KM '' ' j Question of Gcaiyage, I VlttlllK tlio 1rt ronnil oftlir- taiUlrr j from the ollil mnmllntr pvoutul onVretl 1 liv tho liottoill of the :iv wns much iii.ilor Minn tlio mljtwtiiipnt of tli ec-i ec-i .mil. lint ItlnglirntHl ).:! Ioh pliinn well t 'lonplit out now. ami hr woi I"1 mrv-j mrv-j Hilly tnul incthrxlli-nlly. rnvltiff Mir prv-i prv-i clouii ntonwntii In every powlble way. I ( llmlilnrr to ti Rent nioii th rouml ol 1 i.ml .l.ieeil, he hoixtml Uir other p'm' of noil tiftcr him liy inennii of ! the rope, ni'il. 1 nlillieitipr upon tlio m . 'liou. fiotoi;t. he Mtceeeih il nftr -i nt inulioiis trlalu In ln-wli'ir out n I'Iiiir- plnev fc.r the ii-ei.iul i tp ill hwi t.iiiwiiy. With the liiiif of thi tininl 'i'i " -r, theilinieulf'i k 'n-.tneili-ntHj i'ii imI. lieruith.' the Hi' nptent hlepsmu l Im tiMcileai'i tiol.it lie. liRht wnilTolillii,'."jToiili'i.n Mienlh' . Milk liiK n flnnl ti jjj the f.ooj- of I ! eitvern. ItlliRbrninl tiiii one end of tli lope to the plek, nml, rurrylinr the oth-r e.ml Willi Win, he ndocniJeil nml fr. .i.i.i-'l jt (o Hi' fit l)iwr "f wotKl. J'hen. e:'l.;''il.ff to "' arrond he .epente.1 i .; . r rf sjodirniir tin be ounefCK,.,.,,. rf JoW! Jower round Uy ir,.i,. ,, with" the wlnpln;r pick nml lr. it up until he cm. hi ffniHi immI mifo it I to n polnl etlll I iCli t i , ,.mi.ril I ' The pl.m v;:s cu..i, Indy Hiictessful. I hill it ! pro." , loiviinseil the j time iTn.oi -I--I., i.i ,1 t. . I,..,;,, ,lf wnrhiiiMliiiixletyhi j."iiitotrii nhitii I lit foiifrlit lvtK-rnti 1;. nMiiisI the lis-i lis-i pi If ft'WT of hnpnliito, l.iioivii,,ell I i iioiif-h Hint everything now ilepi'-mK-d , upon IiIh nblllty to K,iun vlth puhIki-j puhIki-j nit iletermiimtion nml w Itla Mrmh h.'inilx. An ho licarrO the loot of the rnerii, . lien? the hlitnhm s liereileeper, the tlifi'i'illl,. of liliteitif'tl.ccroiiH-h'eeH IneienRctl iioprirntli tlmt lie prew fnli.1 nml illziy with lffi.ni- nml leiuhlnjf; nnd while he vna iiiiHin;; the Im t t,(op in Hit' xttiir to It.', place iM'lwei'ti the WltlN, he KlliUletil.v iieeiin-e l.lhvl ;inil tr. mttloiiii, I he heaij lorr i.llpptil from IiiK htimlsnml went crunhiiifrtiillic bottom bot-tom of the ehnfin, nml n s. cond nfter-until nfter-until he lout Mk hnlanee nml followed It, I'nU'lihu frnntieidly nl the uticuii wiiIIh iw he id id bilek to the iiinil.y lloor. The vhnrpcHt ilisioiniiifiMiu nt Ih loinelliiieo n hlenhiui; in dii-i'iilse. The sliouk of I lie full nml the uppment full ore of hin cnrefttlly l.tlil Tint n mnl ' lo i.iKplic Tliiiftl'inml villi ,"ii i .err born of (Kspuir. Kn u,"'ln u (u h:-JVet, h:-JVet, i.i:d f!lhritip. m v. louiture from ' the thotthl lli:it the other etd oftl.e .' rope turn Mill fnnlenril to the remiiii,-liiff remiiii,-liiff round In tin upper kIumIoup, !,' lanhril th. tlel( Hint liad fallen to the ' ciltl to hleh the plek won jittmhe !, ' nmt elintbeil omit more lx tho i,n-... in lliu twilight umler lite ioor. Klrvil , with un cntttuclwm which hantnhed nil thought of fatigue, he noon had the Nwnylnir log In IiU khhp nirnin. ami nf ler it moment of eriUcl potalng the hint step 'wait tffctlgeuV jhto It place i mid ilrlirii seourfly home by n few ; hlutvH wllli tlio plelt. Without wnit- liifr to liwt Itn tallll( v, he Mrtirfr up to IhofrnllMuffintr. drew thn pick up nftcr him. nml linlnticeil hluiaelf for the nl- Ittek upon the loof. .lust nt till, jui.e- tme Hie thought M'.dilei.ly e:u,.i t.ihiiu t'mt In' had built hi-, hiddi r ii( fMi llir llll'l" Mnii.nll!on I hi, I th ui if ,-. ,SH1- ft'iil.ibli., nml mi nu ful fenr Unit In.itenil of .tlildii'r enrth h mlpht encounter ii hure boi.liler iilmoit unnerved him. '1 hcie ns no time for hesllntion, how-eier. how-eier. nml. niiiinonlni,. nil IiIh Miciiffth, he Kunr llit pick lipv.ard, fflilt'if It find cry nf relief mid n henrly "Thiiiik tiuil:" whin the Iron toix'ii picii thole throiirfh the thin em-ei'lup, hilnflnfr down n Hhotver of curth and pebbhi". ip.ii him, nml letting the blesuod liffht ol dny into tlieerlooruv Hhutlowuof the pit. lini ule Intel lie wh kUmUiu. bc-fi'itiMtl bc-fi'itiMtl and brcalhlei'i. but henrl hIioIo mil Ihiinl.rul, upon the flrti) tnif oftho t.iounlniii top; nml, pausing only lonff cnoiifrh to tri t Iiih bc.irliiti, lie Let off nt n quiet: tint towaidTiefrnrlhen.tnk-Inj towaidTiefrnrlhen.tnk-Inj it Htrnifrht eourNe through tlie fof-et fof-et nml kceplnp the ilj-cctloii by the ted glow of the suiifict. XII, A VAI.OHOUi fOWAUII. Tho leader of tbo uiiaueecusf nl pnrty uf cearclioi'H wnn jubt linlfihliifr IiIh Hitp-Icr, Hitp-Icr, in tlm Inlervttlii of which delayed menl he hud bcun (I'll'fT hi ' wifo a de-Uilled de-Uilled nnrriitlon of the cuiiIh pf Uio day. "And now I Biipnoxc l'e got to ro nnd put In the night nt Hie Me-Nabb," Me-Nabb," he adtletl. "The ralu Iuim-(jot Iuim-(jot to lie stopped, If " ilr. Ludlow held itp a warning flu-irei'. flu-irei'. "i thought that v.um our gnte," nhc altl, and presently they Itoth beard tliu quick iiervnn trend uf anute ono aoinilig up the tfravelrd wnlk. Then t)i)tt wa it atep on the vcrauilu, and lieforo either of Hom could riaen grimy npparltlou apKnd ut the door of the iliulng-rooni, Ludlow (prang lo 111 feet witli un exclo.mii Hon of glad bur-prlwi. bur-prlwi. - - .. "Jty Jove, old fellow, but you did fflvi' .me a turn!" he exclaimed, pi BHplnK the iipparlUon'H lumd and wriiiffiiif,' it liearllly. "1 thought It wa your ehontr I tlltl. for t facts am! 1 believe the omnll uiailnm thinks ao yet, Helen, denr, wnlte up ami allow ine to Introduce Intro-duce U Itlngbraml." Mi. I, ml low rose unsteadily nml ran up, Inughlut; nnd crying in the lame breuth. "You foolish uinn!" nhe mild, pilNhing her hllthnnd okIiIc iuiMt units . Iv, "nin'l mi kco Ihnl lliih'u tienily dead?--nnd you stuml there luukliijr your mlivrnblii jokenl Why don't you run for the doctor, quick?" In apllc of lliodreudflll secret which wnn weighing him down like ft nlght-uiurr, nlght-uiurr, Ili'f;biauddoiHilinlnHieiuiii i it chilli' find luughed till the I en it. cut lit tin fhmincl't through the inline on his cliiiekM. "Van muxtu't mind me." lie Ktid, nut soon us lie could sjuk "1 haven't In tiff bed fai' three whole cliiyi', nnd it notimls so good ant) hociclili to hear you tslk agnlo. 1 dou'l want nilo'tor, Tom," Ludlow was edgtnjf t niiird the bnlniek "1 need Kuiipmid -water nnd wimctlilng to eat. Mr. I.tldlow, 1 rf your ucnt, and I've lout ten consecutive meals. Plctine ))i e Aunt iliina pnl tbo wkaif ten ot lbtu "ti flu Inhli. nml I'll iVvoitf hem whrfi I iui, in I nml I' llllfc'''l;"ly, l-l"''w', Viownlied off n little of tills wot- j pnlnt." I Mr. 1 iii'l'iu i;m In d n '' ''.'' inn of i!'i t.iteli ". " d I'm ' ; ri" :n .1 in"' l-1''' hi . f 1 1 d' 1 i ' ' .r i ''' I .lean e; I. I. . I I " U ' "" ' ' ' I I can. Tlu'i ' wik eul nut for both .if u tifiilghU with not nn. too mtieh time to spare." t.iullow full. me.l him ttjistnlrs, nK-inp: nK-inp: "! 'i.ill I tuin on Hie water tit the I iihiooin for jonV" ' "No; Hi-re Isn't tine for that; but on m.i iipcti thoic nli ih nuil get ine ii whole t-lenn out (It -the block wilt with the cutaway will do." lie got out of Id soiled elolhrnghtir-rlediy elolhrnghtir-rlediy throwing the different nrtletei nil nbottt the ivlm eoom mul hastily rt-itMiUitbig rt-itMiUitbig the Rtorj- of hin ensure, tin-prlsOBMt'itt tin-prlsOBMt'itt and ercope. oi.d ennelnded by ffllttfT on oiHIIne of lie pint r.gnlr -i tho Itlmcn W set forth In theion-i theion-i tr.ttloji between tlw two jueo In tho line. "i, i en l hiMfMii"! lint it' biekyyou, i.ici l. aid th.it tall," eiumilnted !.,"' .i.i. imUMijur in l ttiTSt njs ei,rc!i ni,.iuiir Hie contents n litv tril)ylin;; ''," . ..I ' II ' "Oinel liiurr more than luck, Tom, ' i. pi d l.'oe 'oieiid. hliiii iivf hit Voce I mi I'.' 1 In: "U'ii 1'rov idei.ee. or cIro I ' ...ili' it b" ber. to tell aboill it." : ,,.,, i i rue ' ! of in, j plnn to i l,e ! UK t!' t-eiinedle!-..'" i 1 i ' it ill en your h"lp. A' in'i ns I've pad '.Diu.'thiiig to eat we'll diie up In 'The l.amelN,' nnd ll.en yon enn taki th" first oppoil unity Hint otters I" "''I ,t'ie colonel In ItiiiiKcIf ulnje ou tell liim about it. lleian tell llenr iliirli,'. Mini there'll be in, I jik.I of nlnitniiu,' Mil". Hester. After tuf",iiie to bid ue'll hold neoiuieil i, "it OVi'. Hie lit lit . anddi ,.o' i.'l v ! "' '"' "' ' l;.'11'''-'' our forc'cH so W" ''" '.: n wnrm will Hin,. "UV1'.'' th'.'ll i ,t imike the. itfcm, roieiuiillil;d Mind lie Will ,.m. ,,. of time to gel lendj foi the,,, - "Hadn't ne I., li,,- I.,!,,. ,, f, ,,,, men With UH-tl,,, 1V1,, 1V.A' .,,,, like de.IlM when they flue tl'ieuirchoH eornerwl," "I think It won't lie neeessnrv -cant you find Hint suit? You ice Ihcrc'll lie four f IIB. ,11H if y ,.,' nnnnge to capture the one who m to hold the horses, I tlilnli the etilonel and Henry nml myself will bo good for the other two. 1 had thought of Klip. resting u,,.,ctliliig Hi,,, t,. TIl.,y will lenu- th- i.r.;c., in M.KI.o,0, ,,. left of the nunuc, mid you tan w: vuu-self where you can slip npRmlriir-pit npRmlriir-pit your man. Then th,. others will I' I ' Hi'e the Iioiim' .probably at ' Hie fitiiil, ri treating to th.- cut of Mie clump ,r laurel': m nwnlt dcielop-nii dcielop-nii nt". 1'or the lake of Imi lug -i clear ' rase of n. i on itpain-.t I hem. I thouglit it would be be. t tiwail until they hndnct- ' ii.-iIU 'liiitedthellie.aiidwhilelhevare ' loin,! HiIm 1 eiit pit l,edid the lu'urels ' mil tli" . ohii, I nnd Henry can prepare ' lo finer Hie men with their rifles as hey iclretit. At the proper moment I on show myself nnd demand a surren der, oml we'll bare then pretty well surrounded." I.udlow rone from his knees and proceeded pro-ceeded to dump the content of the valise upon the bet, whistling aoftlv to hhuscirm, l,e did so. "Tbo scheme's o clear an diluted daylight, nnd It's worthy of a. graduate or Scotland Uril." ho said. "There's only one point Hint's it llnu, mlstyi you've glnm yoiirseir n pnrt tliat'll nsb for ti l,m. of downright cold-blooded nerve. Hugh. What have you done with your respected respect-ed IrnditioiiH of Inherent cowardice nnd the like?" "IWI them in H,r loi,. , on (I(C mountnlM, I l,,.," replied Illuglirand, strugglliifr im.. the clothing handed him hy Ludlow. ' .nyuny. Hint's Jut what I want to find nut. (Hi two occasions oc-casions within the hist time .lays I have inniuigid to seme up courage eiiaugh to htuiiil up lo danger like ft limn, but tho conditions were such ns would l..ne made u rabbit turn nml tight. hat 1 want to know now Is If the In -pinitum were merely nn exaggeration ex-aggeration of the instinct of self-de-feiiso, or If I really did gain u victory." "Well, you're certainly In n fair way to fettle th- question If jou carri, mil your pi egi 'illume. Has It occurred to you that your culm demand will pioh-ohly pioh-ohly be answered with it couple of rllle balls?" 'Tie thought of Hint, hut I mean to take the chances If I don't weaken and moke u failure of tlio whole nf-fair." 1'lngbrnnri eomplclcd his hasty lol-let, lol-let, and they wont down to Hie dining-room, where Mr. Ludlow was waiting wait-ing lo icrvo tlie teturned wanderer. He took his accustomed place and made ravenous onslaught upon the hastily prepared supper that astonished ami 'triitilicd Hie sympatbiKlng hontcss. "Uow dreadfully hungry jou wciei" she said, catling Atnil Ilium to replett-Mb replett-Mb the empty bread-plate. "Haven't .you li.idniiythlngtoent oil thesodays?" ".Not very much. I'll tell yatt nil ubout it tho find chance I get." "Are you going uwoy tonigbt7"sbe itikeil, when J.mllow vent out to hitch up tho horse. "Yen; we-are going up to Tbo Laurels Lau-rels nnd it may be into before we get bach." -. .. ," "I'm so i lad! If you're going there, I'll ! pood and not ask u single question" ques-tion" until to-morrow." "Why are you glad?" "Because Hester is worried, and 1 want her to know you are alive and well." They h-ruil Ludlow drive out to the gate, and Minghtmid pushed back hi elmlr. "Have you anything "l" to tell rno?" be naked. She shook her bead with precise en-ergy. en-ergy. ".Vol a slugle, solitary word owpt that you're to glvo iny love to Hctrter." "I'll eertolnly do that," he promised, "Hood ulght." And he run down the walk and sprung iulo tbcjdiactoii he-i'Ido he-i'Ido Ludlow, n ho diqve olf rapidly up Hi" uiomttain road. The colonel nnd his son were sitting on tlm vrrondu whim tliu phuctou tmiiefl into the nveuuo, and llci. r. U i"' lug Hilenliy In the darkness of hoi rom.i, hemd Itlngbrand's voice unswer liijy Hie lion 1 1 y .velooinc of her father She ran lo the 1 1 airway, stopped a mo I incut tu regain her sr-lf-cnnti-u', ami i then went down lo un-ci him. I ley i had. nil g'Uie Into the piulor, nm! w In ii ' nhe followed l liem lc.lei fell i.. ' Mvift Instnnt that the whole ...ii might rcml h"r secrej In iter Ulufrhroiid rose to meet her, and n. ' her extended Imnd la luttli of bis. "i told you gwxl-bjr for sonic imtym aft-1 , er nil, didn't I, Mi irtlu?'' ha kHi,l, ' n " " - 'i ' IHP j -' ' "" ' '" - '' I sjnlUM. :H ) "1 ifipitM juB'k you did," elie nn-Mvcrcd, nn-Mvcrcd, nifHWHtaUy. "Wbtre in the w oild hveKilJiy W vWbp,t giunjies ,111 look sotrWPnd imter "1 tumbled'HSo n hole on tho moun-ti moun-ti '11." ho exploUkd, and, lending her to 11 chair, lie BWIMI himi.elf lieside her oml rccomtll &' ndieut ores, careful. le Huppr-M-stog nil mention of the liynunis, rtttj , JI'iMu' her to ppo.se ;..il ho bod Mtlil h met with 1111 neol. dent. "I t honht think oii would lime been lanid utmost Pm'. .ith,"slin mild, pity-i"y!; pity-i"y!; . "How w..s i iliat some of the , . 11 didn't llud 'ii' " i Kuigbrnnil hull heard nothing of the 1 : ,"i!i jsirty. aril !te lohl hliu of tlio ' cfflortS,tJ''!t,h'njtI Imh-ii in ide to tlnd out 1 l Jii601i' of him. When she I W'i4...;' 'Ti scoured the I v, h.u ' 'be jienibered' the tout lm, , '' Ill's" "jJio lu-d ' pl-tli;iu, shouting, ''r,4tr.di cry that had iveehed hit,, l-lneeil the first rttumlnf li'ir Im. ne telil lierottouJOonwuhngrnph,,.,,, i-.;rlplion of Uw Midde,, i,,,,,,, ,, ,, 'iiiPiofnlirMlit,MMi;ie Ludlow took tlio oJonel uxido ajril told hin. of the In-lendetl In-lendetl ottaek.gi,,,,,,,, Kn(v ,10,oU of grim deierifflrtailo., ,(m,P ll(o (hc eyes of the oMf Ttimcr. and u mo-mint mo-mint lai-rLudlrar. came overnnd began 0 Inlk to llaiithlle the ,oloncl nml ' .-on left the mm,. ,.. nwy C111J1P Imik the eoinemBtlon became general, nnd lllngbramt wo glad of Hih. for hr bit thntthoane thing Impossible uiidci Lie elrciimstnnccs was a. tcte-n-tetc with Hc-.tcr. After n Httlc, the colonel snggcsiei bin dnus-hter flint n. retire, addlnt Hat I hey bnclttllttlemntterof husineit t-o talk nlnut thnTn-.oiihl keep then ' up :.whil- longer. .She venl willlngli ! noiigh. being In n ImmIIHc frnme ,, '.mil which would hnie made K.r . cdii'iit to 11 much more unreasonable quest, mul when tiny hemd the door of hstr-Kim close b'ldnd her thny drew ' 'heir ebnlrs together, a, ,1 Tlhiijbraiid I'aie n, ranld outline of hi,. pn fol. llir ttpt tire of the ijiaiiidir.. j t-'poii WoiliMl Col. Uiiimer dc-muiTerl dc-muiTerl at 01.ee Mfcuso of the danger -tlTendng mngbrtlil's part in the im- ' 't'toklirg: but lM?icJluloeeil fniall when Ludlow aihioii the weight of , aid Ice, nml the yfong mon glance uii'lefiilly nt hin Mend f.ir the Hniel ' ' ' luneo. When I dolalls were n ' i-.iu.T'-d. nnd lllnghrhlid lindnppeiileil 1 H-ui.i not loflreunleiHif I renme plali. I nee. ...r.y. the ct'oml si-okc again I11 I'.-it coi le'wiHiii in the cnic, .i 1 ii;,:.i: 1 d, duly nil happen lohenh no ' 1 ' H'K mifhl th'ow any light o "' . .' -blinding n soiled ami great 1 ' ' 1 1 Hieyeiiugms'i. I. 1 'liand nnrold, d it and spellr out I he eonlenls peuelleil In criihbe. 1.111 .("11 scrawled irregularly neros thei'ieit. , d'-re Misesler.'Ml mil. "hit tnoiit hi a l.ee.i I eter if you loud not tosttivoi I he nimitiHiig two nlla sire you g, down T ludloM fer ospelyuits friend." "Miero did tills coiuo from?" hi :i 1 d "Thnt's w hat's u-puullii' us. Hcslei bnind It wrnpied lound n piece of tlln foek lyin' the floor of her room tbi 1 fie 1,0011. and sho reckoned ronn "ndy d th'own it Innt the window." "I think 1 know who wrote II." raid I'lr-ghrnml, icilectlicly, recalling the .old 1 .f the cotis.iirntors. "Ono of lulu Hiked; 'IJow about the gill? mil the other replied t 'Needn't mini ibout her: she'll look out for herself ml thou be added! 'Jslinuldn't wonde .f .lul wotdil he glad enough to talc .are of her if she'd allow it. Jed Is th. me who 1. ill hold the horses. I believe.' "I'lnine I, in cussed Impudence!" cj ihlrnid He loloucl, hlRisltigupwruth-fully. hlRisltigupwruth-fully. "V.lii.i right Ims ho got to be Milnktn' 11' , it my Hedcr?" "Vol t I . 1 lit the. world, ilor.el,". ,1 ,.' Lu '! iw.fMod.naturcd-. iw.fMod.naturcd-. : "I u 11 ,', id m foigel that, ho bsu' i)iir;!t li.imiiitlty li, ,w to nend thi olei he knew quite wull tbtll ho did i it the ii.k of tils eek, nnd It's tboflrsi I'.vmt thing 1 everUnovoiiuof tbcmti '"" .fr'.-'tT i..--il-'it--'- llingbr.iiul lookeU at bis watch. "J ' hliik we'd belli r be taking ottr places, uiHenien," be :.a'd. "They set no time, but we lied 1 e'i( be rriuly for them." Henry -tiuguishcd the light. nml the four men fll. d noiselessly out of the 'oiise to lluir wicrnl btntioi.N. The oloiiel and lleury, ormed with repenting repent-ing rifles mid provided with buckets of water for use In cose the fire spread I too rnpldly, concealed tbeiuselies in the shrubbiry tq the right nnd left of Hie stutill clump uf Iniirel btislie Lud- Hin?br,mci i)nioiill.j n.l swl4 out Uit'coa- low' weut down tin- crunched in '"' ' ' ' ' branched 1 '.. ; "' ' ' Vf.v W'th Hi" 11 . ' ' "' ' W e'W ''''" ' ',l ' 1 limdain i the " .m whoso SvN"1 ''i1'1 ' '" '' " ' thoambfi. ! . '..I 1 i H . .1 eers. lip to ll'C in'. nu id wo ' ' ' v Hon of the ari'.'C 1 ne e.-' ' ' JilJ-e of the 1 'n 1 . . 1 ' .iMt'l the i.u !' "l ." ' " brnnii had i.ot. rell"' .1 ... ' 'P" eolluiV ,ir.in;,' 1 a:i.. ' " J1' hnd lirupu-!''! foe Lu-i ' H. ' "" ( plnn bed tn;!i' ',. d i . I' 1 ' i."J rwmeil it gl.uH. .'..un. ' 1. I t. its culmination w'.'h ' .i)"e llenci' oT one who iuiiitOJ the I turnlui'-po'nt or his lib ;n 1.. (H-c- live nndtiiJi-ini!ciu(.u.l.' 1 'oil. After he liti.l tal "ii bi ' ' dti His'uit ,'ioi rwr. the 11 . th' ' VM'ttJL'.Jf '"H -iVnecf I'. 1 - t tltW-'" ' ih -or. i 1. lj' ltC-..llll II, , , I' 3lA An.! (I,. (pill tt - lw.liad vi.'- tin- flood-t.. .fouchi ebbed slowly nw. qiilicmeiits of the pn. UticiI to take In Hie n drama stood out In ii Id 111 r, .: , lug lellef. Coiiiniini iw ii ii-.,.;,., demanded n lea'an for t!" li -l.d plan, poititiiig Hi,, fin,", r .f 1 ' ,. I ' Hie tiiuludriiinatle utrfc it' '. . . suggesting that mithln" 01. '., , led save 11 calcium lip hi t,, 1 uisiti tljo ccne at Hie ni.e , ,. 1 Conlintfcil m i n 1 el: