Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-07
THE BLUE BUCKLE

from getting too close to the window-to
keen them at the theatrical distance
there was another stroke of genius 10
keep us all at the dramatlc-the theatrical
! distance, so VIC couldn't get too close 70
\ tell-it Is tho mark Of true genius HeI-
/ derman, but genius turned to crooked
endsw said Craig, as at last the picture
faded, leaving the eXpanse of white wall
| bare and innocent Of shadow.
! Again the woman laughed. and the
! sound seemed to rouse the betrayed man
| to surerhuman effort. As he had sat
/ there i'm the shadows his powerful arms
| had worked silently and irresistibly
| against their bonds Now he flung them
wide. and the handouts fell TO the floor
! with q clrng. Before the secret service
man could recover his balance from the
sudden shove he received Helderman was
at the door
craig sprarg at him as though he were
on the football field and tackled low. An
instant Heldcrman writhed to break him
self loose. them
"rhe dogs, Loose the dogs he yelled.
Rutherford felt his flesh grow cold, He
knew That nothing human could Withstand
the combined attack Of those two half
starved beasts urged on by their master
There was rattlng Of chains and the
next moment gaunt 1.-THE form hurtled
over the heads Of the two struggling men
on the floor A second followed and land
ed with heavy impact in the middle OF the
great white room. The two beasts paused
a moment with dropping heads. growled
inuuiringly as though seeking victimi
then they saw Craig clnging to their
master, and with a roar they charged
upon him.
"shoot! shoot They viii kill him"
cried Irene Arany, her voice raised to
shrill shrek Of horror.
Just as craig felt the hot breath of the
nearest of tho brutcs he gave a sudden
upward hcave of his arms, still tacklng
Helderman below the waist, and threw
his opponent between himself and their
attack, The beasts circlcd, snarlng, seek
ing for an opening.
"iiu them" besouEht the girl in the
balcony
CroWdcr had stood with revolver raised,
but still dared not shoot for fear of hit
ting rutherford He lifted the weapon
and fired into tho wall
The dogs whirlcd at the sound and
started toward the new assailant. Craig
released his hold and cmtched Heldcrman
around the throat.
"Call off your dogs or I'll choke your"
he shouted.
His voica distracted one of the brutos
1t turned on him again and tore his coat
half off him at the first vicious snap
of his jaws, Again he barely saved him
self by swinging the banker between him
self and the dog.
Crowder also had sprung behind tho
swaying figures for protection from the
other brute. Now he was close to Hell
derman, and he pointed the revolver, not
at the dog, but at the man.
Speak to them" he commanded
tersely. "Speak-or, by Heaven, l shoot
to kiln"
Helderman knew tho tone and obeycd.
Down, Satan Down, Lucifer!" he
cried,
y strange thing happened. The famil-
lar voice stopped them something in It
seemed to hold them stll-for second
then they turned simultaneously and
with howls OF cXultant rage leaped
straight at the man they had once cringed
before. For now they detected a tone
of fear in his words Of command. Ielder-
man was no longer their master, and
they meant to make him pay dearly for
all the hardships they had endured at
his hands.
Craig saw them coming and darted to
one side. Helderman gave a hoarse cry
of despair. The dogs were upon him.
Crowder lifted his weapon again. He
could do no worse than the beasts would
do, If he did not interfere. He fired,
and Lucifer rolled over, pierced through
the heart. The pistol barked again.
Satan turned with n scream of rage and
Pain, and dashed at his throat. \ shot
caught the dog between the eyes,
Helderman. shaking with chill of
horror sank back against the wall. There
was not the slightest resemblance to the
arrogant, Triumphant huancier Craig
saw his weakness and instantly took ad-
vantage of It.
Il trouble you for those papers Of
MISS Ballantynes," he said. extending his
hand authoritatlvely
Without word Helderman drew the
envelope from his pocket and handed it
over Craig glanced hurriedly inside fl
to satisfy himself lie did not trust
Helderman. even now. but his precautlon
was unnecessary. Helderman was beaten.
lie could fight no mere
Comet said Crowder touching the
man on the arm, and again presenting
the handcuffs, the curtain has been rung
down on the moving picture trust. There
VIII be no more free shows up on the
Drive 10 keep some of us awake of
nights!'