A POST NARIX1L ROMANCE CTB US TO JLL UC T?A TON5 Y f?PV WALTERS COPYMGHT, 90Q CY ed ner. She never made a quicker toilet in all her life, and she pre sented herself at th? door of the hall just as Carrlngton took his de parture. "Hernard," she cried, catching him by the arm, "what a relief! What a release!" My lord stood very straight and tall His eyes snapped viciously. Lady Ce cily must have been blind not to have Been how thin the Ice upon which she trod. "She has gone, the little country Kirl," cooed Iady Cecily. "When you have taken vengeance upon Strathgate you will come back to me, and remem ber that whatever happens to you, 1 care very much. I can't forget your lips last night." She looked up at him and cam; closer, cf'.reless of who might see or hear. "Madam," paid my lord, very sttfl and stern. "I. too, cannot forget last night. I was a fool then, but I shall be no longer. Will your ladyship kindly release me?" He drew himself unmistakably away. "What, Carrlngton!" she cried tn dismay. "I mean It both now and forever. And hark, ye, madam, when I return with my wife, I think she will not b best pleased to find you here." "Are you going back to that V and Lady Cecily used a rough word better fitted for the camp than the court. "You Jezebel!" cried my lord, rai tug his band as If to strike her. He was white with passion and In dignation. Lady Cecily shrank back against the door terrified. My lord's hand fell by his side, and without another giance at her he strode down the gravel path where the lightest and best of the grooms held twc horses. My lord sprang to the back of Sail or, put a s-pur into the horse and raced madly down the driveway, past the lodge gate, out upon the main road and turned his head toward Ports mouth. Had he not been so impe rious with the lodgekeeper, be would have found out as Sir Charles Seton did a few moments later when he came out mounted upon his first-rate horse for hard riding, that the car riage and turned westward. It was in that direction, therefore that the young soldier rode, his mind in a turmoil as to whether Strathgate had run away with Mistress Deborah or Lady Ellen, and his soul filled with hot indignation against his host on a number of counis. N: h:r cf fhom knew that twc ho;i!. "--'--v.' - ::-.v.diy. bleod-stained rn-r.. ':-.. u;;o:i a coach horse from which the traces and other parts of harness had been cut, had passed the gate on the way to Portsmouth at a gallop that bade fair to kill the horse. Sagate had re covered consciousness after awhile, and thinking that the two women would go back to Portsmouth by some means or other, had mounted the less tired of the two horses, somewhat refreshed by the half hour's rest, and had galloped in that direction. Thus the three men rode with lust In the heart of-one, vengeance in the minds of the other two, and murder in the souls of all, while the two wom en rocked merrily on in their stanch little boat through the green ts, un knowing and unheeding all fcdat bad occurred. . CHAPTER VIII. Sir Charles Picks Up the Course. It is necessary that we take up the course of the different actors in the drama seriatim until they converge at some point which shall be the focus of all their directions. It was about eight o'clock when Carrlngton and Seton left the hall, turning their backs upon one another, in beginning this famous man and woman hunt. Seton, mounted on his best horse, covered the ground at a great pace. Naturally he made much better time than Strathgate had, for all his furious driving of the bays. "What Do You Mean 7" yvtvsftto npYi It was half past nine when at a bend In the road he came upon the over- SCAFADE ( T tiirn'd carriage. II?re '.v;.3 tar. ;;ib" ? evidence that he was on the ;i?ht track. He brought his horse to a full stop and dismounted to examine into the situation. The cause of the accident was obvi ous to the simplest mind. He wa3 not content with determining that, how ever. So he inspected the carriage with the minutest care. He was not long in discovering the hole made by Ellen's pistol ball through the seat, and he Instantly divined that some one in the carriage had tried to kill the driver. The track of the bullet in dicated that If the driver had occu pied the usuaJ seat he would infallibly have been hit. In that case there should be evidence of the wound in the shape of blood on the seat or foot board. Although be searched care fully, he could find no blood stains. There had been no rain. To all in tetnts and purposes the carriage had been undisturbed and he could only conclude that the driver had In some way escaped a wound. He thought bard for awhile and finally decided that the driver must have had pre vious warning and must have crouched down on the footboard, driving from there. Then be examined the harness. The. traces had been cut and of course both horses had disappeared. There was a broken spot In the earth at the base of the nearest tree as if some object had been hurled violent ly to the ground. The bark of the tree was slightly scaled. He knelt down and examined it closely. Yes, there were Wood stains on the white edges. What had happened was evi dent. The breaking wheel had sc abruptly checked the carriage that the driver had been thrown violently to the ground and had been knocked senseless by striking the tree. The driver was Strathgate. Tbe ground was somewhat soft Id the shadow and footprints were dis cernible in the low spot where the carriage had fallen. There were marks of a woman's shoe and a man's, albeit a man of small feet, by tbe side of the carriage door and other marks around tbe horses. From tb trampling and hoof marks Seton con cluded that the horses must have stood quiet for some time. He surmised that the inmates of the carriage had taken advantage of the stop to get out and go ahead while Strathgate lay stunned. He was puzzled to account for the prints of the man's shoes by the side of the carriage door. They were toe small for Strathgate's foot. He di vined that tbe prints of the woman's shoes in the soft ground were made by Debbie's feet. The other must have been made by Lady Ellen's, although what she. was doing with a man's shoe on he could by" no means under stand. He did rot know in what guise she had escaped from the hall. He tried to follow the trail of the separate footsteps but lost it in the hard ground. After a few moments he went back to the carriage and stud ied the matter deeply, but could come to no conclusion. There were only two thoughts that gave him any com fort. One was that he was evidently os the right track; the second was that some one was in a state of en mity toward Strathgate, else how ac count for the pistol bullet through the seat. This thought mightily encour aged him. He was puzzled to know why the traces had been cut, but at last decided that Strathgate must have mounted the two womer; on one ol ins horses and himself on the other one and have gone on in Chre direction of the first flight. If he fcad turned back toward the hall Seton would have met him, or would have heard from rt in some way, for the horses under such conditions could make but slow time. After a final search of the interior of the carriage In which he was re warded by finding a tiny bowknot of scarlet ribbon which he thought be recognized as one that had trimmed Mistress Debbie's gown, for it was a color she affected, and which he tucked carefully away in his pocket, he mounted his horse and started westward once more. This time he went more slowly. It should be no trick to overtake two tired coach horses heavily burdened, and lest they might have turned aside or stopped at different places, be resolved to pass no farmhouse or no cross road with out examining it. Wherever he could he made inquiries, but learned noth ing. His mind began to misgive him. He must have overlooked some pos sible hiding place, but he pressed on. An hour from tbe carriage he came upon a bay coach horse straggling by the wayside, with certain portions of harness dragging from him. Here was another mystery. If there had been two horses, where was the other? Why was he abandoned in the high road not a soul being near? The horse permitted him to get close enough to enable him to see that the traces which dangled from his sides had been severed by a knife. There could be no doubt that this was one of Carrington's coach horses. There was no evidence that it had been rid den and Seton was puzzled. He rode to the top of a little hillock and sur veyed the country. There was no place of possible shelter for a mile around. It He was completely at a loss to un derstand the situation, but concluded to ride forward. He rode on for an Lour, seeing nothing, obtaining no fatlsfactory answer to his questions. It was hardly iossible that three peo 51. could have ridden on one horse. There was no reason on earth. If they h:H started out on two, for abandoning If ;zs now nearly 11 o'clock in the r.ioTLin?. lie concluded that he must I:ave i uf.sed the fugitives on the way ar.J !:') he turned and retraced his t?;;, i ondering deeply. After half r.n !:c:ir'.s hard galloping he came to p. Ktf. - cross road. He had noticed it beio:v and had been told that it led to t'.f sea. Something checked him in the road. He stopped to breathe his horse a moment and consider his course when it flashed into his mind that perhaps the party in default of horses would endeavor to escape by boat. He knew that Ellen was an ac complished sailor, and he cursed his stupidity that he had not thought cf it before. He galloped down the road and in a few minutes came to a little fishing village. Some of the fishermen had gone off for the day's work in their boats, but one grizzled sailor was moodily pacing up and down the little wharf. Reining his horse in on the shore, Seton hailed him. "My man," he said, "have you seen anything of two or three people, twc women and a man inquiring for a boat this morning?" "No," growled the man, "but I had a boat at this wharf, the best boat in the haven, and when I come down this morning at five o'clock she was gone." "Gone!" cried Seton, dismounting from his horse in his excitement. "What do you mean?" "Just what I say, your honor," re turned the man. "She was tied right there" he pointed to one of the spiles "and when I got up I was the first man down here at the wharf, she was gone." "Was there any message any clew any sign?" "Naught but this," returned the sail or, pulling out of his pocket a handful of shining guineas. Here was proof positive to Seton. It flashed Into his mind that Ellen had mentioned that a ship belonging to her was loaded at Portsmouth. He saw it all now. In some way Ellen and Deborah had escaped from Strath gate. Ellen had instinctively turned to the seashore. She had taken this man's ship and was bound for Ports mouth. "Well, my friend, I don't see that you have anything to complain of." "How's that, sir?" queried the sailor. "Certainly the boat was hardly worth more than five guineas." "I've naught to say about the price," returned the man, "hut I'd like to ve been spoken to before my property was took that way." "I have no doubt that you will get youT property back in the end," re turned Seton, confidently. "And the five guineas?" queried the man, anxiously, his countenance changing. "And the five guineas, too." "Good!" exclaimed the boatman, greatly relieved. "Now, I want to know how far it Is from here to Portsmouth?" "A matter of between 30 and 40 leagues, dependin on the wind," said the man. "Would your boat be big enough to make that distance?" "Lord love yer honor, she's big enough to go to France." "But could a woman handle her?" "If she knowed the sea and a boat a child could do it." "Was there any provision aboard? "A breaker of fresh water and may hap some hard bread." "Good!" said Seton, reassured that the fugitives were not starving at any rate. "Now, I want to get to Ports mouth, and I want to go by ea," He Judged that since Carrington was probably headed in that direction, by land, it would be best for him to follow directly upon the course of the fugitives which he had so luckily run down. "That'll be easy enough, your hon or' said tbe sailor, "there's other boats In the harbor." "Is your boat a fast one?" "Tbe fastest for her size along the shore," said the man, proudly. "Bat are there any which are larger or better?" "There's Will Hawke's boat yonder. Will ain't abroad to-day, bein' down with a spell of fever." "Could we rent or charter that boat?" "We could If you've the money," re turned the sailor. "Very good," said Seton. ""Go and see him, tell him that Sir Charles Seton wants to charter his boat for a run to Portsmouth. Are you free to take charge of her?' "That I am, master." "A guinea a day, then, for your services and whatever he wants for the rent of the boat, you to be paid for bringing her back same as going. Is it a bargain?" "Ay, ay. sir, if we can get Will to rent his boat and his boy to help man age her." "Set about it at once," said Seton. "while I arrange to leave my horse at the tavern. By the way, what's your name?" "Whibley, sir. John Whibley, at yer honor's service." "Very well, Whibley. here's a sov ereign for the first day," said Sir Charles, flinging him a coin. "Now, bestir yourself." Whibley was as good as his prom ise. A half an hour found Sir Charles afloat in a small lugger with Whibley for captain and two boys, the own er's son and another that he had picked up, for a crew. . . . - "You said this was a fast boat!" Sir Charles remarked to his sailing master. "Ay. ay. Fir. With a wind like this-' and indeed there was a ripping breeze blowing up the channel "we ought to reel off between 10 and 11 knots an hour." "And what's the best your boat can do?"' continued Sir Charles. "Seven or eight." "Well, then, we sail nearly twice as last as they?" "About one and a third times a3 fast 11 be nearer," returned Whibley. "And they had six hours' start of us," said Sir Charles, musingly. "We can scarcely hope to overhaul them, I am afraid." "I guess not," returned Whibley. "But you never can tell what's goin' to happen at sea. The thing to do is to clap on and hold on, an' trust to luck. It'll be midnight before we sight Portsmouth harbor, and they had ought to get in two hours before. We've got to make a deal of southing to clear Portland Bill. However, we'll hold on for it and do the best we can." "Spare nothing." said Seton, "an extra guinea apiece to the three of you if you overhaul tbe other boat." "Beg your pardon, sir," said Whib ley after a moment's thought, "but bein's as they've took my boat, 1 should like to know how, if 'tain't too bold, who or what them parties is you're chasin'?" "Two women," returned - Seton, bravely. "Hum," said Whibley under his breath, "I've knowed of a man chasin" one woman half 'round the world, but I've never heard of a lover chasin' two." CHAPTER IX. The Hard Riding of Lord Carrington. Lord Carrington's best horse was named Sailor. He was a magnificent black, built for speed, but not with out great powers of endurance. Like all Englishmen, my lord was a fa mous horseman, although he followed the sea for a livelihood. He was a case in contradiction to the ancient adage that a sailor is never so much out of his element as when be is astride of a horse. Generations of fox-hunting fathers had given him a heritage of horsemanship which the years he had spent upon the sea could not eradicate, Not only was he an expert rider, bat be was thor oughly familiar with what could be got out of a horse. He knew how to rtde him to the best advantage, when to spare him and when to press him. It seemed to the groom who fol lowed him on this occasion, hardly less well mounted on one of my lord's best hunters, that Carringtoo had forgotten all be knew, for be had scarcely entered upon the main road when he put Sailor to his best paces on the jump. In fac-t, he rode him like one possessed. He spared neith er whip nor spur, but drove tbe horse forward as if the devil were after him and heaven before him. Once the groom ventured to remonstrate. Car rington shut him up with a single word. The furies of Jealousy, of hate, of revenge, were raging in his heart. He had but one desire, to ride down Strathgate and wrest Ellen from his hands. He had no doubt that the three were headed for Portsmouth. He, too, remembered that there was a ship belonging to Ellen about ready to sail from that harbor, and he di vined more quickly than Seton did that it was thither she was bound. He expected, since the party had gone in a carriage and could by no means make the speed he was making, that he would overhaul them before night fall, and in his black mood be was willing to kill bis faithful horse, or any number of horses, to bring about the capture and stoppage of the fugi tives one moment earlier than could otherwise have been attained. As if to punish him for hi3 misuse of a noble steed who responded gal lantly to every incentive of whip, spur, voice and appeal his master brought to bear. Sailor had the bad luck to cast a shoe. A few leaps and he went instantly lame. With a bit tei curse Carrington dismounted and examined the horse. Tbe poor beast stood panting and exhausted, his flanks heaving, his heart 'beating, his head drooping. The groom had been distanced and left behind. Carring ton was alone with a lame horse miles, apparently, from a posting station or a blacksmith's shop. There was noth ing to do but wait. He sat down by the roadside, his eyes strained back ward in the direction whence he had come, looking for the groom. 'After half an hour or so of delay, which fretted him beyond measure, he dis covered the fellow leisurely trotting over a hill. Aroused by the halloos of his master, the boy suddenly quickened his pace and soon drew rein beside him. "What do you mean." cried Car rington. furiously, "by loafing along In that way? I told you to keep up with me." "My lud." said the boy. touching his hat and dismounting, "no man on earth could keep up with 70U without killing his horse, and there are few horses, even if killed, thafd be equal to Sailor, sir. 'Tisn't in this mare. I know. She was in distress several miles back, and I pulled her up. If I hadn't, she wouldn't be here." There was sense in what the boy said, and Carrington could not but ac knowledge it. "Give me your horse," he said, "and do you take Sailor. He's cast a shoe. Lead him on the road to the nearest shop and come after me as fast as is safe, but don't kill the horse. I'm bound for Portsmouth. You'll find me at the Blue Boar inn. Here's money for the journey. If any thing hagpens, you can leave your As You aro Thinking of Tailing a Vacation Tako a PHOMOGKAPIKI with you. It will entertain you and help you pass away your time. Call and hear the new records at : : : : : H. G. VAN HORN, Thirty Days and Plain Diet. Chas. I. Webb was arraigned last night before M. Archer, justice of the peace, charged with the larceny of two pairs of shoes of John Gebhart, the cob bler, as recited in this paper yesterday. When brought before the court he read ily admitted he was guilty of the of fense, and on the recommendation of the county attorney, his honor gave Webb a jail sentence of thirty days the last ten days of which he shall spend eating bread and drinking nothing but water. Another Bryan Boy. Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Chris Gauer, May 2?, a boy. Chris declared that the first word the youngter said was B-r-y-a-n, which he believes is a sure sign that Bryan will be elected presi dent. Louisville Courier. Frank Benfer lost his pan ot, and was unable the locate the bird, and after mak ing a fruitless search went to the house and brought down his famous blood hounds, giving them the scent, and they had the bird located in a very short time. He had wandered down the stairway and was in the cellar. Rev. A. A. Randall brought his daugh ter, Miss Ina, home last evening from the hospital in Omaha, where she has been receiving treatment for some time past. Miss Randall is getting along in fine shape, but is far from being well. Notice to Creditors. State of Nebraska, ' County of Cass, f 1 11 County Court. In the matter of tlie estate of Margaret A. Pat terson, deceased. Notice Is hereby jriven that the creditors of said deceased will meet the administratrix, Mae Patterson, of said estate before me, coun ty judjre of Cass county. Nebraska, at the county court room in l'lattsmouth. In said count y.on the 2ot h day of June. IWis. and on the l'.'th day of Decern I K'r.lW. at ten o'clock.a. m., of each day. for the iuriose of present hit? their claims for examination, adjustment and allowance. Six months are allowed for the creditors of of said deceased to present their claims, and one year for the administratrix to settle said estate, from the Joth of May. lim. Witness my hand and seal of said County Court at l'lattsmouth. Nebraska, this 2ntli day of May, I'.tos. ALLEN J. BF.ESON. seauI County Judtre. Kamsey & Kamsey, Attorney for Estate. SHERIFF'S SALE. By virtue of an order of salt;, issued by James Koliertson. cleric of the district court, within and for Cass county. Nebraska, and to me directed, I will on the 24th Day of June, A. D., 1908, at 11 o'clock a. m., of said day at the south door of the court house, in said county, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash the followlnt? real estate, to-wit: The north half of the northeast (n"4 of the neH ) juarter. of section thirty-three (33) in township twelve (12), 1 autre nine(9). east of the Oth 1". M., in Cass county. Nebraska. The same beint? levied upon and taken as the property of Walter A. Lautrhlin. administra tor of the estate of Reuben A. Chapin. deceas ed. Ira Chapin. Edward Chapin. Jesse O. Chapin, Tacie Lautrhlin, nee Chapin: Kate Beeler. nee Chapin: May E. Chapin. Florence B. Chapin. Hoy M. Chapin, and Walter A. Lautrhlin. gruardian of May E. Chapin. Florence B. Chapin. Koy M. Chapin and Albert I. Wel ton, are defendants to satisfy a judt?ment of said court recovered by Oscar W. Lautrhlin, plaintiff, atrainst said defendants. C. 1. QriXTO.v, Sheriff Cass county. Nebraska. IMattsmouth, Neb., May J-th. Don't wait until tomorrow, but protect your property today in one of the best companies; only 15 cents per one hundred dollars. You cannot afford to take any chances in loosing your property at this rate. A combination policy for fire, lightning1, tor nado and windstorm written on your farm property for twenty-five cents per year. See or write Coates Block . I D FCAI TEH Plattsmouth, . . U. I 1-4 Plattsmouth, Nebr. -...--t- m WHEN THE KETTLE SINGS it's a siis'D of coal satisfaction. Want to hear tbe music In your kitchen? Easy order coal from this ofilce and yard. Tbe output of the Trenton mine the fuel we handle has no su perior anywhere, its equal in few places J. V. EGENBERGER, 'PHONE bIunT.' No'"' PLATTSMOUTH, - - " NEBRASKA. While in Avoca Thursday a Journal representative noticed that Mrs. Philipine Nutzmann was building a magnificent new residence in that vil lage. This new addition to the village will add greatly to its beauty. Also that the Farmers' Telephone company of Avoca are erecting a fine new build ing in that village, to be used as an office for the company. America's Thermal Wonderland HOT SPRINGS, ARK. Curative waters, healthful and agreeable climate, restful sur roundings every form of recre ation if desired, all completely illustrated and described in our new booklet, also rates at ho tels, bath houses, etc. Missouri Pacific Iron Mountain IS THE DIRECT TROUGH ROUTE Call on your logal agent or address B. H. PAYNE, General Passenger and Ticket Agent, St. Louis, Mo. & I Nebraska