The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-04-10

Big Reus eyes frightened
"I believe you're after that shawl"
Fluid sell IT." And she glanced across At the
sleeping man with vlndictiye hatred
Take IT, urged Big Ben, rising III Flub sells It
tell me" He picked up the shawl and clumsiy
threw It around the wOman's shoulders. She looked
down at the shaw and toyed with It's long delicate
fringe. She took It on slowly and gave 1t back to
the man.
Nothing doing she sadly decided then she slow.
y turned and looked at her husband and walked
away. There a sofenlng IN Big Ben's eyes as
she walked away aud then he too glanced at the
sleeping Flub lie stroled to the door and came
baok. suddenly he stopped The CLEAN OF some
thing yellow had caught his gaze He walked close
aud bent low. He pulled the cigarette holder ont
far enough to Identify It and pushed 1t back then
he gave the sleeper a kick
Get up, you their be roared-
FIub sprang up, dazed
Whats thatT
81 said get up, you thlefT roared Big Ben lean
Jake abruptly stopped snoring and jumped up He
WAS halfway to the ladder before he realized that
this was not raid, and June divning his inten-
uon, swiftly aud put her hands the loose
clapboards " the roof Ben Jerked the cigarette
holder from Flubs pocket You stole itr'
"Ah. no. Benr' protested tho n wasn't
out Of the house i've minutes. Flub asleep
back"
Flub seemed dazed by the accusation, but sudden
ly he let out yell Mechanically he had reached
I'm his vest pocket as was his habit when the
chamOis bag there, and had discovered his loss
My diamond he yelled TITS goneT And his
face turned white as he looked around the tense
group Slowly comprehension came to him. you
framed me" he suddenly shouted, pointing trem-
bling finger at Big Ben. You copped my diamond;
haI.N
could
You're a uarr' beloved Big Ben and sprang for
his accuser
knife cleaned In Fub's hand, and he slashed
sayagely at his onrushing opponent With a roar
Of rage Big Ben caught the descending wrist, wrest
ed the weapon from II and plunged It to the hilt in
FluDs breast!
There was piercing shrek from the attic and
tearing Of boards. The woman, quick Of mind as
she Of body the first to comprehend what
that might She sprang to the ladder, but as
she went she cast backward glance at the lifeless
man on the floor. There was no shudder in her
only cold triumph.
IT'S a girl She's on the roof" cried the woman
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 was the who
caught her.
Let me gor lmpored June 81 won't tell"
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 he looked lnqur-
ngly at the others.
Drown her" advised Lean Jake, who was more
full OF fear than thief should be. "She knows too
much"
All three Of them looked at the water 1t spread
h.tN Ita tvan
and long without a 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 june piercing
shrieks and down the channel from the inlet swift
ly sped the little cutter, with Orin Cunningham at
the wheel revolver IN hand
Hands upr' yelled a strong voice and another
shot startled the air Of the marshes Gilbert Blyel
He stood up I'm his racer and over the wheel bent
heavy Edwards, his eyes narrowed and his Thick
lips firmly set
Big Ben had dropped June at the first shot and
had reached for his revolver Lean Jake had dropped
nat on the ground behind bOwlder but before Big
Ben could return the fire Of the oncoming boats
from the Hlarity he was confused by shot from
another quarter and through the reeds OF the marsh
there pushed narrow steel gray motorbOat, In
which stood a tall with q soft hat and loose
ly knOtted cravat
A stranger And he was TO the helpless
June than her pursuers from the Hnarityl She ran
toward him like a deer, and as his driver drew close
inshore June sprang into the boat
Hurry" she cried please hurryr'
The man. evidently an artist, from the canvases
and folding easel In his boat followed her terrified
gaze as she glanced back, her terror divided be
tween the murderers on the island and the men In
the boats The artist lowered June TO a seat beside
him, and with a word to the driver, they darted
away toward the channel A shot whiHzed over
their heads they started and shot after shot re
sounded from the upper channel
The man with the white mustache paid no atten.
tlOn to Big Ben he steered his swift little cutter
around the island and struck into the lower channel
after the artist and the beautiful young girl who
had escaped from the attic Nor did the man with
the black Vsndyke waste any time upon the aston
ished thieves AZ his boat too, whlEzed around the
curve Lean Jake raised Mp from behind his bowder
as the boat shot by, and the three-Babe Big Ben
and Jake-looked at each other in bewderment.
Another boat came swishing down past the island.
It was driven by II blazing eyed little chauffeur with
tiny mustache. and he was shouting at the top OF
his voice Behind him sat stifiy woman with
high cheek bones and a wilderness Of gums and
she too, was shouting
'voilal vollal voiar'
Another boat In It we're two men and a woman,
the driver a plump faced little man with deep con
cern upon his brow, the woman hysterlcal and the
other man with his teeth and fists cunched
For ten minutes Babe and Big Ben and Lean Jake
stood there In dumb stupefacton waiting for an.
other boat
Tro BE coNrINuEDl
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