Middletown transcript., 1915-05-01
If tha is what you want to

know"
What? We are followed, them
There arc men ON the road; two.
as told you before. He can't get by
them-if that's what he wants to do"
But l thought they fell back We
didn't hear them after you Joined u.s."
mo; they didn't come on. They
didn't have 10. This is the only road
down the mountain, and it's one you've
got to follow or go tumbling over the
precipice. All they've got to do is to
wait for him and that's what l tried
to tell him, but he just shook his arm
at me and rode on. He might better
have waited for company"
Mr.. Black cast glance behind him.
saw that the door Of the house was
almost closq ID and ventured to put an
other question.
What did he ask you when he
came out here?"
why we had chosen such an early
hour to bring him his fathers mes
sage" Sloan replied.
"And what did you say?"
"Wa'al, said that there was an
other fellow down my way awful eager
to see him, too; and that you were
mortal anxious to get to him first,
That was about it, wasn't it, sir?"
Yes. And how did he take that?"
He turned white. and asked me
just what | meant Then said that
some one wanted him pretty bad, for,
early as 1t was, this stranger was up
as soon as you, and had followed us
into the mountains and might show
up any time on the road. At which he
gave me d stare, then plunged back
into the house to get his hat and trot
work. But it's no use; he can't es-
) cape those men. They know it, or they
wouldn't have stopped where they
did, waiting for him."
Mr.. Black recalled the aspect of the
: gully, and decided that Mr.. Sloan was
right. There could be but one end to
, this adventure. Oliver would be
, caught in manifest effort to escape,
and the Judges cup of sorrow and hu.
initiation would be full. He felt the
} shame of 1t himself. also the folly Of
} his own methods and of the part he
: had allowed Reuther to play. Beck.
7 oning to his host to follow him, he
> turned toward the house.
/. Don't mention your fears to the
young lady" said he. AT least, not
till we are well past the gully"
IL sha1't mention anything. Don't
you be ateared of that"
And with simultaneous effort diff
cult for both, they assumed a more
cheerful air. and briskly entered the
house.
! 1t was not until they were well upon
\ the road back that Reuther ventured
to speak of oliver. She was riding as
far from the edge of the precipice as
possible. In descent it looked very
formidable to her unaccustomed eye
This is a dangerous road for q
man to ride bareback" she remarked
I Pm terrified when l think of it, Mr.
\ Black Why did he go off quite &c
suddenly? Is there a train he is anx
I ious to reach? Mr.. Sloan, is there 6
4 train?"
u "Yes, miss, there is train"
Y (which he can get by riding fast p
l "I've known it donei"
| Then he is excusable." Yet he
/ anxious glance stole ever and agaiI
v to the dizzy verge toward which sh'
N now unconsciously urged her owl
horse till Mr.. Black drew her aside.
A half-hour's further descent. theI
quick turn and Mr.. Sloan. who haC
N ridden On before them, came gallopinl
y hastily back.
n Mr.. Black FASTENED to meet thei
4 guide What now?" he asked. "Hav'
they come together? Have the de
tectives got him?"
g mo, not him; only his horse. Th'
animal has just trotted up-riderless.
f, Good God! The child's instinc
- was true. He has been thrown"
~ mo" Mr. sloan's mouth was clos
20 to the lawyers ear. There's anothe
explanation. If the fellow is game
- and anxious enough to reach the trail
- to risk his neck for it, there's a patl
he could have taken which would ge
- him there without his coming roun
- this turn" Then as Reuther cam
:. ambling up: Young lady. don't lie
= me scare you, but it looks now as II tn
- young man had taken a short cut t
the station. Look back along the edg
Of the precipice for about half mile
and you will see shooting up from tn
ie gully d solitary tree whose topmos
branch reaches within a few feet c
Oi the road above"
u YES" she suddenly replied, as he
glance fell on the one red splas
- showing against the dull gray of tn
" cliff.
" "a leap from the road, If well-timeC
% would land a man among some yer
stalwart branches"
III "But-but-if he didn't reach
ls didn't catch"
o. Young lady, he's a man in a thol
VI sand. If you want the proof, look owe
there.
CTo BE CoNTINUED.l
Id Rice Crop of United States.
It, The acreage of rice in Louisian