Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-11-27

else laid down the rules; it was
the way In which they were inter-
preted.
Braine heard of the failure. The
Black Hundred was finding its stock
far below par value. Four valuable
men locked up In the Tombs await
ing trial. to say nothing of the even
gunner gathered in at the old ware
house. Braine began to suspect that
his failures were less due to chance
than to calculation. that at last he
had encountered a mind which anti
cipated his every move. He would
have recognized this fact earlier had
it not been that revenge had temporar-
lily blinded him. The spirit of revenge
ever makes for mental clarity.
There was q meeting that night of
the Black Hundred. Four men were
told off, and they drew their chairs up
to Vroon's table for instructions.
Braine sat at Vroon's elbow. These
four men composed the most danger
ous quartet in New York city. They
we're as daring as they were desper-
ate. They were the men who held up
bank messengers and got away with
thousands. They had learned to swoop
down upon their victims as the hawk
swoops down upon the heron. The
newspapers referred to them as the
auto bandits" and the men took a
deal of pride In the furore they had
created.
Vrcon went over the Hargreaye
case infinitely; he left no detail IN
explained. Bluntly and frankly. the
daughter of Stanley Hargreaye must
be caught and turned over to the care
Of the Black Hundred. 1t must be
quick action. -Four valuable members
were in the Tombs. They might or
might not weaken under pressure. For
the first time in its American career
the organization stood facing actual
peril; and its n possible chance of
salvation lay in the fact that no ones
face was known to his neighbor. He,
Vroon, and the boss alone knew who
and what each man was. But the
! plans. the r~amiications of the organ
ization might become public property;
and that would mean an end to an
exceedingly profitable business.
The daughter Of H~argreaye rode
horseback early every morning. She
sought the country road. She was in
variably attended by the riding mas
ter of a school near by.
You four viii make your own
plans"
IF she should be injured?s
avoid it if possible"
We have a free hand?"
Absolutely"
We risk a bad fall from her horse
If it's a spirited one"
Pretend a breakdown in the road"
interpolated Braine. sAs they ap
approach, draw and order them to dis
mount. That method will prevent any
accident
Wen plan it somehow 1t looks
easy"
Nothing is easy where that girl
is concerned. A thousand eyes seem
to be watching her slightest move"
We shan't leave anything to
chance. How many days win YOU
give us?'
Seven. A failure, mind you, will
prove unhealthy to all concerned
with a menace which made the four
stir uneasily.
The telephone rang. Braine reached
for the receiver.
"A man just entered the H~atgreaTe
house at the rear. Come at oRce.A
was the message.
is your car outsider" Braine asked
We are never without it"
Then let US be OFT No one vii
stop us for speeding on a side street
Fourteen minutes by the CLOCK
brought the car to a stand at the curb
q few houses below the R~argreaye
home The men got out. Tie watch
er ran up.
He is still inside he whispered.
Good! Spread out. If anyone
leaves that house, catch him. II he
runs too fast, shoot. We can beat
the police"
The man obeyed, and the wytcheI
an back to his post. He was des
perately hoping the affair would ter
inmate tonight. He was growing
weary Of this eternal vigilance. and il
was only his fear of the man known
as the boss that kept him at his post
He wanted a night to 0 in. tt
be with the boys.
The man for whom they were lyinl
in wait was seen presently to creeI
cautiously round the side of the house
He hinged a corner and paused. The,
could see the dim outline of his body
The light in the street back of tn,
grounds almost made a silhouette o
him. BY and by, as if assured tina
the coast was clear, he stole down Il
the street.
Halt"
Instantly the prowler took to hi
heels. Two shots rang out. The mai
was seen to stop, stagger, and then g
SA 0OoPCA
Hes hit!"
By the time the men reached tn,
corner they heard the rumble of
motor. One dashed back to the ca
they had left standing at the curb. H
made quick work of the job. but b
was not quick enough. Still, they CAV
chase. They saw the car turn towar'
the city. But, unfortunately for tn
success of the chase, several automc
biles passed, going into town and leas
ing 1t. Checkmate.
Braine was keen enough tonight.
He is hit; whether badly or not n
mains to be seen. We can find tina
out. Drive to the nearest drug stor
and get a list of hospitals. It's a te
to one shot that we land him some
where among the hospitals"
But they searched the hospitals i
vain. None of them had that night re
ceived a shooting case, nor had the
heard n reported. The man ha
been Enthusiastically hit. He would nc