Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 10, Number 23, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 6 December 1879 — Page 6
Wmm
11
THE MAIL
A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.
let it pass..
Be not swift, to take offense Let it pass! Anger J* a foe to sense!
Let It paas!
Brood not darkly o'er a wrong, Which will disappear ere long Rather ting this cheery song—
Let Tt pats! Let it pass!
Strife corrodes the purest mind Let it paw! As the unregarded wind,
Let ltpass!
Any volgar sools that live Hay condemn without reprieve 'Xis tbe noble who forgive.
Let It pass I Let it paw! ii
Echo not an angry word Let it pass! *. Think how often yon have erred
Let it pass!
Hioce our joys most passaway Like the dewdrops on the spray, Wherefore should our sorrows stay
Let it pass! Let it pass!
if for good you've taken ill Let it pass! Oh, be kind and gentle still
Let it paw!
Time at last makes all things straight Let us not reseat, but wait, And oar triumph shall be great
Let it paw! Let it paw!
Bid your anger to depart, Let it paw! Lay these homely words to heart.
Let it paw.
Follow not the giddy throng Better to be wronged than wrong Therefore sing the cheery song—
Let it paw! Let itpass! —All the Year Round.
From the Novelist.
The Skeleton
—OR,—
OUTLAWS OF THE CUMBERLAND TRAIL.
IThl* story was begun in The Mail, Sept. 20th. Back numbers can be had of news agents, or by semilog five cents for each cop^r to the office of the Saturday Evening
CHAPTER X.
A SURPRISED ROAD AGENT.
A band of Indians, numbering a score or more, their gaudy trappings glitter* log in the rays of the sun, were urging their mustangs at a dead run toward Winnie.
They were scarcoly a rifle shot away, and as she came iu sight over the ridge they set up a wild yell, and with whi and knife urged
set up a wild yell, and with whip their ponies to greater speed
They were pointed and daubed with a variety of colors. Winnie immediately recognized them as her enemies of the previous night, and a sense of iter danger burst upon her.
They bad been followlug her trail, and were now so close upon her that all chance of escape toward the prairie was out off.
The river made a bend here, encircling ber on three sides, and the savages were on the lourth.
They saw her position and commenced to spread out, feeling sure of capturing her.
The water was her only chance she saw that, and wheeling suddenly, she galloped toward it, and plunged' resolutely in.
The stream was not more than twen-ty-five yards lu widtb. but before she had reached the opposite side the Indians had thuudered down the bank, and dabbed int the water in close pursuit.
They had not offered to fire on her they could easily have killed her had they chosen that would ,be their last resort.
Tne timber grew scattering where Winnie landed, and her horse was able to go through it at a rtiu, and without danger.
In two minutes she passed from the sight of her savage pursuers, and then turned ber horse's head down the river bank.
She was well aware that a chase was before ber. Her trail would bs perfectly plaiu to the savages, aud now that they were oa the open ground they would not need a trail with which to follow the sight of her would be a much surer
flsw along at the best speed her
horse could make, and heading to the right, re-eutered the timber skirting the stream,
Why not ford It again, and lead the Indians in a seml-clrclet It would give her just as good a chance to escape, and net lie leading her directly from where she wished to gc.
The suggestion was no sooner thought of than Acted upon. Turning her horse suddenly, she deforded the stream, timber skirting its off over the wide
aoended the bank, passed through the bank and galloped stretching plain.
She was lu great hopes that in cross* lng the stream she had bewildered the savages for a time, nor was she mistaken.
But it was for a short time only, for when she baited on the oreet of a little swell she saw them, less than a mile distant, galloping msdly along on her trail. "It is only a witter of time, Burt, ahe said, addressing the horse by the name she bad given him, and patung his neck. "I would not be afraid to stake my life against your power to distance tbem in fact it staked, and I am not afraid of theUsue."
A faint chorus of yells was borne to ber ears. UndoubU •eeu ber, for their s. create. Her bowe anifled the sir suspicion' "1 a at raid you dislike falling Into their hands as much as I do, Burt," Winnie said. "Bat they are lessening the distance between u#, and we must
*^Th© horse sprang forward, and settled into a steady gallop. Hi- it n«Unet ively $re was a run uefore him, a ewhe a gait be could keep.
Mile -fter utile Trusted **4 war noon Wirtnie drew r»:i«uta warn o!«mip oft.: .3#r, •trfeuuTtogi.w rest. 8be times iu:ng •eeu noth 4 But lb"* *u could ily" be sure to make tbelr appearance sooner
OI&b«^ate
Tier tOuree several renoon, and had
hrr pursuer# for hours, waft nothing. They her trail, and would
a portion of the duck ahe had
roasted that morning, and bathed h#r bead in the stream.
She had noticed that the sky was becoming overcast with clouds, and everything Indicated a storm at band and soon the low rumbling of thunder
Taking ber blanket she improvised a sort of tent in the edge of the timber, under a wide spreading tree, where she could overlook her trail, and tethering ber horse near, took her position under it.
It was well she bad provided some shelter, for the storm raged with anabated fury for an hour but the blanket proved water proof, and she kept warm and dry.
When the storm cessed she ascended a little rise of ground, and scanned the country over which she had come carefully, but no sign of an enemy was visible.
The sky remained deeply overcast, instead of clearing up, as she hoped it would. She had ridden so fax, and bad changed her eourse so often, that she was
,?atsea"
At four o'clock she passed a bare, brown rock, rising abruptly on the plain near the bed of a stream that was now dry.
Near this was the remains of a tree of gigantio growth, standing likeabrokentopped sentry over the far stretching plain.
She examined the spot closely. She bad become dazed and bewildered seeing such a diversity of country as had been crowded upon ber in the last two days, and it was some minutes before she could remember at what time she bad seen this spot, for she was sure she had seen it before everything looked familiar—the isolated tree, the rock, and the dry bed of the stream. And then it suddenly flashed upon her. It was the very same spot she bad passed at three o'clock!
She bad been riding in a circle. It seemed as if luck was against ber, for during the forenoon the sun shone, which had enabled her to keep in any one direction without trouble, but now that she was at liberty to choose her course, she had no guide to keep ber upon it.
Removing the trappings from her horse, she deposited them near huge, bushy clump of artemisia, and leading the animal a 'ew feet distant, she arranged the bridle to form a halter, the same as on the previous night, and attaching the lariat to it, made the opposite end fast to a second clump of sage brush.
It was not a}fastening of much account but the horse was trained to remain where left, and would not be apt to try its strength.
It was now intensely dsrk. A portion of the duck was left from dinner, and after starting afire from stalks of the artemisia, Winnie made a substantial meal, leaving the bones as the only remains.
Then she spread ber blanket, and with the saddle under ber head and her revolver at hand, as on the previous' night, she lay and watched the are as i£ flashed and sparkled quietly, sending out little shoots of flame into the darkness.
Somehow at tbis time her thoughts were drawn toward ber uncle. Percy Maxwell, in search of whom she had come to this country, and although she bad not seen him since she was a child, she cherish an affectionate remembrance of him, and was prepared to give him the love of a daughter.
She wondered where be was, whether dead or living, and whether she should ever succeed in getting ont of her prea ent predicament, and in the end tind him.
And then ber thoughts reverted to Madge Elverson, the robbers, the Skeleton Horseman, and finally to Dick Preston.
The sounds of the light that bad reaohed her on the night she had left him still haunted her, and furnished eause »or a thousand conjectures but, naturally ol a very hopeful turn, she threw oH ber unpleasant feelings, and only remombered htm as she had seen him when he rode away. "He was much wiser tbau I," she thought, "for it was as he said, that oue never knew what was going to happen tains. I never was surer of any thing than that I shoald return to him that nigbt. Not knowing the circumstances, he must certainly think me cowardly and unwomanly, but11'homine propose
et Dicu
rest content.
dispose,' and I must
Sometime
6 mm tt a ttth Saturday evening mall.
wm
heard. There could have been nothing better it would obliterate her trail, and she decided to remain where she was till it
it will come
right." Yes, "man proposes, and tJod disposes,'* aud while she strove to content herself, miles and miles away lay Dick Preeton, bound band and foot, awaiting bis doom miles and miles away on the far stretching prairie three hunters had met, and in the hearts of neither of the three parties, so closely connected, yet so far apart, was aught that warned them of the strange things that would happen, or the wild scenes that would be enacted before the light of another day! ki
Winnie was uncertain how long she had slept, when she was awakened by the low wblnnyof her horse.
The fire had burned low only a little bed of coals, that ever and anon abot up a scarlet point of flame, was left. It was very dark, but she could see, dimly outlined, her horae standing where she bad left him.
She arose silently, conscious as she did so of that strange feeling as of another's presence, which we have all experienced at some time in our lives. It seemed
to ber
By
that something or some
one was near, and the feeling grew stronger every moment.
the feeble light from one of the little shoots of flame she examined her watch. It was a quarter past eleven o'clock.
Restoring it to its place, she glided along, revolver In hand, till she reached tier horse.
The animal greeted ber with a low whinny as she stopped beside him, and tbt»n he geu:•v rubbed bis bead against «-rr r. The intelligent animal jorvn»,i strong attachment for his
vV bat is it, Bart?** she said In a wbls*
horse threw tap bis bead, sniffed tbe air, and then looked off into the
Standing with her band over his neck, Winnie's gate followed the direction, but nothing was visible.
She crouched close to the ground to thus better enable her to see, but only tbe rough, uneven brow of the bill before her was visible against tbe dull, gray sky, and after a short survey she sroee to her feet. ftaat she fancied ahe beard
s»«s
the faint sonnd of a horse's feet. She might have been mistaken bat no— Burt had heard tbe sound, too, for he pricked his ears forward suddenly, and remained silent.
For the next ten minutes Winnie stood silent aud motionless in the darkness.
There wss alight brsezs rustling the grass softly, but no other sound reached ber. It might have been some snlmsl passing, but she thought not. She determined to investig&te tbe matter, at any rate.
She moved silently from the horse's side, still grssping her revolver. She had gone perhaps a dozen yards when she heard the "swish-swish" of footsteps through tbe grass. She sank to the ground and listened. It came nearer,
ger
concerning the direction of
the canon. After all, what was the use of going there? Preston won Id certainly have left before this, but she might as well go in tbst direction ss sny other, for as near as she could tell it was on the route she would have to pursue to reach the overland trail.
She kept a southwest course after leaving the stream, and rode steadily during the afternoon.
amed by, and halted between her and horse and then she saw a man dimly outlined against tbe sky. He stood motionless for minute or more, and then advanced cautiously toward the fire.
He glanced at tbe blanket and saddle lying near, and gave tbe embers a stir with his foot, when a little blaze shot upward.
Winnie started as the light flashed over him. She recognized nim as tbe man whom the captain had addressed as "Kansas" on the night of her capture by the road agents!
With another glance at the blanket, he approached the horse, snd paused with his hand on the reinB.
At that instant tbe fire blazed up fitfully, and shone brightly upon the
8C0D6*
Winnie watched the man intently saw him look at the horse as tbe light flashed up heard his exclamation of wonder, and knew that be bad recognized tbe animal.'
Now she grasped ber revolver more firmly, and with a hastily formed determination she crept cautiously toward him!
The man led tbe borse a little nearer the fire, which continued to blaze up rather brightly, and examined him critically.
Alter satisfying himself, he stejyed along to where the blanket and saddle lay. "It's the hoss, sure, and here's the identical blanket and saddle, too but where tbe dickens is the gal? Must be som'er 'bout, Bes she's heerd me, an' run off."
He peered into tbe darkness before bim. and the next instant be was electrified by the sound of a dear, distinct voice: "Halt where you are you« are aoy prisoner!"
He turced suddenly. There, not a dozen feet distant, stood Wlwai© Maxwell, one band thrust carelessly into tbe pocket of bersack, tbe other holding a cocked revolver, which was leveled directly at bim!
Surprise would be but a poor word to describe the feelings of the redoubtable Kansas" as be faced the seven chambered tube.
Astonishment and bewilderment of the deepest kind looked from ht»eyes, which, as he "took in" tbe position, changed to decided disgust.
CHAPTER XI.
SEARCHING.
Mat Carroll and Russell Lynne- continued to search throughout tbe afternoon, riding hither and thither over the plains, through belts of timber andiover streams but when night came'not a sign of anything concerning Winnie-bad bGOR IfOQUd* "larnal Jerusalem!" ssid Mst, pulling up suddenly "ssy we stop an' git suoathin' to eat. I'm jist as near lamisbed as it's possible fer a feller to be an' hold together. I never could stan' goin' 'ithoutjsatin' worth a cent, but I reckon as it's some pecoollarlty of my constiteitBbon.' But who in tbe old dlcken» is tkatr'
Lynne looked where he pointed. The dusky gray of the twilight was slready beginning to appear, but far off oventhe plain be described a moving speck that each instant grew larger, till at last it developed into a horseman galloping along. "We might as well hold on," continued Mat: "the critter's comin' near enough so's we kin see who he is, anM allers like to know my feller critters, it's convenient. Hello! he's tacked} an.' comin' down towards us straight!: See here, Lynne, that's Hammond!"
Hammond it was, without a doubt, and in five minutes more he reachedtbe spot where tbey stood. "Lordy, boys, I didn't 'spect ter fall in with ye! but I seen somebody off1 hero, an' thought I'd take a look at 'em- It war curiosity tbat done it notbin' else, I swear to man! Curiosity's a good thing sometimes, so's it don't git tbe better of a feller. But it's offul oa the rampage when it gits a holt ofi a hooknosed female. I've been there myseM." "Where? A-hold of the book-nosed female?" asked Lynnef quietly. "Oh, thunder, no!" said Re*, soberly. "I never gtt up on my curiosity, neither. It's the worst thing a man can possibly do, uuless it's to go without wlttlee, which Is ekally as bad. never go hungry when I kin git anythta' to eat. Fer it's goin' agin the laws of natur, entirely." "That's what I've been telttn' Rqpsell. here," said Mat, "an's we'sjest tblnkin' purty strongly 'bout scarrin' up a leetle sumthin' for supper, whea we seed you cumin'." "I've got 'nougb fer us all," said Rex, dlsplsylug a huge strip of attest tbat lay over the back of his saddle. "I seen a buck back here, an' I jest 'propriated a big piece of it, agin the time of need, an' I'a makin' fer that streak o' timber vender ter brile a bit of it, when I seed you fellera. But it's glttin* dark let's hurry up."
The timber was a couple of miles distant, and looked like a low, black cloud against tbe horizon, in tbe gloom. The three galloped along briskly till tbey reached the outer edge of it, when a halt wa* made and a fire kindled. Rex removed tbe meat from the saddle, and each man broiled a portion for himself before the crackling fire. "Don't think tbey's any reds right dose 'round," remarked Rex, aa he vigorously chewed away at the Juicy venison steaks: "an' consequently, we won't be
apt
tI.
to git into a difficulty on account
of the flte. But it beats all nater where the gal has gone. I hain't seen no sign of a trail, an* I've went over a big o*
?!round
ssnce noon. Ye didnt see notb-
n\ eitbei?"
a
"Not a sign of anything," responded Russell, "and we've kept a pretty sharp watch, too. I wonder where Preston is? Haven't seen anything of him, either." "Don't know a'poee he's 'round here, som'er. He seemed to be awfully cut up 'boat tbe gal's goin* off but I swear I don't blame bim much. *Oord!n' to his tell, she's spunky as tbe dickens, aa' good lookin' to boot. If it's anythln' 1 Qke it's spunky wimmen, 'at's not afraid to carrv a revolver, an' that knows how lO QM
Rex pulled away industriously at the long pipe be bad lighted, sending tbe smoke in wavy clouds about his bead. He seemed to beat peace with all tbe world, aa be lay with his feet to tbe fire and his elbow under Ids bead.
"Yer never can aocount for wimmen, nohow," he continued, reflectively.
4-They're
queer critters, some on 'em.
an' mighty oncertain. I never bad much to do with 'em, 'ceptin' once or twice, and then I didn't make any headway to apeak on, an' I washed my ban's of 'em arter tbat. I've heerd tbey allers say no when they mean yes but Lord! what's the use? A feller never knows how to take 'em, any way. Thunder!"
Rex's reflective mood disappeared suddenly, and be rolled over and pulled away at his pipe like a steam engine. Evidently the subject had called up unpleas&nt memories—ghosts of tbe long ago. Who knows? He wss not always the grizzled, awkward, uncouth man.
The fire burned low, and gradually the qpnversstlon ceased. They wrapped themselves in their blankets, and soon their regular breathing proclaimed that they slept.
Hours passed. Tbe horses bad eaten their fill of the short prairie grass, and were lying quietly near. Only a few embers remained of the fire, and the faint glow tbey emitted would not have been perceptible a dozen yards dlstsnt. Being in a circular hole, scooped out of the ground for that purpose, the wind had little effect upon them.
Lynne awoke some time in the night, and raised up to glance at the horses. They were but a lew feet distant, and he saw that they were lying quietly, and rolling over, he drew his blanket more closely about him, As be did so, he fancied he heard the soond of footsteps.
He raised his hesd again, and listening, besrd them distinctly. He threw off his blanket, and crept amoDg the horses. They paid no attention to bim, and he halted beside a large tree, and raised himself to an upright position.
The timber was very scattering, and tbe ground free from underbrush. Tbe gteps sounded as though moving in a direction parallel with tbe one he had come from the fire, and peering through the darkness, he saw a white horse walking slowly along, with the outline of a man above him, while-from every part of the nocturnal rider a phosphorescent glow radiated. "The Skeleton Horseman again, as sure a» I'm a sinner!" he ejaculated, sot to voee. "What in tbe naaue of all that's wonderful is the old dragon up to now, I wonder?"
He stood motionless after aalsing himself tbe question, watching the ghostly rider as be passed. Russell felt* a little skepticism on the point of this skeleton be did not approve of ghosts and most of all, of their riding about tbis ghastly shape.
He turned awd approached his horse with a suddenly formed determination. He would follow the thing, be it supernatural or nob-
It was but the work of a minute to rig his borse, and leaping upon his back, be started in tfce direction he had'last seen the apparition.
He had hardly gone a dozen yards before he saw the phosphorescent light that surrounded the skeleton moving along before him. It was a sure guide and he followed it like a shadow, and in three minutes-both pursuer and pur*sued had disappsared in tbe darkness.
Silent as bad been tbe preparation of Lynne, it had awakened Hammond, who raised himself to a sitting posture, just in time to-see him moving away among the trees. 'Hello, Lynne what's up?" he asked in a low tone.
Russell moved on silently. If be heard, be did not appear to. Rex's voice bad aroused Mat and he rolled over, with all bis senses on the alert. "What in tbe old scratch can the boy be arter? Qu'ar to- go off, anyhow," muttered Rex, and then he told Mat what he bad seen. "He's got some crochet Inter his head, I'll bet! S'posen' we-toiler bim an'see?" answered Mat. "The very thing Jtee about to propose," said Rex, "so here goes."
All unconscious, toe skeleton moves on, closely pursued by a single horseman, and he in his turn is followed by two bearded, grizsied, bearded men, sitting bolt upright in their saddles, and flitting with the noiselessness of shadows among the trees and then a dead silence reigns, save tbe mournful soughing of tbe wind, and nothing meets tbe eyes but tbe motionless tree trunks, rising like grim, shadowy sentries in the almost Impenetrable darkness.
CHAPTER XII.
WINNIE'S. OAPTIVE.
For a little time the road agent stared his surprise and disgust at the predicament ne had unwittingly gotten into, but Winnie never changed ber position a particle. "Are you going to surrender or notf' I will give you live seconds more to decide," she said, at last.
Tbe road agent's face grew livid with fear and be trembled perceptibly. In spite of bis oft-times blustering bravado*, he was a coward at heart.
His first thought wss tbat, being a woman, she would not d&re to shook, but his cowardice got tbe better of bim,. as be stood fscing the leveled weapon and a second look into tbe determined face changed his opinion. She would Bboot, be was sure of it now and* tbe color left his face,, and as be became nging death
as a child In tbe dread presence
"Don't shoot!'" he exclaimed throwing up his hands. '*1'11 surrender." "Very well, then. Remove you* revolver and knife from your belt lav tbem down and step away from them."
The road agent obeyed and Whaaie secured the weapons. What should she do next? She could not let tbe man go there was no knowing how far distant bis companions were and of course he would go directly to tbem, and then she would have another chase in prospect, which waa far from desirable.
It took her but a short time to deride upon her course of action. She was lost snd wby could she not oblige tbe robber to conduct her to tbe overland trait? He could do it, undoubtedly, and with ber revolver she oooki persuade him to, even if it was a little against bis inclinations. She would! "dee here, 'Kansas,' you understand tbat I remember you and shall act accordingly. But, in the first place, I will tell yon, tbat, although a woman, I understand tbe use of this weapon tbat covers you, and shall not hesitate to use it If required to do so. As long as you do as I bid you, you are safe. In tbe first place I want you to put the saddle and blanket on say horse and arrange the bridle."
Tbe man obeyed sullenly. "And now I want you to bead tbe way to where you left your horse. You have one, of course. I shall keep close to yon and I presume yon know what tbat means without any further explanation."
With some difficulty Winnie managed to mount ber horse from a little hillock, at the same time keeping tbe cowering robber under cover of ber revolver and by the same persuasive nmM she bad heretofore used, she compelled bim to walk along before ber till they reached bis horse.
It was a fine looking animal and Win
nie examined him closely, t? see. that no arms of any kind were concealed about tbe saddle and then ordered tbe prisoner to mount.
She saw that tbe road agent was comletely under ber control and she fully ntended to keep him so.
The clouds had lifted considerably, and she noticed with satisfaction that it was growing lighter. It would ensble them to trsvel much better. "Now, then," she said, "I have no doubt but tbat you know where tne overland trail Is in fact I am sure you do, and what I want is this: you are to strike it at tbe nearest possible point, and on the shortest route you can get to it. "I shall keep close to you—aa close ss my horse can walk to yours. I don't consider your life of much value, but, of course, I have no particular desire to kill you, provided you do my bidding. But you' can depend upon one thing, if
Jeastdon't
rou do as I request, or make the move to escspe, I shall ahoot." It was too dark for Winnie to see the look that had flashed over the sinister features of "Kansas" while she was speaking. If she bsd formed a plan, so bad he, and his face showed ho had reat hopes of carrying it out successully.
He acquiesced sullenly and moved off, Winnie following cloeely. After all, what if he should not lead her right? She had no means of knowing whether he would or not but time would tell.
They hsd gone several miles, when they left the plain behind and entered the timber.
A dim suspicion tbat something was wrong began to dawn upon Winnie, and she ordered her prisoner to halt, peremptorily. "Wal, you're a queer gal, anybow, he muttered, in disgust. "What doyou want now?" "I want you to lead me to the overland trail!"
Wal, ain't I?" I don't think you are: but come to think of it, it won't make much difference. If you lead me into an ambush, or anywhere else but where I have told you, I shall have the satisfaction of killing you."
She intended ber words merely to frighten the road agent. She was far from feeling as bloodthirsty as she talked, but they had the desired effect. He figeted uneasily in his seat. Evidently tbeprospeot was not a pleasant one, and if Winnie could have known his thoughts, and have seen how the desire to carry oot his own plan and the fear of ber if be did, were contending for tbe mastery, she would have inclined to be stiil more explicit and cold blooded In her threats. "Gang it, anyway! What's a feller to do? Yer won't believe me if I tell yer we're goin' straight towards it. Tbe captin wants yer, I know "but wba's that? I'd be a pesky fool ter lose my life jeot ter 'commodate him, when! could git free by takin'you to the trail."
Kansas" spoke in a deeply injured tone, b»t it had not a feather's weight toward convincing Winnie. She knew tbat whether he was sincere or not, she bad no alternative but to go on and trust to luck.
Tbey moved off through the darkness again, asd bad gone perhaps a half-mile, when,.as they rounded a dense bunch of icopeswood, tbe glare of afire burst upon
lWinnie'bastonished
gaze!
It was burning brightly in a little iglade, and in its light a fearful scene was being enacted. A half score of rough, brutal looking men were congregated in a circle and in their midst was a«man with bis hands bound behind ihlm, and a rope around bis neck, the 'upper end ef which was thrown over a projecting Mmb and grasped in the hands of two of tbe men, who were In the act of raising the doomed man from his feet!!
Scarcely a dozen yards separated Winnie and her prisoner from the group and the fire burning briskly threw a bright glare over the whole.
She bad reined up suddenly and cast a single glance at the scene before her. Brief as it was, it was sufficient, and a dizzy faintness came over ber for an instant, as she recognized the man who stood helpless in the circle. It was Rlehaed Preetont
On the instant, "Kansas" had thrown himself from his borse, and with a sudden shout to sttract the attention of the road agents, darted away.
Winnie coald have she* him before be could have escaped, but there were matters of more importance to attend to now.
The rope had been drawn taut, and the man lifted from Us feet but far quicker than he had been elevated be was lowered, and for an instant every man stood gazing at tbe girl, sitting motionless on her borse.
It was ior an instant only, for the next tbe sharp report of Winnie's revolver rang out and one of the burly ruffiians, still holding to tbe rope, dropped to tbe ground as If strloken by a cannon ball.
With wild yells tbe remainder sprang forward but again the report rang out and another of their number measured bis length upon the ground.
There was tbe click of half a dozen revolvers, as they were cooked simultaneously, and then their dark muazles covered the brave girl. But at tbe same instant there was a crashing in the undergrowth. followed by the sharp crack of a repeating rifle, and another of the foremoet outlaws went down with a bullet through bis beart.
They turned like a hurricane to meet their new foe, but none was visible, and an instant after tbe repeating rifle sounded again, and one of the robber's arms dropped useless at his side. "Get under cover, boys!" shouted tbe captain. "We can't do anything here!"
Tbey bounded along after nim and entered tbe woods with a rush. Preston bad disappeared long before and a glance at tbe spot which Winnie bad occupied showed nothing of ber or ber horse!
A silence like death reigned in and around tbe glade, but It was of short duration. There was a great crashing of the underbrush, as though a small army was forcing its way through and then tbe sound of a stentorian voice: "Close up, boys, snd surronnd the glsde! Tbey ain't more'n a dozen an' we'll bag 'em all!"
The tones rang through tbe woods loud and clear, but before tbey bad died away the sounds of a conflict mingled
In the center of the little
with tbem. lade a dozen glade a dozen men were engaged is deadly strife. Back and forth, hither and thither they whirled In tbe dim, flickering light, and in tbe midst of them was Bide Preston, laying about bim with the strength of a giant.
Suddenly a blood-chilling scream rang through tbe wood, sounding high above tbe conflict, and almost at tbe same instant a brawny road agent threw up his bands and dropped to tbe ground.
Not a man on either side could mistake tbe meaning of that terrrible scream. Tbe Skeleton Horseman was near!
Dick Preston bailed this as a favorable omen. He bad not forgotten the appearance of tbe demon—if such it was— on tbe day before, nor tbe panic of tbe robbers on beholding it. He cart a glance toward tbe side of tho glade, as a wild, diabolical tough resounded
through tbe air, and saw what he expected—the Skeleton Horseman riding along at the edge of the opening. "Robbers, beware! The demon ta among ye! He tbirsts for your bloodP
The words sounded hollow and wild, and the apparition raised one bony bsnd and shook it menacingly. "Let tbe devils go!" shouted the csptaln, hoarsely. "The game is up! But we'll give this specter here fits, it it costs ns all our lives!"
Revolvers and gnus were raised in the bands of the robbers snd a dcz balls struck the now motionless horseman but tbe wlerd lauub was the only answer vouchsafed, as tbe steed bearing him began walking toward tbem!
With wild yells the
robbers
and never casting a look behind, dashed into the woods, while their opponents, who were no other tbau Hammond, Carroll and Russell Lynne, suddenly found themselves victors of the field, and with Preston among them unscathed, they stood watching the Skeleton Horseman. ,,
They saw him reel in his saddle and tbe next instant, with a clatter and
crash,
fall to tbe ground. At the same moment there was a slight noise behind them, snd Dick turned to see Winnie Maxwell standing before him. "Thank Heaven, you are safe!" he said, springing forward and clasping both Ler hands in his. "I am glad of tbat."
His companions had gathered around the Skeleton Horseman, and Dick drew Winnie along to where they stood. "Never mind, boys," said a pleasant voice. "I'm all right."
The bones of tbe fallen skeleton rattled ominously the grinning skull rolled over on the grass tbe cloak was thrown off, and then a splendid looking man, with a heavy beard, came out of tbe debris and straightened up to a sitting posture!
[TO TDK CONTINUED.]
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Children
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mothers liko, and Phyaioian»
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4
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