New Britain herald., 1925-01-21
CHAPTER X%XI Riders in the Night

There had been no truth in the supposition of Harry Gloster that Joan had gone back to her hut to sleep as soon as he left
 She had gone to the Captain and when she was still fifty steps away he scented her coming and raced to meet her, like great happy dog when it sees its master. He threw a swift circle around her, then came to a pause in front Of her with his head tossed up high in the air and his eyes shining.
 They had talk together after their own way. She whispered to him while she rubbed his nose, and he whinnied his reply no louder than her own hushed voice. Of him she asked her questions -- where were they going? What would they see. and what would they do on the long trail which they were starting together? And then a gust of wind struck them and brought the stallion's head up,, pointing north, and the cry of an owl blew vaguely and mournfully to them on the breeze.
 That was the answer, as she had known even before she asked. They were bound north and north.
 She went back to the hut, and there she sat cross-legged at the entrance like an Indian under the flap of his tent. So she saw Harry Gloster ride. back in the hollow. saw him dismount in front of the cabin door, saw him stride inside.
 Instantly she was up and after him, and from the outside she spied on everything that followed. She saw him holding Macarthur, and she noted with wonder and awe how impotent were the struggles of the chief In Gloster's grip. She heard the denunciatiou. She saw Harry Gloster tear from the earth his own pebble" and cast the vote for his admittance.
 He had joined that crew in order that he might be near her. That was the meaning of his quiet air ns he said goodby that night.
 so with that resolution, she watched until the oath had been taken so solemnly. Then she hur- ried away and found the Captain. led him by the mane to her hut and, beyond the farther side of it where eyes from the larger house could not perceive her, she saddled and bridled him. It was not neces- sary to warn him to be silent and cautious of his movements. The great horse had fallen into the very spirit of the thing. Her steaithy ap- proach and her whispering voice had been enough to make his steps as careful as those of a stalking cat.
 She had saddled him and was ready to mount when she saw a man carrying a saddle go through the starlight into the pasture. She refined the black horse into copse and there waited. She saw the fel- low - it was the familiar bulging outlines of Fatty Guinness which She recognized saddiing his horse and then riding out of the hollow ! He was no sooner gone than another man went out from the cabin. and | then a third.
 One by one they were capturing i their mounts and departing from the hollow; and the meaning Of Il gradually came to, her. This wa' the reason they had retired so earl! that night. There was a midnight ride ahead of them. And woult Harry Gloster be one Of the party
 The hope that he would not wal hardly born when she saw two men whose height and bulk showed then unmistakably to be, Gloster ant Macarthur, leave the door of thu house and go out into the pasture In another few moments, they wert riding out of the valley. What wal there that she could do?
 She must simply wait until the! were gone. Of course. Then sh' could ride north as far as sh' pleased and before Harry Glostel and the rest came back to the noun tains she would be far away beyon' their ken.
 (TO Be Continued)