The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-11-01

moved on hands and knees until
the body Of the horse was between
me and tho sentry. Then. safely
sheltered. ! stood up. waited until
tho man turned again on his beat
and walked quietly forward. The
horse turned hts head. and smelt
OF me. but with no exhibition OF
| fear.
lie was long limbed. rangy an.
imnl, and had on saddle cloth
ana bride. altho the bits were not
In the mouth, A strong rope about
the neck led away into the dark.
ness. and was. APPARENT. a long
bit OF cord. | sawed this thru
strand by strand with NY knife
blade. and peered across the ami
mails back, figuring out the safer
course OF action
could zee tho camp fire now,
ana the men sleeping about II. The
man on guard came 20 the end OF
MS beat; cast careless glance out
into tho darkness. shifted his gun.
ana wheeled about. To ali appear
anoea he had no thought Of danger
his trick Mt sentry n mere rou.
| tine
My mind graspcd instantly tho
chance offered by ruch careless.
ness II there was no rolse the
probability was he would never
miss this horse. Even IN ho did.
he would moat likely Imagine the
animal had wandered 10 the end
OF the picket rope. or lain down I'm
, the long grass
Impressed by the truth OF this. I
stepped backward. the hoffe fol.
lowing TO my grip on the rope. I
watched closely tho movements OF
the guard. "A hs wheeled To re.
trace his beat we waited riotion.
lekH. hu, tho moment his back was
turned Nc were of once more. This
second attempt brought US well be.
yond bis vision and down a slight
decliviiy where IN" darkness was
intense. then ventured 10 cross
the road. end seek way back into
tho village.
!, Was By sense % touch that
advanced. for among the huta the
gloom ~ the night was Ike a black
wall Vet fonnd n projecting lor.
slipped the bit into the horses
mouth. and fastened Tho rein sc.
curely.
To return to the point from which
! started was not an easy journey.
but tho distant giarc OF tho camp
fire served aa n guide Once near
the hut whore We had hidden 4,
could not be mistaken. because Of
ita close proximity 10 the tavern.
Eager to make all possible haste. I
ran forward. almoa, reckless. TO the
SPOT where had LET, her.
!, was unoccupicd Mademoiseilo
had disappeared For a moment I
could not realize tn. truth. search.
ing With my hands In the darker
shadows. and eircline tho entire
hut. But she had gone.
stood stunned. bewildsred. star.
inK helplosaly about. fearing every
instant 10 hear sounds OF alarm
from tho tavern: not moving
where 10 turn or search.
There was litue dpub, in my
mind as TO the reason Tor this act
shs distruHted me She had hidden
herself In this foul village rather
than walt my return. My presence
was more hateful 10 her than all
else.
hut was IT. Could there not bc
some other explanation
thrust open the door OF IA
hut. and spoke her name. Their,
was no answer. but could no, de-
sist feeling about within from wall
To wall. Driven by desperation I
Invaded two other OF the miserable
structures TO no purpose.
This blind search was uselesn
Besides. she had loft with me those
dispatches for the king. Every in.
ntinct babe me mount and ride
away on the duty ~ soldier. but
10 DO so would mean her deseftion
to an unknown fate
stood there. racked hy doubt.
when tho alarm burst. hoarse
voice called out some hasty order,
and | heard the sound OF running
men.
Realizing now that no longer
had n choice. turned. and ran
swiftly thru the darkness toward
whore had left the stolen horse.
Then I stopped suddenly. dis
mayed and bewlldered. had
come 10 the place where | had So.
ctued the animal. but there was no
horse there