The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-28
CHAPTER MI.
We Rescue Mercia.

Well. met Billy and we pre-
pared for our expedition.
A good. heavy spanner." | said,
will be about my mark"
Billy rummaged In the tool-box,
selected the article In question,
and handed 1t over to me.
IF you get we'll home with
that" he observed. we shan't
have much need of a gun"
The hands OF the big clock In
the stable-yard were just point
Ing to half-past seven as we turned
out of the yard into the street.
The Hollies lies a mile and a
half outside Woodford. on the Or
bridge road. Billy halted the car
under the shelter of small plan
tation OF pine trees. about a hun
dr@i yards from the house, and
then as quietly as possible turned
her around.
She'll be all right here at the
| side,' he said, in low voice, but
we'd better leave the engine run
ming"
] nodded my approval, and 60
ing round to the back of the car.
took out q couple of pieces of
stout cord with which we had
thoughtfully provided ourselves.
Billy, meanwhile, having left
Everything ready for a flying start,
| proceeded to equip himself out OF
the tool-chest with duplicate
spanner to mine.
1t was already getting dusk, and
under cover of the thick trees we
practically said goodbye NO day
light, Billy led the way to the rear
of the house. There we found
ourselves facing small window
about two feet from the ground
The top sash was a few inches
open, and through the gap We
could see a faint glimmer of light
stealing in under the door OPP
posite. Noiselessly we lowered
the sash and climbed in.
Then, treading delicately, We
advanced toward the door. Feel
in6 about In the darkness, dis
covered latch. and the gentlest
pressure showed me that the way
was clear.
Ready, Billy?' whispered,
drawing out my revolver.
Right, oh" came the swift re-
Spouse.
] swung the door open and we
stepped out swiftly into the pas
sage. The place was as silent as
tomb. Then came the unmistak-
able clatter of dice in room off
the hall, followed a moment later
by a burst Of laughter and foul
Spanish oath. In second we had
crossed the corridor.
"Madre de Dios! I'm tired of
this. You have the luck of
SATAN"
There was the scrape of chair
as the speaker pushed back his
seat.
Billy's hand was on the door
knob.
Ready, Jack?" he whispered.
/ nodded.
There was a crash, CLEAN of
light, and side by side we hurled
ourselves into the room.
About what happened next l
shall always be O bit confused. |
recollect seeing a man in front of
me--a big, dark fellow, his face
wild with amazement and terror.
Then / suppose must have flung
my spanner, for his face seemed
suddenly to double up, and he
went backwards across the table
with an ear-splitting shrek.
AS / leaped forward, | had a
vision OF Billy battering some
body's head against the wall, and
the next thing | knew was that /
was kneeling on the floor with a
moaning, bloodstained object
writing feebly in my grip.
A few quick turns of the cord
which had whipped out Of my
pocket, and l rose to my feet
again, painting and exultant.
Billy's voice, cheerful and cool
as ever, rang out across the room.
"Well done, Jack! Now come
and give us hand with this lot"
A brief scuffle, and our second