Mexico Missouri message., 1915-03-25
EENT's LAST THROW
By az pEAN RICHMOND.


sure of nerve, just as certain persons
were born with some predominatfng
skill, his lay In accuracy OF aim. No
one had ever excelled him in throwing
bean bag, or in duck-on-the-rock,
or at quoits. Later on he became the
champion pitcher of the local baseball
team. He did not make a profession
or trade of 1t, but he could knock an
apple of tree branch with a pebble
every time. He threw a bouquet
straight into the arms of pretty Lima
Wentworth when she graduated and
that led to their rare and charming
love romance.
OF late Kent had got to throwing
something else-dice, at the village
billiard hall. This had led to his asso-
ciating with a pretty rapid crowd.
Among them was q prohigate ldler
with plenty of money named Harper
Winston. If Kent had analysed affairs
he would have found that Winston
was scheming to discredit him with
Lima so as to win her for himself.
Two nights previous down at the
billiard hall Winston had introduced
Kent and his friends to a city friend.
Mr. Halpin he called him. They had
drank considerable and Kent escorted
Halpin to the hotel, The next morn
ing a friend of Kent came to him and
told him that Halpin had lost dia-
mond ring and accused Kent of steal
ing 1t, as he was the last person with
him the night previous.
Things looked pretty black for Kent.
He hid in the room OF friend all that
day. He made UP his mind that Lina
would have nothing further to do with
an accused thief In a fit of despera-
ton Kent decided to leave the village
for good and started to do so at mid
night, when he saw the town marshal
approaching him.
Kent rushed down a side street out
Of sight of the marshal. Then
square farther on as he saw pedes-
trian approaching him he leaped a
fence and ran through a garden. His
overstrained fears led him to seek a
hiding place. He made out large
dog house. 1t was empty. Kent
crawled into it.
What to do next?" he painted help
| lessly. ooh, am in a terrible fix!"
AS he lay among the straw, hunt
ed fugitive, Kent reflected how his
careless habits had probably cost him
the position of his life. Two weeks
previous a friend had suggested that
he apply to the railway mail service
In the city for an appointment. Kent
did so, and wonderfully attracted the
attention and admiration Of the agent
OF the government with the accuracy
and swiftness with which he was able
to throw mail. He was advised that
his references would be looked up
and if he passed muster he would De
offered a good position. Now, an ac-
cused thief, they would scarcely con-
slider him.
Kent fell asleep. He was awakened
perhaps two hours later by the sound
of low voices. Peering out, he saw
two men, strangers to him.
Look here" one of them was say
ing, we've held up one man and loot
ed four houses. There's one more III
the block. You rest the booty and
! guard it while / see If there's anything
else worth getting. Then well go to
our automobile in the woods and
speed for the city. Well do up these
country yahooks in good style. while
we're about it."
Burglars! and their booty is in that
satchel!" breathed Kent.
One of the men disappeared. The
other set his foot on the satchel and
kept guard. A sudden impulse flashed
through the mind of Kent Marvin. He
would outwit these bold schemers.
He reached out and seized the limb
of the sentinel burglar At the same
time he initiated the snarling bark OF
a dog. Naturally the burglar was
startled and fell back.
In an instant Kent was out OF tho
dog house and on his feet. He
snatched up the satchel.
Drop that! Who are your" and the
burglar, partly recovering himself,
flashed a revolver.
Just then Kent saw a light in an
upper room of the despoiled mansion
Some one was awake there. He gave
the satehel swing. AS "a thrower"
he was at his best. 1t described an
accurate parabola curve.
Crash! bang! clatter!-through the
window it went, while Kent shouted
Justify:
"Burglars-phone for the police!'
The burglar fired at Kent. The shot
missed him. He stopped and picked
up heavy piece of wood. Again a
fling. Down went the burglar sense
less. and as his companion appeared
Kent grappled with him and held hin
till two servants came rushing from
the mansion.
His part IN recovering some $4,000
stolen booty would have helped KEN
in public estimation anyway, but dis
covery cleared him of all faint o.
crime.
The man the burglars had robbed
on the etrapt was Hnrnar Wfuatan