The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-08-24
Gated by all except the ruffian'y crowd be
longing there.

SoeSu uy oil CACCpe tuc ulu'u SiOWu w
longing there
Presently sudden confusion rose in
one of the inner rooms.
"You villain!-you mean, cowardly
villain !" roared a stifled voice, evidently
Van Alstine's. Then came the sound of
a scuffie.
Eloise started up with Suppressed
cry.
H"Merciful Heaven!'
She darted to the green haize door,
tugged at it with all her strength, and
flung it wide. She seemed to forget her
disguise, her own danger, herself in every
way, in the awful fear that was upon
her.
Harry was less than three feet behind
.iler when she enaaserfss u inner aols1nEs-s
They were just in time to see two tall
figures confronting each other under the
chandeliers bludgeon swung high in the
air, and Van Astine roll upon the floor
like log, stark, still, senseless.
Eloise darted forward.
"My God!" she shrieked, throwing
herself upon the body, "they have killed
h NJ
The ruffian turned and looked down at
her with low, sneering laugh.
at was his own fault" he growled
then in wheeding voice: "Come. don''
take on so, pretty one, you'll spoil your
eyes. We've found you out in spite of
that clever disguise. So look up and
smile upon Us, like the charming little
witch you are"
He leaned over and would have raised
Eloise in his arms. but Harry, with the
bound of tiger, was upon him,and had
sent him sprawling upon the floor with
a well-directed blow.
The rul1ian drew revolver where he
lay, and muttering fearful curse GOV
cred Harry's heart with deadly aim oil
steel. But the young man, ,springing fu-
riously upon him, wrenched the weapon
from his grasp, but not before one of lis
chambers had exploded. The bullet
whizzed through the air, only to bury it.
self harmlessly in the ceiling.
Harry swung the still smoking revol
vel like lightning above his head and
shouted:
"Now the game is in my hands! II
you make another movement, l will pu,
a bullet through your heart!''
The villain was rising stealthily to his
feet, but be quailed, and dropped sud
denly back when he saw the dangerous
glare in Harry's eyes.
With the deadly muzzle Of the revol.
yer still covering the cowardly rogue, ,oul
hero Eow leaned over Eoise, and raised
her from the inanimate body of Van AL
stine.
"My poor young lady," he said in 8
low voice, bear up.for Gods sake. That
poor fellow is past your help. Think oi
your own peril, and come away before i,
is too late
1t was too late already Even as he
came rushing into the apartment.
"Down with him. they yellei turi
Iously. "The Internal spy He CAM
leave this place alive''
Harry realized his terrible situation al
glance. The rooms were now deserted
by all save the proprietors and theil
tools Of course the villains were des
perate.
The body upon the floor was terribl,
witness against them. Their only safe
ty lay in double murder, and they knew
lit!
"Kill him! Cut his throat!' the,
hissed venomously.
There was not moment to lose
Drawing Eloise's trembling figure still
more closely to him with one hand, h
raised the revolver in the other, and rap
idly discharged its several chambers int
the shricking crowd.
GroanS, heavy fall or two, ,and vol
ley of the most fearful curses followed.
! In the midst of the confusion that en-
sued, shrill voice suddenly screamed ::
"Beaks! police! They're crackin!
the crihr'
I At the same instant the sound Of crash
ing blows was heard below, and the ring
ing Of policeman's clubs upon the flags
"Put out the lights yelled one of tn
ruffians.
There was hurried scramble towar
the meter, and in another moment til
whole place was enveloped in darkness.
| Harry heard quick bound or two ,an,
something whiz sharply in the air Th
devils meant to make sure of him, afte
all. He lodged and sprang nimbly t.
one side, just as bludgeon of some sol
came down on the floor with crashin
force
"That's your game,is it, he cried, ian
|pushing Eloise behind him, struck OF
blindly to the right ard left.
! He could see nothing distinctly; bu
his fist fattened against somebody
nose, and there was a sound of pr,
lcipitate retreat.
| The next instant heavy footsteps cam
rushing up stairs, and through the anti
room, and several dark lanterns fashe
Their light upon the scene.
| 1t was wild beyond description. Ha
| ry Blaisdell, with his precious charg,
stood leaning against the wall, so fair
and weak, now that the welcome sight {
blue coats and brass buttons met h
gaze, he could scarcely stand.
Three of the gamblers lay upon u
door, near Van Alstine's body, welterin
in their blood. The others had escape
by means of secret entrance at ii
rear. From the appearance of thing
Harry knew that an effort had bee
made to carry away the bodies of thos
who had been wounded, but the polio
came too quickly upon the scene an
frustrated the attempt.
While be still stood glaring aroun
a him in somewhat bewildered name
f Eloise stepped out Of his arms and sta
gered to the spot where Van AlstiI
lay.
"Dick! Dick !" she screamed sudde
e ly, and burst into hysterical sob of jo
"Oh, thank God thank God! He is n
l dead !"
1t was true. Van Alstine had be,
knocked senseless by the blow upon b
head, but was now slowly regaining CO
e sciousness. In very few moments
was well enough to sit up.
e 1t would appear that the gamblers h