Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-04-13

two proved irresistible odds.
During that wild scrimmage Wedrell
had been trying to figure out the af.
fair; this attack had been 30 sudden
and 80 unexpected that for the mo-
ment he was nonplussed. The methods
employed by these assailants were not
these generally popular with tramps,
and yet Wedreu could think of no one
else who might attempt this miserable
piece Of cowardice.
One thing struck him as particularly
suspicious-no word had been spoken
81 far. The party preserved a perfect
silence, even when both he and his
companion were led, bound and
wriggling. down past the end Of the
vineyard to the deserted house.
Barry was INDUCING In a choice Sc
lection OF explosives and Wedrell could
hear him roundly scoring his captors.
but an cutlery in this spot could not
avail to any visible extent.
Evidently the gang had some we'll
defined object in view, for 1t headed
in the direction of the broken doorway.
During all this time Wedrell had at
tempted to see enough of those about
him to distinguish their clothing or
features. but the darkness thwarted
him. Even when they were led down
to the last room-the kitchen-at the
back of the old house. and a candle
lighted, the captors were clever enough
to tie heavy cloths over the eyes Of the
two boys, thus cutting OF any loophole
Of escape or discovery.
Wedrell saw the dull glow of the
candle somewhere In the room; he
heard shutting feet within reach Of
his twitching legs as some one tried
maliciously to pinch him.
"Ouchv bawled an agonized voice.
Wedrell had kicked out with one
well-shod foot and caught the sneak
in the stomach, doubling him
up like a jack-knIfe. At the same mo-
ment Wedrell exerted every whit Of
strength In his back and shoulders; the
poorly tied cords snapped and in an
other minute he was free, the bandage
whipped from his burning eyes.
FLETCHER! Nokes! Daulton! vloss!
Moody" he shouted, the last-named,
his spectacles awry on his nose, lay
wriggling and moaning on the floor
from the kick 80 lately administered.
Barry, still bound and blindfolded,
stood against the wall directly oppo-
site.
1t did not take Wedrell the fash of
al. eye to determine his course. While
the other boys we're smarting under
their surprise, Wedrells knife, saving
upon the cord chat held Barry q pris.
oner, freed him before they recovered.
"Now. then, a little Of their own
Barryr' he roared, darting
out into the middle of the floor. His
glance Of the kitchen took In
every detail. the tallow dip burning on
a window ledge, the one broken chair,
the long door that led down to a cellar,
wide open at the other end Of the
apartment.
Barry was not sleepy head; cadets
who knew anything about him at all
knew that he could throw the hammer
farther than any boy in the college.
except, perhaps, Wedrell himself, and
1t was no childs play to face those
arms.
Poor Noddy had not managed to
clear the floor; there were four against
two.
FLETCHER" muttered Wedrel' In that
intensely exciting moment before the
two. clashed; I'm about to give you
a good thrashing II it's In me; l think
you deserve it."
That worthy may or may not have
deserved 1t, but the thrashing did come
and the big bully went In heap to the
floor, with one bruised eye that would
certainly be decorated with black on
the following day. Wedrell's first hard
blow from the shoulder had caught
him in the right place.
Barry In the meanwhile had done
just what Wedrell could have wished
one of the other boys, but
another came at him pellmell In the
mad melee, which took all three to the
end of the room before they knew 1t,
Barry pushed both forward and down.
ward. His adversaries lost their bal
ance and were tumbled feet FIRST down
the open cellar doorway.
"Good!' shouted Wedrell. "Now for
this one, Barryv
During his breathing spell Barry wit
messed laughable sight.
Wedrell's iron hand, gripped in the
collar Of the sole remaining fighting
Of that midnight ven
delta, fairly lifted him from his feet
and sent him spinning like a rag doll
down after his unfortunate brothers in
the cellar. Fletcher had staggered to
his feet, but Wedrell made short work
Of him, and he. too. was most impolite-
" precipitated down the slippery
staira.
mo time to waste with you, Noddy,"
the boy chuckled, gasping for breath;
I've must get back to the academy TO-
night" With that he slid luckless,
Noddy down with his COM
rades.
"Ths door. Quickw he called to
Barry.
There was an iron chain and catch
upon It and the door was unusually
strong, being q portion Of the oak
door. Snapl went the catch in its place
Just az a thunderous pounding Of irate
lists threatened to push it upward.
TOO late" called Wedrell. "A pleas