Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-10-26

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not yet occurred to him that the mer
who were pursuing would hardly be
likely to call in municipal aid in their
search. lest their ownsduplicity would
be discovered. He reasoned that he
was dealing with desperate men who
would stop at nothing to get back the
original cipher paper. and stop his
death would be considered a sufficient
silencer for him after what he had seen
at Mr.. Holman's dinner table, for the
evidence he could give would involve
the honor of every man who had sal
there. He saw in a flash that the two
henchmen whom he was sure were ever
now riding in the car on his right had
silencing him II he showed any signs
of giving trouble. The wonder was that
any Of them dared call in a stranger
OF a matter of such grave import,
which meant ruin to them all il they
were found out, but probably they had
reasoned that every man had his price
and had intended to offer him a share
of the booty. 1t was likely that the
chief had caused it to be understood by
them that he was the right kind of man
for their purpose. Yet, of course, they
had taken precautions, and now they
had him well caught, an auto OF one
side, a motorcycle on the other, and nc
telling how many more behind! He had
been q fool to get into this carriage. He
might have known it would only trap
him to his death. There seemed abso-
lutely no chance for escape now-yet
he must fight to the last. He put his
hand on his revolver to make sure 1t
was easy to get at, tried to think
whether it would not be better to chew
up n swallow that cipher message
rather than to run the risk of it's fall
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decided that he must carry 1t intact to
his chief If possible; and finally that he
must make a dash for safety at once,
when just then the carriage turned
briskly into a wide driveway, and the
attendant auto and motorcycle dropped
behind as IL puzzled at the move. The
carriage stopped short and 3 bright
light from an open doorway was
flung into his face. There seemed to
be high stone walls on one side and the
lighted doorway on the other hand evil
IDENTIFY led into a great stone building.
He could hear the putting Of the car
and cycle just behind. A wild notion
that the carriage had been placed in
front OF the house to trap him In a S
he tried to escape. and that he had been
brought to prison. fitted through his
maud.
His hand was on his revolver as the
coachman jumped down to fling open
the carriage door. for he intended to
fight for his liberty to the last.
He glanced back through the carriage
window, and the lights of the auto
glared In his face. The short, thick set
man was getting out Of the car, and the
motorcyclist had stood his machine UP
against the wall and was coming to-
ward the carriage. Escape was going
to be practically impossible. A wild
thought Of dashing out the opposite
door OF his carriage. boldly selling the
motorcycle and making off on 1t passed
through his mind, and then the door
on his left was flung open and the
carriage vas Immediately surrounded
by six excited men in evening dress, all
talking at once. Here you are at
last!" they chorused.
Where is the best MANI" shouted
some one from the doorway. Hasn't
he come. either2" And as If in answer
n Of the men by the carriage door
wheeled and called excitedly: Eyes,
he's come! Tell him-tell Jeff-tell
him he's come" Then turning once
arm and cried: Come on quickly!
There isn't a minute to wait. The or
ganist is fairly frantic. Everybody has
been just as v as could be. We
couldn't very well go on without you
you know. But don't let that worry
you. It's all right now you've come.
Forget it, old man, and hustle" Dimly
subdued hubbub that an organ was
playing. and even as he listened 1t
burst into the joyous notes of the we'd
ding march. 1t dawned upon him that
this was not a prison to which he had
come but a church-not a court room
but a wedding, and, horror of horrors!
they took him for the best man. His
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was he to get gu of this scrape? And
with his pursuers just behind!
LET mo explain he began, and
wondered what he could explain.
There's no time for explanations
now, man. I tell you the organ has
begun the march. We're expected to
be marching down that middle aisle
this very minute n Jeff is waiting
for us In the chapel. I sent the signal
list the minute we sighted you. Come
on! Everybody knows your BOAT was
late in coming in. You don't need to
explain a thing till afterwards"
At that moment one of the ushers
moved aside and the short, thick set
man stepped between. the light shin
ing fully upon his face, and Gordon
knew him positively for the mar who
had sat opposite him at the table a few
minutes before. He was peering
eagerly into the carriage door and Cor
don saw his only escape was into the
church. With his heart pounding like
a trip hammer he yielded himself to
the six ushers, who swept the little
pursuer aside as II he had been a fly
and literally bore Gordon up the steps
and into the church door.
A burst Of music filled his senses,
and dazzling lights. glimpses OF flow
ers, palms and beautiful garments be-
wildered him. His n thought was
for scape from his pursuers. Would
they follow him into the church and
drag him out In the presence Of all
these people. or would they be thrown
off the track for a little while and
give him opportunity yet to get away?
He looked round wildly for a place
of exit. but he was In the hands of
the insistent ushers. One Of them
chartered to him in a low, growing
whisper, such Is men use on solemn
occasion:
at must have been rough on you,
being anxious like this about GETTING
here. but never mind now It'n go all
right. Come on. Here's your cue and
there stands Jefferson over there. You
and he go In with the minister. YOU
know. The groom and the best man
o understand. they'll tell you when.
Jeff has the ring, all right, SO you
won't need to bother about that.
There's absolutely nothing for you to
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