The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-28

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| q thick rope. He was strangling.
Frantically he grasped TIE rope, lifting
himself from the door in the effort
to loosen the moose with his free hand.
A hoarse laugh broke upon his DINING
ears, the leering faces drew nearer.
and then as everything went black q
heavy yet merciful blow fell upon his
head.
| Not many minutes passed before con-
sciousness, which had been but par
TALLY lost. returned to him. It was
pitch dark, and the air was hot and
close. Not a sound came to his throb-
bling ears. With characteristic IRE
1 pressibility he began to swear softly,
but articulately. A gruR voice. star
tlingiy near at hand, interrupted him.
"Spit It, out, young fellowi, Swear
like man, not like blamed canary
bird"
The hidden speaker was unquestion-
ably an American.
"where am Ir demanded the cap
tive.
you're here, that's where you are"
was the sarcastic answer.
"Are you an Americana
mo: I am a Chinaman. I was born
In Newport"-as an afterthought-
KENTUCKY"
"This ia the worst high handed out
rage I've ever
Better save your breath, young fel-
low. You won't have 1t very long, SO
save what you can Of it."
"You mean l am to stop breathing
altogether asked the prisoner.
Something like that"
"WhyY'
"YouIl find out when the boss gets
good and ready. You wanted to get
q poke at the old mans eye, lid you?
By thunder, that's like an American
never satisfied to let things alone. See
what 1t got you into?"
1.-THE old mans eye? What old
: mani"
THAT'S for you to find out, If you
can. You've made poor start at it."
: "How do you, an American. happen
to be mixed up in deal like thisr
"It's healthier work than making bar
rels att was going to say Sing Sing
but z hear they've changed the name.
q prefer outdoor work"
: Fugitive, ehf'
"You might call 1t that. I'm wanted
in seven states. The demand for me
q IL great"
u That he had fallen into the hands o.
9 q band of conspirators was quite cleal
n to King. Whether they were brigand
+ or more important operators agains
: the crown be was Of course In no posi-
7. ton to decide. Time would tell.
4 It was enough that they expected t
70 kill him sooner or later. This in itsel
. was sufficient to convince him that b
?. was not to be held for ransom, but t
n be disposed of for reasons best know
= to his captors.
Like a shot the warning Of dig
1t Platanova flashed into his brain. HI
ID guard had mentioned 1.-The old man.
.e Good heavens! Could he mean Spantz
r The cold perspiration was standing Q
%. Kings brow. Spantz! He recalled tt
I'd wickedness in the armorer's face. BIZ
Is why should Spantz wish him evil?
1t The anarchists! The reds! Olga WI
N an avowed anarchist. "By CAD, the
think I am detective" he exclaime
~ light coming to him with rush.
ut whats thatT snapped the othe
lie Truxton could almost feel the other
is body grow tense despite the space
a tween them. Are you defective
We Are you? If you are. I'll finish you I
g, right here. YOU
mo! They're on the wrong seer
er By Jove, the laughs on old m'
Spantz."
rs. "Oho! So you do know what's u
Jet then? Spantz, Ell? Well, what you
to guessed at or found out won't ma
much difference, my fine young Fl
ed low"
a. The glimmer of light came be
A bling up from somewhere behind Tru
is ton. He could see the Pickering sha
ed ows on the wall. Two men crept In
ed the room a moment later. One Of the
1t carried a lantern; the other turn
Kings body over with his foot. Tru
or ton saw that the three ruffians we
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