A QUEEN'S ERROR

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17926, 30 June 1930, Page 3

A QUEEN'S ERROR

"OUR SERIAL STORY

CHAPTER XH. ... . HELD UP. When we arrived at the other side of the train, and the leading files of the robbers were passing off the railway line, the identity of the figure carried away across the saddle was put beyond all doubt,' and the revelation nearly ; sent me mad. Mrs Darbyshire came shrieking out into the fore part of the car in which I had left her with Dolores. "They have taken her," she cried, "they have taken her from me as a hostage. It cannot be. Bring her back, bring her back, I implore you!" she cried in Spanish to the men who were passing the train, and who in. Yeturn only laughed and jeered at her. "Mr Anstruther," she cried, "save her!" I made her no answer, for I knew < it was useless, but I gripped the revolver I carried beneath my loose smock. A great calmness came, upon me then, though the blood surged.through my head. Life was as nothing me, compared with saving her; .without her it would be worthless. I determined to use every art I was captable of, every ingenuity to outwit these ruffians and murderers, for her sake. J '.■•;'! •:;.'.. I began to'laugh and talk with the men around me, at the same time noting every feature of the country as we left the railway behind and took a rough road. .. As we emerged upon this,' the moon rose and I could see that the road wound away in front of us, down into a valley where there was a thick wood and up the other side to great hills which were probably our destination. About two hundred yards in front of us rode the partjy who had carried off Dolores. To my great joy the party commenced to trot, and within ten minutes had caught up the party in front. There was a good deal of talking in Spanish, which I did not understand. My eyes were fixed on the figure wrapped in the black cloak-and lying across the saddle bow of one of the ruffiians. ! As far as I could see, she was perfectly inanimate, but one" thing I noticed, and that'was the man who held her, a great Swarthy black-bearded wretch, masked like the others, rode some six; paces in the rear of the rest. .'•_.' .This was sufficient for me; my plan

was formed at once.

(By CAPTAIN HENRY CURTIES). Author of "The Blood Bond," "The Idol of the King" of Angels." "The Queen's Gate My? tery," "Out of the Shadowa" etc

As we rode forward again, I felt that I had a good horse under me, and this was a satisfaction for the task I had in view. As we reached the wood at the foot of the hill, there were, I found to my great satisfaction, but two of the gang riding behind me and one by my side;, the rest were in front. I had made myself agreeable; and rode so easily with the mthat the men around me J had taken no special precautions to secure me; believing me to be unarmed, they, evidently thought that I was powerless under the muzzles of their numerous revolvers. They were mistaken.

As we plunged into the blackness of the road through the wood I waited until we were well into it, then drew my revolver and shot the man riding on my right. In the very act of firing, I dug the heels of my boots into my horse and caused him to swerve round.

Before they could draw I shot both the men behind me, and as I tore past them, grasped the mask from the face of one eas he fell. The whole thing was done in under ten seconds. I flew off like an arrow back towards the party we had jnst left, followed by a splattering fire from the men. I had left wh-jn they fully realised what had happened in the darkness.

I hastily fixed the black crepe mask across my face as I cleared the wood, and made full gallop for Dolores. As I came in sight of the party, they were evidently in alarm at the shooting, but I waved my arm to them assuringly and slowed down to a canter as I came near. They plainly regarded me- from my mask as one of the gang. I noticed to my satisfaction as I approached that the man in charge of Dolores was still some distance in the rear.

The road being narrow, and the men riding two abreast in it, I left the track and rode out into the rough ground as if I wished to reach the chief, crying out, "Capitanor' as I passed the leading men, that being about all the Spanish I knew. The great. burly chief rode out as I approached, with a querulous look on his face as I saw it in the moonlight, as if he were annoyed, but the expression changed immediately, for I shot him through the body " from' my revolver as I held it concealed beneath the smock I wore; then I dashed for Dolores. I had'still two chambers undischarged, and one of these I intended for the man bearing Dolores • but. he was too . quick for me. He

turned his horse and bolted back along .the road we had come, and I after him. He was apparently in a panic..,, I roared out to him with all my might that if he would give up the lady I would spare his life, or otherwise he would be a dead man.

(To be "continued daily.)