she would be the happiest
girl alive.
She was brought out OF her revery
by the sight of a man staggering along
the road ahead OF her. Finally he
plunged upon his face in the road Like
the tender hearted girl she was, she
stopped, dismounted. and ran to the
fallen man to give him aid She sud
denly found her wrists clasped In two
hands like iron. The man rose to his
feet, smiling evilly. She struggled
wildly but futilely.
Better be sensible" he said. II am
stronger than you are. And don't
wish to hurt you. Walk on ahead of
me. It will be utterly useless to
scream or cry out. You can see for
yourself that we are in deserted part
of the road. II you will promise to act
sensibly shan't lay hand on you. Do
you see that hut yonder, near the fork
in the road? Well stop there. Now,
march,"
She dropped her handkerchief. later
her bracelet and finally her crop, in
hope that these slight clues might
bring her help. She knew that Jones
would hear of the fire, and, finding that
she had not returned with the riding
master, would Immediately start out in
pursuit She was beginning to grow
very fond of Jones, who never spoke
unless spoken to. who was always at
hand; faithful and loyal.
From afar came the low rumble of
motor. She wondered if her captor
heard it. He did, but his ears tricked
him into believing that it came from
another direction. Eventually they ar
rived at the hut, and Florence was
forced to enter. The man locked the
door and waited outside for the auto
mobile which he was expecting. He
was rather dumfounded when he saw
that it was coming from the city, not
going toward it.
It was Norton The riderless horse
told him enough; the handkerchief and |
bracelet and crop led him straight for |
the hut.
The man before the hut realized by |
this time that he had made mistake. |
He attempted to re-enter the hut. and |
prepare to defend it till his compan.
ions hove in sight. But Florence, rec
cgnizing Norton, held the door with
all her strength. The man snarled and |
tuned upon Norton, only to receive a
smashing blow on the jaw.
Norton dung open the door. "Into
the car, Florence! There's another car
coming up the road. Hurry!"
1t was not long chase, The car
Of the auto bandits. looking like an
ordinary taxicab, was high-power ma
chine, and it gained swiftly on Nor
tons four-cylinder. The reporter wait
ed grimly.
Keep your head down." he warned
Florence. "I'm going to take a pot at
heir tires when they get within range
Il l miss I'm afraid we'll have trouble
Under 10 circumstances attempt to
cave this car. Here they comet"
He suddenly leaned back and fired
t was only chance The manner in
which the cars we're lurching made a
poor target for marksman even of
he first order. Chance directed Nor.
on's first bullet into the right forward
ire. which exploded Going at sixty.
odd miles an hour, they could not stop
he car in time to avoid fatality The
,ar careened wildly and plunged down
he embankment into the river.
Florence covered her eyes with her
lands, and, quite unconscious of what
he was doing, Norton put his arms
lround her.
CHAPTER VIII.
The WlIes Of Woman.