osom had at last stung him! Tearing
the paper into shreds, and stamping upon the floor, he cursed and raved.

"I see it all," he cried. "Fool, ass, bat, mole! Curse me! Yes, curse
me! But curse them also! Oh! G-G-God, help me to avenge this wrong!"

As soon as a God is necessary to the atheist he invents one, and in a
single instant this hopeless skeptic had become a firm believer in the
Deity. It seemed for a few moments as if his passions would destroy him
by their internal violence; but their first ebullition was soon expended
and he began to grow calm. The electric fires of his anger were no
longer permitted to play at random, but were gathered up into a
thunderbolt to be hurled at his foe; this half-crazed man suddenly
became as cool and calculating as he was desperate and determined.

A purpose shaped itself instantly in his mind, and he began its
execution without delay. He made no confidant, took no advice; but
having smoothed his ruffled clothing and combed his disheveled hair so
as to excite no comment and provoke no question, he passed through the
hotel corridor and office, greeting his acquaintances with his
accustomed ease, and made his way to the livery stable. He went at once
to the stalls where his famous team was accustomed to stand, and to his
astonishment and delight found his horses both there.

"Tom," he said to the hostler, "did you hire a horse and b-b-buggy to a
young couple last night?"

"I did not," answered the surly groom.

"Tell me the truth," said the doctor in a voice that made every word
sound like the crack of a rifle.

"What do you take me for?" asked the stableman, trying to appear
indignant and innocent.

"You're a l-l-liar, and I am in no mood for trifling. Out with it, you
scoundrel!" he cried, seizing him by the throat.

With a sign of terror the groom indicated his readiness to come to
terms, and the doctor relaxed his grip.

Still trembling, he told the truth.

"Do you know which road they took?"

He waved his hand toward Kentucky.

"Put a saddle on Hamlet--no, on Romeo," he ordered, tersely.

The groom entered a box stall and led out the black beauty. The doctor
glanced him over and smiled. And well he might, for every muscle, every
motion betokened speed, intelligence, endurance.

The pursuer made a single stop on his way to the river and that was at a
gun store, from which he emerged carrying a pair of saddle bags on his
arm. In the holsters were two loaded p