E-text prepared by Mark C. Orton, Linda McKeown, Emmy, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/c/) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 20405-h.htm or 20405-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/4/0/20405/20405-h/20405-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/4/0/20405/20405-h.zip) GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS AMONG THE KENTUCKY MOUNTAINEERS by JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M. Illustrated The Saalfield Publishing Company Akron, Ohio New York Made in U. S. A. Copyright MCMXXI by The Saalfield Publishing Company [Illustration: "It's Grace!" _Frontispiece._] CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I--EXCITEMENT IN THE FOOTHILLS 11 Washington Washington's music is rudely interrupted. The revenge of an outraged mule. "Why dat fool mule kick me?" Hippy airs his knowledge of woodcraft. "Laundry" puts the Overland camp in an uproar. CHAPTER II--THE MYSTERY MAN 25 "Dis am de sebbenth yeah." The Spectacle Man introduces himself. The voice from the wilderness. The visitor gives the Overland Riders a word of advice. Mystified by an appearance and a disappearance. CHAPTER III--HIPPY BOUNCES THE "SHEREEF" 32 Overlanders ordered to leave the mountains at once. Hippy Wingate's smile grows into a frown. A bullet that missed its mark. Grace Harlowe steps on Washington's neck and starts an uproar. A mysterious shot wings the mountaineer. CHAPTER IV--FOOTPRINTS IN THE MOSS 42 The Mystery Man slips away unobserved. The Overlanders led to wonder. Tom Gray utters a warning. Washington gets another scare. The prowler leaves a trail. Revolver shots stir the Overland Riders to action. "That's Grace's weapon!" cries Lieutenant Wingate. CHAPTER V--THE WAY IS BARRED 52 "Halt! Who comes?" Grace Harlowe slightly wounded. Hippy, in search of her, loses himself. Grace tells of her duel in the bush. The Overlanders are sternly halted and ordered to go back. A shot and a command. Hippy's hat is shot off. CHAPTER VI--HIPPY MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARS 61 Overlanders throw up their hands. Nora tweaks a mountaineer's nose, and boxes his ears. Tables turned on a mountain ruffian. A night prowler frightened away by a shot. "Hurry, Grace! Hippy has gone!" cries Elfreda Briggs in a thrilling voice. CHAPTER VII--A VOICE FROM THE SHADOWS 74