East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-05-12

believe you're hAkeh tuhA hhNNA
"FIubd sell IT." And she glanced acToss at te
sleeping man with vindicti7e hatred.
"Take it, urged Big Ben, rising. III Flub sells i
tell me-" He picked up the shawl and elumsily
threw It around the woman's shoulders She looked
down at the shawl and toyed with It's long, delicate
fringe She took It Of slowly and gave It back to
the man.
"Nothlng doing" she sadly decided; then she slow.
ly turned and looked at her husband and walked
away. There was softening in Big Bens eyes as
she walked away, and then he too, glanced at the
sleeping Flub. He strolled to the door and came
back. Suddenly he stopped. The CLEAN OF some
thing yellow had caught bis gaze. He walked close
and bent low. He pulled the cigarette holder out
far enough to identify It and pushed II back then
be gave the sleeper a kick
"Get up, you thief" he roared.
Flub sprang up, dazed
whats thatT
II said get up, you thiefF' roared Big Ben as lean
Jake abruptly stopped snoring and jumped up. he
was halfway to the ladder before be realized thas
this was not a raid, and June, divining his inten-
ton, rose swiftly and put her hands on the loose
clapboards Of the roof Ben ierked the cigarette
holder from Flubs pocket "You stole itP'
"Ah, no. Ben" protested the woman ! wasn't
ont Of the house Eve minutes. FIub asleep
when went out, and he was asleep when come
back"
Fiub seemed dazed by the accusation, but sudden
ly he let out yell Mechanically he had reached
in his vest pocket was his habit when the
chamols bag was there and bad discovered his loss
"Ny diamondr be yelled TITS goneF' And his
face turned white as he looked around the tense
group. Slowly comprehension came to him You
framed meF' be suddenly shouted, pointing trem-
bling finger at Big Ben. "You copped my diamond
then you planted this cigarette holder 50 you
could
you're narF beloved Big Ben and sprang for
bis accuser
A knife cleaned IN FluO's hand, and he slashed
savagely at his onrushing opponent With roar
Of rage Big Ben caught the descending wrist, wrest-
ed the weapon from 1t and plunged It to the hit ID
Flub's breast!
There was piercing shrek from the attic and
tearing Of boards. The woman, quick Of mind as
she was Of body, was the first to comprehend what
that might mean She sprang to the ladder. but as
she went she cast backward glance at the hfeless
man on the floor. There was no shudder In her.
only cold triumph.
"Irs GIRL She's on the roofF' cried the woman
as she gained the attic
Lean Jake was the first out OF the door and Big
Ben Just after him. They rounded the corner Of
the hut Just in time to June jump from the roof
and dart for her boat II the woman who
caught her.
"Let me gow lmpored June 81 won't teIlF
Those last three words would seal her fate In the
mind of any murderous thief Big Ben had caught
her roughly by the arm. and now be looked inquir
ingly at the others.
'Drown her." advised Lean Jake. who was more
full of fear than a thief should be- "She knows too
much"
All three Of them looked at the water. II spread
far into the marshes, and It held its secrets well
and long without word Big Ben swung June up
in his arms and started with her to the waters
edge while she uttered shrek upon shrek.
A shot and then another answered Junes piercing
shrieks. and down the channel from the inlet swift
lv sped the little cutter, with 0rin Cunningham at
the wheel, revolver In handl
Hands upr' yelled a strong voice, and another
shot startled the air Of the marshes. Gilbert Byel
He stood up in his racer, aud over the wheel bent
heavy Edwards. his eyes narrowed and bis thick
lips firmly set.
Big Ben had dropped June at the FIRST shot and
had reached for his revolver Lean Jake had dropped
fat on the ground behind bowlder, but before Big
Rem could return the fire OF the oncoming boats
from the Hiarty be was confused by shot from
another quarter and through the reeds OF the marsh
there pushed narrow steel gray motorboat ~
which stood a tall man with soft hat and loose
" knotted cravat
A stranger And be was nearer to the helpless
June than her pursuers from the Hilarity She ran
toward him Ike deer duu as us ulINet NS" N'N'N
inshore June sprang into the boat
"HurryI" she cried "Please hurryT
The man. evidently an artist. from the canyases
and folding easel In his boat followed her terrified
gaze as she glanced back, her terror divided De-
tween the murderers on the island and the men 10
the boats The artist lowered June to seat beside
him. and with word to the driver, they dartei
away toward the channel shot whzzed over
their beads as they started, and shot after shot re-
sounded from the upper channel
The man with the white mustache paid no alton
ton to Big Ben he steered his swift little cutler
around the island and struck into the lower channel
after the artist aud the beautiful young girl who
had escaped from the attic Nor did the man With
the black Vandyke waste any time upon the aston
ished thieves as bis boat too whizzcd around the
curve. Lean Jake raised up from behind his bowlder
as the boat shot by and the three-Bahc. Big Ben
and Jake-looked at each other In bewllderment
Another boat came swishlng down past the Island
Il was driven by blazing eyed little chauffeur with
tiny mustache. and he was shouting at the top u
his voice Behind him sat stify a won'an with
high cheek bones and a wilderness u gums and
she too. was shouting:
"vola VOLTA! Voila!'
Another boat 10 Il were two men and woman
the driver a plump faced little man With deep con
ceru upon his brow. the woman hysterIcal and tbs
other man With bis teeth aud Gsts cnched
For ten minutes Babe and Big Ben and Lean Jake
stood there IN dumb stupefucton. waiting Tor an
ofhpr hont