Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 114: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE RESCUE. 105 thing,” answerad one of the men, flatly, glaring fiercely at the speaker. ‘‘We’re actin accordin’ todelaw. De dog——’’ Lhe dog, howling with fright, was landed in the cage by this time. } | Quick as a flash Arthur sprang to the head of the horse and seized the bridle. | ‘‘Once more I say let that dog loose, or I'll shoot your horse dead in his tracks!’’ he cried, again, and made a mo- tion, with his right hand, toward his hip pocket. The rascals hesitated a second; then, frightened by Ar- thur’s determined manner and attitude, they sullenly opened the door and released the bewildered animal, which, with a growl anda joyous bark, leaped to his mistress’ feet. The baffled trappers jumped into the wagon and drove rapidly off amid the barks and yelps of the less fortunate beasts already imprisoned behind them. Arthur was about to address the lady when the smile froze on his lips; he saw she was no other than Gertrude Clayton. She had recognized him first, and had had time to recover, ina measure, from the embarrassment of her position. Com- mon politeness required some recognition of his courtesy, and she even extended her hand. ‘‘You have been more than kind, Mr. Eldridge,’’ she ut- tered, with emotion, ‘‘and I donot know how to thank you.”’ ‘‘Pray, do not attempt to,’’ heanswered. “If I have been of any service to you, the pleasure is mine. Those men are rascals, most of them, whom the law, unfortunately, pro- tects. I have been informed that more than half the valu- able dogs they snatch up never reach the pound. Yours would be such a prize that I doubt if you would have been E@RNIElOOO KS, EC) im