The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-09-02

hinges, and through the opening came
Gunsdorf. Rage had transformed
him into a beast. 1t was fortunate
that he was unarmed.
To him it must have appeared as if
his wife had just torn herself free
from Tommy. At the threshold of the
room stood Gunsdorf's three friends,
at once menacing and abashed.
what is it?" Numbered Gunsdorf.
HE was hiding behind the door"
she said; when I'd passed into the
room, he slammed it shut and went
for me-
'Is this true?" Gunsdorf faced him
and advanced toward him, with
clenched hands.
She'll tell you next" said Tommy,
that locked the door and put the
key in my pocket"
He spoke with so much scorn and
assurance that Gunsdorf hesitated,
and turned toward his wife.
cts just what he did do she said;
che locked the door and put the key
in his pocket"
Tommy's hands dropped into the
pocket of his jacket, and his right
hand closed upon the door key. He
did not need to speak. His face
told the story. Slowly he withdrew
the key from his pocket and tossed 1t
on to the thread-bare carpet.
"This looks bad, Gunsdorf," he said;
''but If you'll listen to me :"
81 will listen to you in hell" said
Gunsdorf. Take him, boys
Gunsdorf's three friends came slow
ly forward.
They're going to kill me if they
can," thought Tommy; "and I don't
want to be killed."
He drew long breath and clenched
his fists.
Don't kill him." cried Mrs. Guns
dorf suddenly, mot yeti"
why not yet" growled Gunsdorf.
Because, you fool, if you kill him
herein my room-people will
think"
what will they think?"
"They will think-oh don't make me
say it."
Gunsdorf began to scratch the back
of his head.
"That is true" he said presently
1--WE had better take him away some
where. For now We will tie him.
When it is dark we will take him
away somewhere in a carriage. We
will take with us also a stick Of dy-
Mantle. A stick of dynamite with a
lighted fuse makes a fine gag to go
in mans mouth. It keeps him quiet
forever"
"You don't need to take him away"
said Mrs. Gunsdorf; there's a fine
strong elm tree in front of the house.
Take him downstairs, call in the boys,
and read them the telegram he's got
in his inside pocket. Nobody need
mention me-and the boys'll do the
rest. The dirty spy!"
Gunsdorf and his three friends
closed in upon Tommy from three
sides. Mrs. Gunsdorf crept stealthily
along the wall to take him in the
rear.
"Gunsdorf," said Tommy suddenly,
Gust read that telegram. You can't
hang man on that. It's from the
man who adopted me and brought me
up. We differed because I am on the
side of labor. He says he wants to see
me on important business. That
doesn't make me a spy, does it? Be
reasonable"
Ordinarily, for Gunsdorf had an in
telligent mind, he would have placed
a just value upon the telegram as evil
or hi
reason was blinded by jealous rage.
At that moment, seeing that the
affair had passed beyond reason and
debate, Tommy stepped quickly for
ward and lifted Gunsdorf clean from
the floor with a terrific right hand
blow under the point of the chin
Swift as lightning he turned and
struck the nearest of Gunsdorf's
friends between the eyes. This
cleared the way to the door, and he
sprang toward it, but only to fall
heavily on his face, for Mrs. Gunsdorf
had grappled him from behind about
the ankles.
A minute later they had overpow-
cred and tied him hand and foot.
Fifteen minutes later Tommy stood
on the top of stepladder, surround
ed by an enraged mob of men and
women who showered vile epithets
upon him.
Tommy was not frightened. He was
dazed from rough handling, and some
how he couldn't believe that they real
ly meant to hurt him. 1t was merely
an unpleasant dream from which he
would presently waken safe in bed.
1t was only very gradually that the
truth dawned on him, and. great
lump rose in his throat and pressed
against the rope which encircled it.
Yes. They were going to kill him.
He would never see Celestia again.
He heqan to think of her intentinnallY