Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-12-05
By Harry King 1ooth
Copyrlsh. by A c. ncclurg O.. Co, 1919

Illustrations by Ray Walters
q q

SSkSaahNh ~ n 49,
/ had no means OF knowing how serious
this was, and naturally came 10 the
conclusion that II Was a death wound.
There was only one thing to do get
a physician.
As she started to her feet she heard
two men running down the stairs and
making a search from room to room
on her floor. These must be the men
who had attacked him, She could not
let him fall into their hands. and there
fore she could not leave him to 10 for
aid The impotence Of her position
made her feel Ike screaming to relieve
the nervous strain.
What do you know about this?
How did he come here? What has
happened to him."
q dunno" answered tho woman
There's somcthin' dom all the time
in this dump"
A sudden knock at the bolted door
chilled Gloria with terror.
whats that" she whispered.
"Somebody's at the door," replied
Little Ella, in the same low tone. This
fact was obvious.
THEY can't come ln," Gloria contin-
ued.
Again came the knocking, louder
and more inBistent.
u can't let anything happen to him."
murmured the unhappy girl in agony,
remembering how the day before she
had demanded that he be punished.
Joe, Joe, what does 1t all mean"
But Wright made no lnswer. He lay
like a log AZ the gir' 10 had loved bent
over him, wiped re blood from his
face, and brushed back his disheveled
hair.
With the next knock came the voice
OF a man demanding entrance.
ELLA, Ella, open this door"
Gloria rushed over to the bed.
Tell him you can't get out Of bed"
she implored in a whisper. Tell him
there's nobody here"
u cant git out o bed. There's no.
body here Little Ella called.
This answer did not pacify the man.
That's a lie" he shouted. There's
somebody In there or the door wouldn't
be locked. Open this door, do you
hear me, or I'll bust 1t down"
Tho tone Of his voice made Gloria
feel that he would make good his
There in the center Of the
In full view lay the man whom
were seeking. Once they burst
the single barrier they would be upon
him, to do what further harm she
knew not. 1t might be that he was
already beyond all human aid. He
still b%reathed, however. and Gloria
was willing to fight If there was even
only II chance In his favor. Hence
it would not do for them to find him
the minute they broke down the door.
She must hide him somewhere to give
her time to parley with his assailants.
She looked vainly about for some
place to put him.
For Gods sake, help me hide him."
she beseeched. 81 cant give him up.
Where does that door lead TOT" She
pointed to the door close by the one
which led into the hall.
That's only a closet under the
stairway" was Little Elias whispered
explanation. They'd find him there
in a minute
You wouldn't let them kill him,
would you?'
II can't help you, I'm so weak |
a hardly turn over In bed"
open this door, l say" came from
the man without as he pounded on
the door ominously, 'or I'll crack you
owe the head"
Gloria understood that there was
no time to temporize. She must do
something and that quickly. Close
by where she stood next the bed, and
on the side away from the door, was
Little Elias trunk. Behind 1t on
hooks hung a number of garments,
and on a chair were more clothes. 1t
was the only chance and Gloria took II.
How she ever managed to get him,
a dead weight, aCross the intervening
space and safely slowed behind the
trunk she never knew. She dragged,
she hauled, she pulled, she rolled, and
the forlorn hope that she would save
him yet gave her strength, AS she
snatched skirts from the hooks and
all the clothing from the chair to pile
upon him, the pounding upon the door
became more and more vindictive.
The girl was out of breath, but as she
bent yer the PROSTATE form Of the
man she loved, she managed to gasp:
Joe. listen to me. II you can hear
me, dear, listen, Don't stir. don't you
hear me, joe" But he was deaf to
all entreaties, Seeing this was so,
she turned to Little Ella; Get him
to go away, Offer him aething, prom
Use him anything. I'll do it: only keep
that nan on the other side of that
door"
There's at least two of EN-"
THAT doesn't matter-a thousand