The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-06-03
Runaway June
CONTINUED from Second Page)

"What?''
No answer. The man was still SOUND
asleep The woman stood over him 70
awhile TO make sure of this and started
for the ladder again Halfway acros.
the room she hesitated. turned. waIke(
swiftly 10 the end OF the hut and hiC
the little chamois bag beneath a loost
stone behind the stove.
She was putting away the last OF the
dishes when suddenly she stopped
turned and a slow smile spread upoI
her lips. Her eyes burned with a som
Der fire She went over TO Big BeI
and deftly secured a long. slender
cigarette holder. She crossed swiftly
10 her husband and inserted the holder
In his top vest pocket. so that Its
shining tip protruded- The water cash
stood by Big Ben's head With q
CLEAN In her eye the woman went
over. filed the rusty tin cup and de-
Hberately poured a fourth OF its con
tents over Big Ben's face.
Excuse me-" she laughed as be
jumped up and with the same motion
jerked a revolver from his pocket.
He grinned at her sheepishly as be
saw the sparkle OF mischief in her eye,
and he wiped his face with his sleeve.
you done il o. purpose" he speculat-
ed. chuckling.
Think so?' she dimpled
Big Ben's eyes frightened
81 believe you're after that shawl"
Fluid sell it" And she glanced
across at the sleeping man with vim
dictiye hatred.
''Take it. urged Big Ben. land If
Flub sells il tell me-" He picked up the
shawl and clumsily threw it around
the woman's shoulders She looked
down at the shawl and toyed with its
long. delicate fringe. She took IL OF
slowly and gave il back TO the man.
Nothing doing" she sadly decided:
then she slowly turned and looked at
her husband and walked away. There
was a softening I'm Big Ben's eyes as
she walked away. and then he. too.
glanced at the sleeping Flub He stroll
ed TO the door and came back. Sudden
~ he stopped. The CLEAN OF something
yellow had caught his gaze. He walked
close and bent low He pulled the Gig
arctic holder out far enough TO identify
Il and pushed II hack: then he gave the
sleeper n kick.
"Get up. you thlef!s he roared.
Flub sprang up, dazed-
whats thatT'
II said get up. you thiefr' roared Big
Ben as lean Jake abruptly stopped
snoring and jumped mp. He was half
way to the ladder before he realized
that this was not raid. and June. d.
vining his intention. rose swiftly and
put her hands on the loose clapboards
Of the roof. Ben jerked the cigarette
holder from FLUIDS pocket "You stole
itP'
Flub seemed dazed by the accusation.
but suddenly he let out a yell Me-
chanically he had reached I'm his vest
pocket. as was his habit when the
chamois bag was there. and had discov-
cred his loss.
MY diamondr' he yelled Its
gone" And his face turned white as
be looked around the tense group
Slowly comprehension came to him
You framed mer he suddenly shout
ed. pointing n trembling finger at Big
Ben You COPIED my diamond; then
you planted this cigarette holder so
you could
You're n liarr beloved Big Ben
and sprang for his accuser.
knife cleaned in FLUIDS hand. and
be slashed savagely at his onrushing
opponent With a roar OF rage Big
Ben caught the descending wrist.
wresteds the weapon from IL and plung
ed it to the hilt I'm FLUIDS breast
There was piercing shrek from
the attic and Il 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 a
backward glance at the lifeless man
on the floor. There was no shudder I'm
her. only cold triumph.
Its a girl She's on the roofE' cried
the woman "a 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 see June jump from
the roof and dart for her boat II was
the woman who caught her.
let me gor" implored June 81
won't tellT''
Those last three words would seal
her fate in the mind OF any murderous
thief Big Ben had caught her roughly
By the arm. aud now he looked in
quirinGiy 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 NJ the wa
ter. IL spread far into the marshes.
and II held its secrets well and long.
without a work Big Ben swung June
up i'm his arms and started with her TO
the waters edge. while she uttered
shrek upon shrek
A shot and then another answered
June's piercing shrieks. and down the
channel from the inlet swiftly sped the
little cutter. with Grin Cunningham at
the wheel. revolver I'm hand
Hands up,'' yelled a strong voice.
and another shot startled the air OF the
marshes. Gilbert Blye! 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 re
voIver. Lean Jake had dropped DAT
on the ground behind a bowlder. but