The Cairo bulletin., 1912-07-17

a hero. Nevertheless. there was
something so mysterious about this
proving figure that Bobby decided
to watch him for a moment and,
lin order to do this safely, he moved
back quietly to point where the
deeper gloom would shield him from
observation.
| who could the fellow be, AMI
what was be doing at this time OF
the evening on Leveee street with q
big heavy bag, and why did he ad-
iyance so cautiously" We're some OF
/ the thoughts that chased through
| the mind of Bobby Harmon.
| The man came onward He was
a big fellow and Bob was horrifee
to perceive that he held a long.
| cleaning knife between his teeth
| Bob wanted to fee, but fear and a
| peculisr fascination held him chain
ed to the spot, He heard the boom
| ing, snorting signal of the excursion
steamer as she swung over in hc1
| wide circle but he was powerless to
leave now for the man had Chamber
ed up an iron light post and was
erouching on the sidewalk not TWEEN
| ty feet from where Bob sat in dark.
ness.
'Ha, ha," chuckled the man as he
| placed his hands gloatingly upon h,5
treasure, who said it couldn't b.
done? Who said that old Rodger
couldn't get away with the goods
| shall win, and forever live il
peace. This bag of --'
But at this moment there was an
! interruption. Three men came run
ming into the open area so recently
, trayersed by the man with the sach
They paused for moment in the
center of the low space and began
pointing toward the figure on the
walk Jld jesturing and exclaiminS
among themselves A the same in
slant the light from the steamer was
switched on Bobby and the fugitive
and they could see each other as
plainly as in the day time.
Curse you, AIT" yelled the man
who had just called himself Rodger
and catching up his bag. he ran out
slantingly across the tracks, threw
his treasure over the levee wall and
vaulted after it,
BY this timee the three men in
the low space were clambering up on
the edge of the sidewalk and Bobby
began to take his first really active
part in the mysterious drama.
Without knowing why he dad so.
or what prompted the impulse he
ran out in front Of the three men
and waved his arms.
"Stand back he yelled and
smashed one OF them under the jaw
with his fist.
The fellow went backwards into
the area and all three took TO their
heels.
Somewhat taken aback by this
sudden turn but glad he was free of
them so that he could see after
the man with the sack, Bobby ran to.
the wall and looked over
Rodger had leaped into a boa
and was now rowing franticaily
past the steamer.
Then Bobby saw sight that turn
ed him absolutely dizzy. His sweet
heart, Sophia Collins, gave a cry
threw herself from the rail where
she had been standing as the biz
steamer prepared to make the wharf
and landed squarely in the boat be
side the man with the sack, crying
out; ooh, Rodger, Rodger, what Is
the mater?"
Now Bobby didn't know. nor care
much, whether he were awake Of
dreaming. He was so busy he
couldn't decide just now anyway foe
three fellows came tearing down
over the Ieyee toward the water and
Bobby took after them as Tast as he
could go. He figured that if Miss
Collins was a friends Of Rodger, then
old RodGer should have another
friend in Bobby Harmon il Rodger
was the old Nick himself Later he
would see what about this RodgeG
business.
Hello. you in the boat there
yelled one Of the three men Come
back here or take the consequences"
Go to blazes! don't want your
old consequences, replied Rodger.
still rowing as fast as he could.
Bang! Bang! Bang! went three
revolvers. Wy
Here you big NUTS" shrieked
Bobby. Don't you see there's a
girl in the boat? DO you want to