he was sorely tempted. "Ah, if I
only dared!" said she.

"Come, Madge, darling!" he said fervently, opening his arms to fold her
to his heart.

"No, no," she said, "it wouldn't be right." The Colonel's words: "We'd
think it an eternal shame and a disgrace for one of our women to ride a
race in a costume such as you have on," rang in her mind and filled her
with despair. "The Colonel said--" she began, weakly.

"Oh, damn the Colonel!" Frank cried angrily, wondering why any one
should meddle with his heart-affairs.

And as he spoke the Colonel entered hurriedly, evidently bearing news of
import.

Startled by the young man's earnest words, he stopped short in
astonishment. "Why--what's that, sir?" he exclaimed amazed, and then,
seeing clearly that he had broken in upon a fervent sentimental
situation and unwilling to believe that Frank could really have meant
him when he had been so emphatic, turned his thoughts, again, to the
news which had brought him in such haste.

"I say," he said, excitedly, "I've been cross-examining that rascal,
Ike, and I've found out who smuggled the whiskey to him."

"Who was it?" Madge and Frank cried almost in unison.

"That double-distilled, three-ply scoundrel, Horace Holton," said the
Colonel, angrily.

"Holton!" Frank exclaimed. "I wouldn't have believed it!"

"I would," Madge commented.

"I'll find him and settle with him for it!" Frank angrily exclaimed.

"I'm afraid that's easier said than done," the Colonel answered, "but
I'm with you, and we'll do our best."

Through the windows came the noise of baying hounds. It instantly
attracted their attention, as it ever will that of Kentuckians. "What's
that? A fox-hunt?"

Frank had hurried to the window and was looking out. "No," he answered,
in incredulous amazement, "it's Holton and his gang. They're hunting Joe
Lorey with dogs!"

Madge hurried to his side, distressed beyond the power of words to tell.
"Oh, oh!" she cried. "They're coming this way, and--and--who's that?"

As she spoke Joe Lorey dashed up, breathless to the window.

CHAPTER XIX

The moonshiner stood there, pathetic in his beaten strength before them.

"They're huntin' me with dogs!" he said. "They're goin' to string me up
without justice or mercy!"

Madge hurried to his side. "Joe, they shan't do it!" she exclaimed, and
took his hand.

"It'll take more nor you to save me, little one," he said, and smiled
down at her pitifully. "There's no