Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1915-07-02

man, good to look at, witty, and al
ways cheerful. Why shouldn't she
like him? Even Jones liked him
Jones, who didn't seem to like my
body. 1t did not matter whether he
was wise or not; worldly point of
view was farthest from her youthful
thoughts. 1t was her own affair; her
own heart.
Five days later, as she and the rid
| ing master were cantering along the
road. enjoying every bit of it, they
| heard the beat of hoofs behind. They
drew up and turned. A rider was ap-
preaching them at run. 1t was the
head groom. The man stopped his
horse in cloud Of dust.
Sir the stables are on fret"
"Fire?"
All the riding masters savings were
invested in the stables. The fact
that he had solemnly promised never
to leave Florence alone, and that he
had accepted generous bonus slipped
from his mind at the thought Of fire.
a terrible word to any horseman. He
wheeled and started off at breakneck
speed. his head groom Gathering be-
hind him
Florence naturally wondered which
of two courses to pursue: follow them,
when she would be perfectly helpless
to aid them, or continue the ride and
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. She
loved horses, and the thought of them
dying in those wooden stables was
horrifying.
The fire, however, proved to be in
cipient. But It was plainly incendi-
airy. Some one had set fire to it with
a purpose In view. Norton recognized
this fact almost as soon as the fire.
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 car. and went humming out
toward the river road. A trap. and
only by the sheerest luck had he
turned up In time.
Meantime Florence was walking her
mount slowly For once the scenery
passed unobseryed. She was deeply
engrossed with thoughts, some Of
which were happy and some of which
were sad. If 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 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 I don't
wish to hurt you. Walk on ahead of
me. 1t will be utterly useless to
scream or cry out. You can see for
yourself that we are in deserted part
of the road. If 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