Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04

safe as IL he was handcuffed. Then he can
dig for us, he well knows how"
Mr. Corder considered this course and
then agreed to it, The rope was knotted
round Daniels leg. and he found himself
tied fast to the great rock that had been re-
Gently moved; then Mr.. Corder took off the
handouts.
No tricks mind" he said. I'm a merci-
full man, an wish YOU no harm; but IL You
try to run for ii I'll knock you down as II
you was a rabbit
You're right not to trust me-" answered
the poacher, calmly: but give me that
spade and you'll see I'm in earnest. / want
two hundred pounds for my wife. don't /?
If We take turn an turn about we'll soon
shift this muck. Twill be better for tvs
to dig Bant room for three
The critical moment of Daniels plot now
approached: but he kept a steel grip on his
nerves. and succeeded effectively in con-
cealing his great excitement. All depended
on the next half hour.
He and Corder now began to work stead
lily, while the others rested and watched
them. The moon shone brightly, and a
mound of earth and stone Increased beside
the hole they dug. Presently Gregory and
BARLEY took turn; but the latter had not
dug five minutes when Daniel snatched his
spade from him and continued the work
himself
II can't stand watching you" he said.
Such weak hands / never seed in my life
man would be rotten long afore his grave
was dug IL you had the digging"
II works with the intelects.' answered
Mr.. BARLEY. MY calling In life is higher
than a sections, l hope"
After another period OF labor Corder took
the inspectors place, and soon the aperture
gaped two feet deep.
That's it: now we've got to sink to the
left exclaimed Sweetland. We run an
other two feet under this here ledge, and
then we come to the stun
Now he was working with Gregory again.
and the moment for action had arrived. OPP
portunity had to be made. however. and
Daniels escape depended entirely upon Ny.
Corder's answer to his next question. He
knew that with the giant present his plans
must fail; but If Corder could be induced to.
go aside Daniel felt that the rest was not
difficult
Cant see no more" he said. IF youn
fetch one of they gig lamps, Mr. Corder, us
will know where we are. You'll want the
lamp in a minute. anyway, when we come
to the silver. for tbs all thrown loose INTO
the earth
Without answering the big policeman fell
into the trap. He had to go near.y three
hundred yards for the lamp. and, allowins
him above a minute for that journey. Daniel
Sweetland made his plunge for liberty. sud
denly. without a moments warning. he
turned upon Gregory the inspector bent
beside him, and struk the man an awfl
blow with his spade full upon the top OF the
head.
Sorry Greg" he cried. as the officer fell
in a heap but If I've got to swing il shall
be for something, not nothing.
Even as he spoke Daniel had reached 10
the length of his rope and collared BARLEY.
The strong man he had struck senseless ac-
cordng to his intention; the weak one he
now prepared to deal with. BARLEY screamed
like hunted hare. for he supposed that his
hour was come. Then Daniel saw the dis
tant light leap forward Only seconds re-
NAMED and only seconds were necessary.
BE quiet and hand me your knife. or LII
smash your skull in, too" he shouted TO the
shaking policeman; then he stretched for
the handouts. which Corder had put on a
stone beside him, and in a second Luke
BARLEY found himself on the ground beside
his colleague A moment later and he was
chained TO the recumbent and senseless per-
son of the inspector. while Daniel knelt be-
side him and extracted from his pocket the
| knife he required. With this he cIt thu
rope that held him prisoner, and during the
| ten seconds that remained before Mr..
Corder rushed upon the scene. Daniel had
put fifty YARDS of darkness between himself
and his guards.
The Plymouth man now found his work
cut out for him Gregory was still uncon-
| scious, and BARLEY had become hysterical
and was rolling with his face on the earth.
| bowling for mercy. Mr.. Corder liberated
him and kicked him into reason. Then
Luke told his tale while the other tended
! the unfortunate inspector.
He failed upon the man with his spade.
| like a devil from hell. an afore l could
start my frozen limbs an strike him down,
he'd got me in his clutches an handcuffed
my wrist to this poor corpse here
But Gregory was not a corpse. In two
minutes he had recovered his senses and sat
up with his feet in the pit.
Whats happened?" he asked. where's
Daniel Sweetland to? Who hit me? Was it
lightning?
Twas him." answered Corder: AN
there's no time to lose. If you can walk.
take my arm an we'll go back this min
ute I'm going to drive TO Princetown at
once an give the alarm there. It's only a
matter of ten mile, an the civil guard at
the prison know the Moor an will lend a
hand to catch the man soon daylight
comes. He can't be off much sooner
AN this here silver treasure asked Mr..
BARLEY.
This here silver grandmother" an
swered the other bitterly. Hes done us
done meme have had some credit In my
! time, 1 believe. There-don't talk-I could
spit blood for thisi-but words be vain. L
shan't have another peaceful moment Till
I've got that anointed rascal in irons again..
IT'S a lesson that may cost me pension.
Corder gave his arm to Gregory and Bart
ley walked in front with the lantern.
"A CHASTITY company we make, sure
enough" said the pioneer THE wickedness
of that limb. An l thought for certain as
my death had come. Talk about London
there. or anywhere. The man don't live
that's worse than Sweetland- never
knowed there such a liar in the uni
verse"
the long journey to Princetown impossible
until dawn.
When they reached the dog cart they
found it supported by the shafts alone; for
the horse was gone.
reckon said Corder blankly; but We
shan't-not this side of morning. Us have
got to walk ten mile on end TO reach Prince
town, let alone Plymouth. That's what US
have got to do
while we talked, he took the boss. The
devils cunning of that man. groanei
BARLEY.
CTo be continued next Saturday,