The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-01
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Horace Haxeltine


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That which ensued was coincidept.
AS though the step had been prear-
ranged. the three actors moved In con-
cert The hand which held the weap-
ON advanced a dozen inches or more.
Synchronously my foot. lifted with all
the accuracy and power of my under
graduate football days. met the intrud-
Ing revolver and sent II spinning
against the vehicles upholstered top.
simultaneously. Evelyn screamed. And
even as her voice rang out, high and
snrill; even as that lsthal object of
cnil[hardened steel spun upward, the
Hight was switched suddenly of and
we were In grumous darkness.
IL was she who, pressing the button
at her side. had dropped over us this
mantle OF invisibility no less obscur-
Ing than the tabled Hell Keplein: and
it was she, too. who now opened the
other door OF the brougham, and with
murmured: Comet Hurry!" drew
me after her into the I-ead uncertain
~ OF an environment or which we
knew nothing.
The gloom without was scarcely less
thick than that within. OF my five
senses. therefore. all keenly alert, that
or sight told me nothing: but my ears
and nostrils. aided and abetted by
my perception Of sodden planking be-
meath my feet, informed me that we
had alighted In a stable. The sound
on pounding hoofs echoed from near.
by stalls and unmistakable EQUINE
odors were strongly pervasive.
Upon my hearing there fell. too. as
We ned. the high-pleched nasal cackle
or excited and perplexed celestials.
whose eyes. dazzled by the brougham's
lamps. failed to follow us into that OBJ
scrrfty which lay in the wake OF the
conveyance. and through which, hand
IN hand. Evelyn and l crept crouch
fngly toward the street, our hearts
hammering but our breathing smoth-
cred lest II betray our whereabouts
and prscipitate pursuit,
II In our fond fancy we expected
an unimpoded way, however, our ex-
pectatons were not realized. Where
the darkness was densest there rose
an obstruction. From out OF the black
a pair OF arms encircled me-a pair of
arms. long. sineWy and muscular,
which tishtened about me with a sud-
den vise-likke pre"sue. holding me pow
erless. My hold Of Evelyn's hand was
thus abruptly sundered, and though
sue could not see. she sensed the en-
counter. Once more she screamed.
High and shrill her young voice rose
above the noise OF the stamping horses
and the quantity strident chatter OF
the confused Mongolians. II was not
30 much a mere cry OF alright as II
was an appeal for help. And II met
with surprisingly prompt response.
Before its echo had died, the double
sliding doors which separated our
stable dungeon from the sidewalk
were swept swiftly apart. admitting
the revealing CLEAN from street
lamp across the way, and admitting.
too. the husky. commanding figure Of
man with raised revolver. followed
by a mob OF nesShborhood denizens
attracted by the unusual and excited
by the girls penetrating vociferation.
Quickly as / had been seized. even
more quickly was released. The en-
circling arms fell away instantly. and
the giant who had held me turned
with an oath OF defiance and confront.
ed the Invaders. In both oath and at.
utude there was a reminder OF some
thing heard and seen before; and
treading upon the heels OF reminder
came recognition. II was Philetus
Murphy, red and burly. who now tow.
cred menacingly above our armed
savior. IL was Philetus Murphy who,
swinging viclously for his adversary's
Jaw. staggered back the same instant.
his arm dropping and bullet in his
shoulder.
For moment following the shot
there was dead silence. Then came
pandemonium. Tie mob. already aug.
mented from a score 10 hundred.
surged into the stable as a spring flood
surges over broken dams. With Eve
lyn In a corner behind me | fought
on the crowding. believing throng,
while Murphy lay groaning at our feet.
and his assailant. who, when once his
face met the light. | discovered was
O'Hara, my own detective. smashed
heads right and left with the butt OF
his revolver, and hoarsely commanded
room for his fallen enemy
What might have happened, what
fatalities might have ensued. had II
not been for the fortuitous arrival of
three uniformed members OF the met
ropolltan police force shall not at.
tempt 90 conjecture. Their clubs. |
know did Enna snrrlnn. md ~ nhnt