The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-08-01
THE IRON TEST
Continued from last week.
Chapter 15-sRidIng Hlth DEATH

gtGS &n0 lpTeIenueu 10 accept the
brute's attentions. Then. when he
was holding her slightly. she reached
into his holster, drew out his revolt
yer and jammed t against bis side.
She forced his hands up over his
head, then backed him through the
door and out on the road.
She was shocked To see Berfs
horse lying dead on the ground. but
she did not relax her vigilance over
her captive She saw the posse
headed by jenkins. the Sheriff and
O'Doherty galloplng ID the road and
shouted to them. at the same time
forcing Gracfa 10 walk toward the
approaching men. She turned the
now trembling GracIa over 10 the
posse and the men immediately took
him to a nearby tree, knoIted rope
around his neck and started to hang
him. The Sheriff, seeing their pur-
pose, whipped out his gun and or
dered the man freed.
"The law viii take Its course he
said. Then he ordered two Of the
posse to take Graeia TO town and
lodge him IN jail.
While this was gelng On. Edith
quickly explained that she had seen.
Bert in q duel With the two chief
Villains 50 jenkins md 0Doherty
called the sheriff and the rest Of the
posse and started With Edith TO Jake
up the trail.
They did moi know. thai Bert had
been wounded during the duel. but
as a matter Of fact he had been shot
in the mead and also n the arm and
he was picked np unconscious b. his
foes and dashed across Gracla1s horse
al Ia Mazeppa. his head being At the
base of the horses neck. Then the
Villains had started away. deter
mined 10 put Dert on o. me way IN
the crueiiest manner they could de-
wise
; We'll send him into the Great Be
yond galloping.n Craven remarked
as he and Peaky lifted Berts BODY
TO the horse. Well send him and
the pony shooting on High Point"
Then they had started OF 10 mount
the steep trail to the Point. standing
thousand feet above The valley.
Edith was provided With horse
by the sheriff and also given , cart
ridge belt with revolver and \
sheath knife IN Il Then she showed
the direction Peaky and Craven mad
taken and the party took up the
chase. the trail being easy to follow
because, mingled With The footprints
OF the three horses. xere drops Of
blood from nert,s wounds.
Craven aud Peaky. H[Ih their nc
tim we're still far axay from High
Point when theY heard the rumble
OF pursuit and turning. tHey aaw that
they were greatly outnunbeFed.
Our horses are tlred-their.s are
fresh. We cant gel away from
them In q rum. sad Craven. 80
well have TO hide on.
Thereupon he drove his horse into
the brush and Peaky did the same
with his. Craven gave The horse
bearing the unconscious HerI a VI
cious blow across The liant md the
animal started away n top speed
In a few moments. Edith and the
others came to the apoI where lray
en- and Peaky hid driven Of the
horses and she was Mortified 10 see.
In the distance. the horse gallopinR
madly toward High Point with Bert
bound 10 his buck She apurTed her
own horse and Immediately took up
a chase thai seemed hopeless.
Rert's horse xaz gaIloplng madly
along ,She precIpItona rail and Edith
arged nar mount 10 it utmost spoed.
After what seemed ages she began to
gain on the runaway animal and IN
a few minutes she xas alongside Of
MIN. She tried - grab his bride
rein, but missed Il and the horse Kept
Iunging mad1y ahead. Realizing her
-
out the sheath knife from her belt.
slashed at the ropes md vas graft
fed TO see them part She hurled
the knife away and grabbed Bert
Gracia's horse, freed Of II burden,
galloped on for about twenty yards.
sWeryed and Innged OF the preeipioe
TO destruction. Dert hid fallen 10
the ground and Edith Nas trying des-
perately 10 keep hin from rolling
over the elm and 10 tie fate thai the
unfortunate horse had met. when
Jenkins rushed into the scene and
helped her.
She and Jenkins set 10 reYiYlng
Bert, she Wiping the blood from his
forehead with her handkerchief.
When he regaIned h senses. Bert
smiled fondlY n he gIr1 and drew
from his bosom silver frame. say
ing. They hi me n the chest. but
this saved ny life lie did not let
Edith see the picture Il contained.
At this Iuneture. 0.Dohefty and
the sheriff came up. Tie former re
porting to Jenkins:
"CraYen and peaky cot away on
foot. They trieked u into chasing
their horses. Now CraYen'H headed
for Los Angeles. thinking Forde Is
dead
Bert, now On his feet, asked why
ITO claim your granffathera es-
tate" replied 0,Doherty lie then
handed over 10 DeTt telegram
which read
Leather King Beresford died six
months ago leaving fortune 10 grand
son. Failing hin. estate goes 10
granddaughter, Lewis Craven Beres.
ford, last heard Of with jenkins. Cir
GUS The telegram was signed by
the head Of the detective agency re.
presented by 0,Doherly.
sRather than let Craven have the
money. I'd de said Dert. We will
start for Los Angeles II once
Craven and PeakY we're living Ike
kings ut the Beresford home IN Eos
Angeles. When craeen showed up a
the house and presented Berts ere
dentiaIs. together nth his Ioekel anf
seal ring. the servants had readll,
accepted him - the neIr and he anf
his henehman. thoroughly believing
Bert dead. we're no. planning tn.
az<as.Aln- ~ ia al IaaIHa= 81.