Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders Among the Kentucky Mountaineers

e obeyed the command t

f you!" she retorted, her eyes snapping,

ng foolish," war

the color flaming higher and higher in her face. Nora then walked straight up to the moun

tively in the holsters of Grace Harlowe and Lieutenant Wingate. What mad thing Nora had in mind they could not imagine, but

bullet through my husband's perfectly good hat. Aren't you ashamed of yourself? That hat cost him eight dollars, and

hand flashed up to the nose of the mountaineer. The fingers closed

of his rifle, that Nora had thrust to one side as she boldly step

llow's ears, first with the right, then with the left han

owe who, in an incisive tone o

ver, caused Nora to take a few slow steps backwards. Three revolvers were pointed over her head at th

saw the weapons

ppy. "Drop it or I'll

grasp on his rifle to relax and

while I dismount. You, fellow! Take notice! We know how to shoot, probably better than you do. If you try any tricks yo

dy, stepped over to the man who was now st

e, pressing his own revolver against the mountaineer's back. He then jerked th

n ar

him, his face contor

r this 'ere!" th

r business, and we wish to be let alone. So long as we are let alone, we shall move along peaceably. Whe

and the malignant scowl on his face, voiced

til to-morrow. You will find your rifle and revolver right here where I am standing. We don't want any suc

way at a brisk trot, neve

dance," urged Emm

ce incisively. "W

proud of you," he said, turning to her smilingly. "But never do a crazy thing like that again. Even Emma

rook at all. It is too warm and malar

detour to the right and proceed over the ridge, and on into the mountains where t

agree with you

can move a house and lot with her con-centration stunt, she surely should be able to move that touchy mountain s

are real mean

rt time to see if that fellow returns and tries to follow us?" asked

ave done so,"

ver, it is getting dark and we must locate ourselve

e top, they followed the ridge trail for half a mile, then struck off into the mountain fastness. In order to better hide their

r while Hippy and the girls watered and cared for the ponies. Supper was ready about the time they fi

does all this disturbance of to-

bushes; later, when we headed into Spring Brook valley we may have been getting into the Moonshiners' territory. I understand they are rather touchy when it comes to outsiders penetrating their mountain preserves. At lea

nk we are revenue office

n the flying corps, who comes from Kentucky, and he told me all about these mountaineers

tery Man," reminded Nor

about him," answered Elfred

said

one of them, he would have shot one of

sat about the campfire, now a glowing bed of coals, which now and then was

ounced Hippy after the tents had been pitched and the gi

py, call me and I will take the watch fo

ep," remonst

deep voice from her tent, sending he

supposed to be aw

ponies were tethered to see that they were properly tied for the night. Soon after making camp she had taken poss

n enemies and that trouble might be looked for from that direction, hen

gton and Hippy final directions, she had retired to her te

d, peering from her tent, saw Hippy sitting with his back against a rock. At first she thought he was a

well. A quick survey of the camp from her tent revealed nothing disturbing. Hippy was in the same pos

ver, Grace stepped over to Hippy and peered down

tly away and sitting down within a dozen feet of the sl

e left of the camp. A few moments of listening convinced her that she was right. She knew that none of her outfit was out th

edge of the camp. Even then she would not have seen it, had it not moved to one side. The dark back

it above the head of the intruder, and waited. Herself being in

the trigger. A flash of fire

te sprang t

-wha?" h

t over the head of a prowler. Go back to your tent, Washington," she

ey would not be troubled by him again that night. In the meantime the others of her party had sprung from their te

too bad to have spoiled that lovely sleep. I wi

was ashamed of himself despite his former assertion t

entrate' to keep me awake after this," mutt

bance until breakfast next morning when Grace told them all she knew about the occurrence. After breakfast she and Hippy searched the ground about the camp and found traces of t

urning to camp. "If we are late in keeping our appointment with

to us by that time," observed Elfreda s

ey were in search of, the footpath that led in the direction that they wished to go. On either side of the path was a

ttling fire of conversation back and forth, much of which was directed at Hippy wh

seemed to be getting lazy, for Elfreda, who was riding dir

leep?" demanded Elfreda. "We shall nev

ons that Hippy had gone to sleep on his saddle, there was much laughter. Em

til finally Elfreda rode out into a rugged, rocky clearing a

blades of grass that were sprouting from cre

ippy!" called

The pony raised its head and looked

that thrilled every member of t