Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-05-27

burn you slowly. Yes, and, by the
Lord. IL any man interferes. even If
it's Angel here, I'll swing for him.
Dye near that?"
His breast heaved with the effort to
hold himself, n SPEEDING, shudder-
ing at the ferocity in the mans whole
bearing, lowered his pistol.
Let US talk" he said huskily.
That's better" said Angel, and let
me talk first. l want YOU"
Come n take me-" he said.
THE risk is too great" said Angel
frankly, and besides, / can afford to
wait"
"WeIl?" asked the lawyer defantly,
after a long pause. He kept the
weapon in his hand pointed In the vi
cinity Of the girl.
Angel exchanged a word in an I'M
dertone with his companion, then
You may 60" he said, and stepped
aside.
Speeding motioned him farther
away. Then slowly edging his way to
the door. he reached 1t. He paused
for a moment as If to speak, then
quick as thought raised his re-
volver and fired twice.
Angel felt the wind of the bullets as
they passed his face, and sprang for
ward just as Jimmy's arm shot out.
Crack, crack, crack! Three shots so
rapid that their reports were almost
simultaneous from Jimmy's auto
matte pistol sped after the lawyer,
but too late, and the heavy door
crashed to in Angels face, and the
snap Of the lock old them they were
prisoners.
Angel made a dart for a window, but
1t was shattered and nailed and i'm
movable.
He looked at Jimmy, and burst into
a ringing laugh.
Trapped, by jove!" he said.
Jimmy was on his knees by the side
Of the girl. She had not tainted, and
the strain and WEAKNESS of the night
adventure had brought her trembling
to her knees. She felt the strength of
the man, and, thrilled at his touch, her
sank on his shoulder and she felt
at rest.
Angel was Dusiiy examining the win
dows, when a loud report outside the
house arrested his attention.
What is that ?" asked the girl
family.
1T is either Mr.. Spedding's we'll
timed suicide, which l fear is too much
to expect" said Angel philosophically,
'or else it is the same Mr.. SPEEDING
destroying the working parts of our
car. l am afraid it is the latter"
He moved up n down the room,
examined the smaller chamber at the
other end, then shifted u~neasily.
Miss Kent" he said earnestly, ARE
you we'll enough to tell me something? ?"
She started and flushed as she drew
herself from Jimmy's arms, and stood
up a little shakily,
Yes she said with a faint smile, II
think l am all right now"
asNNThnt A., tInra ,YnIAr InS 90 a-1.nl
Angel, pointing to the floor.
AN old workshop, a sort of store
house." she replied in surprise.
What is in it?' There was no mis-
taking the seriousness in Angels voice.
Broken furniture" ,
Mattresses"
Yes, I think there are, and paints
and things. Why do you ask"
Jimmy" said Angel quickly. do you
smell anything?
Jimmy shifted.
Yes" he said quickly. Quick, the
windows"
They made a rapid search of the
room. In a orner Jimmy unearthed
a rusty cavalry saber.
That's the thing" said Angel, and
started to pry loose the solid shutter;
but the wood was unyielding, and just
as they had secured a purchase the
blade snapped.
There is an old ak in the cupboard"
cried the girl, who apprehended the
hidden danger.
With a yell of joy Angel dragged
forth an Anticipated battleax, and at
tackled the shutter afresh. With each
the wood flew in big s~plinters,
fast as he worked something else
was moving faster. Angel had not
mistaken the smell of petrol, and now
a thin vapor of smoke flowed into the
DON from underneath the door, and
in tiny spirals through the interstices
Of the fioorboards. Angel stopped ex-
hausted, and Jimmy picked UP the ak
and struck 1t true. then after one
vigorous stroke a streak Of daylight
showed in the shutter. The room was
now intolerably hot, and Angel took
up the ak and hacked away at the oak
en- barrier to life.
Shall we escape?" asked the girl
quietly.
Yes, / think So" said Jimmy stead
lily.
Il shall not regret tonight" she falt-
cred.
Nor l." said Jimmy in a low voice,
whatever the issue is. 1t is very good
to love once in a lifetime, even If that
once is on the brink of the grave.
Her lips quivered, and she tried to
speak.
Angel was hard at work on the win
dow, and his back was toward them.
and Jimmy bent n kissed the girl
on the lips.
The window was down! Angel
turned In a welter of perspiring tri-
umph.
Outside as quick as dammit" he
cried.
'
CONTINUED Next Weekly