The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-02-22

Leave the city at once. You are in
great danger. Save YOURSELF
This time he did not laugh. That it
was from Olga Platanova he had no
doubt But why she should interest
herself so persistently in his welfare
was quite beyond him. And what,
after all. could she mean by great
danger-save yourself.'
He INDUCED in a long spell of
thoughtfulness. No, by George, III
not turn tail at the first sign of dan
ger. III stay here and assist Dangloss
in unraveling this matter. Aud I'll
go up to that witch's hole before I'm
a day older to have it out with her
I'll find out where the smoke came
from, and I'll know where that eye
went to- He sighed without knowing
it. by Jove, I'd like to do something
to show her I'm not the blooming
duffer she thinks l am
He could not find Baron Dangloss
that night nor early the next day.
Hobbs, after being stigmatiZed as the
only British coward in the world,
changed his mind and made ready to
accompany King to the hovel in Can
look gap.
By noon the streets in the vicinity of
the plaza were filled with strange,
rough looking men, undeniably laborers
who are they:" demanded King.
There's strike on among the men
building the railroad" said Hobbs.
They'd better look out for these fell
lows" said King, very soberly. Il
don't like the appearance of 'em. They
look like cutthroats."
"Take my word for it, sir, they are.
They're the riffraff of all Europe
Il hope Baron Dangloss knows how
to handle them? in some anxiety.
In due time they rode into the SOM
Der solitudes Of Ganlook gap and up
to the witch's glen. Here Mr.. Hobbs
baked. He refused to adventure far
Their than the mouth OF the stony ra-
vine Truxton approached the howell
alone, without the slightest trepsla-
ton. The goose herd grandson was
driving a flock of geese across the
green bowl below the cabin. The
American called out to him. and mo-
ment later the youth, considerably eX-
cited, drove his geese up to the door.
While they We're vainly haranguing
each other the old woman appeared.
Uttering shrill EXPLANATIONS. she hur-
ried down to confront King with blaz-
ing eyes. Her horrid grin Of derision
brought a flush to his cheek.
"Ill lay you a hundred @avvos that
the kettle and smoke experiment is a
fake of the worst Sort" he announced.
"Have it your own way-have 1t
your own way" she cackled.
Tell you what I'll do-if 1 can't ex-
pose that trick in ten minutes I'll
make you a present of hundred CAV
vos'
She took him up like a fash. fact
which startled and disconcerted him
not little. Her very eagerness au
cured i'll for his proposition.
With a low, hooking bow the shriv'
eled bag stood aside and motioned
for him to precede her into the howell
"a hundred gavvos is a fortune not
| easily to be won,' said the old dame
How can l be sure that you will pay
me if you lose?''
ut Is in my pocket, madam. II
don't pay, you may instruct your ex
| cellent grandson to crack me over the
head. He looks as though he'd do Il
for a good deal less money, III say
that for him."
He is honest-as honest as hi:
grandmother" cried the old woman
She bestowed a toOthless grin upoI
him. Now, what IS it you want t.
do"
Il want to go through that kitchen,
| Just to satisfy myself of one or two
things" King was looking hard at
| the crack in the kitchen door. Sud
denly he started as if shot
The staring, burning eye was again
looking straight at him from the jag
ged crack il the door!
I'll get wa this time" he shouted
crossing the room in two eager leaps
The door in his violent clutch swung
open with bang.
The owner Of that mocking, phan
tom eye was gone.
Like frantic dog, Truxton dashed
about the little kitchen. looking il
every corner, every crack, for signs o
the thing he chased. The cid woman
was standing in the middle of TIL
outer room, grinning at him with gen
uine malevolence.
"Ha, ha." she croaked You fool
You fool, Search. Smell him out. A
the good it will do you. Ha. ha.'
by CAD. will get at the bottom O
this" shouted Truxton. stubborn rag
possessing him. There's some on
here. and l know il. I'm not such
fool as to believe Say. What's that
The ceiling. By the eternal. that scrap
ing noise explains il. There's vLer
the secret trapdoor is-in the ceiling
Within arms reach, at that. Waite
me. old woman
The bag was standing in the aitche
door now. still grinning eviiiy. Sh
watched the eager young man poun
upon the low ceiling with a three leg
ged stool that he had seized from III
| floor
He was pounding vigorously on tn
roughly boarded ceiling when tn
sharp voice Of the old woman, raise
in command, caused him to lower Ii