Tensas gazette., 1916-11-17


ond barrel into Legar's inner quarters.
Slowly the two men carried out the
barrel and lifted it to the wagon.
Then the driver climbed aboard.
1t was not until that driver was well
away from the waterfront and had
rounded many a corner. that he ven-
tured to pull up and tap on the oak
slaves beside him.
IT'S all right" he called out as he
felt about the rough oak and found
the hidden spring. "Just hold steady
now, and I'll help you out"
The girl uttered q sigh of thankful
ness as they once more got under way.
The Race for Freedom.
Those two worthless known as Old
Ell and Oyster Joe had, in their time.
struggled with many knots. But new.
er had they worked harder than over
the knots of the mysterious stranger
who had left them trussed and bound
to the beams of their own sail loft.
They might. indeed, have remained
gurgling and writhing there like two
tethered copperheads while the care
less tides rose and fell about them,
had not one Scupulo visited Coney
Island in his dilapidated car of an
cient vintage. and having there con-
ferred with a lush dip in hiding from
the flatties of Manhattan. decided to
circle homeward by way Of Oyster
Joe's, in the hope of that refreshment
which had more than once cheered
him on his dusty journeys.
Instead Of finding refreshment. how.
ever, he unearthed two ferocious-eyed
and dry-throated captives. who. when
released, danced and gesticulated in
coherently about their habitation.
Then. when speech had returned to
them the visit of the mysterious
stranger was explained and the neces-
sity of getting in touch with Legar
made plain.
1t was not long. accordingly, before
three men and a car naively missing
on one cylinder went coughing inland
along the narrow road threading
those uncounted acres of sea marsh.
At the first outpost of civilization.
which CHANGED to be a saloon, they
communicated by telephone with one
McTigue. who in turn, was duly in
trusted to get In touch with Legar
himself But mistrusting that ennis
sary and knowing the gravity of the
situation, they themselves sped city
ward as fast as their limping engine
would allow.
They were within fifty PAGES OF a
crossroads landmark known as Chin
ney-Pot Corner when q below not un-
like that of a branded range steer
burst from the indignant throat of Old
Eli. For that worthy had the unique
experience of beholding not only his
own purloined team and wagon, but
a disconcertingly lifelike replica of
himself driving 1t. Scupulo, with the
genius of true general. arrested the
progress of that wagon by promptly
stopping his car directly in it's track.
This collision in no way improved the
vehicle of ancient vintage; but sterner
issues were at hand. A moment later
the belligerent trio from the broken
car were trimphantly charging for
Margory Golden AMI her guardian.
That guardian, fully realizing the
meaning Of the charge. tossed his
reins to the frightened girl and COM
manded her to drive for all she was
worth. Then he himself prepared for
invaders.
It was to the first conner that he
directed his main attention, for Scupu.
10, he noticed. already held knife in
his swarthy hand. One well-placed
kick on the clenching knuckles. how.
ever, sent that glimmering icicle of
steel circling OF into the road-dust.
and an equally well-placed blow on the
law sent the owner Of the knife after
It.
In the meantime, however, both Oys-
ter Joe and Old Eli had gained the
wagon platform. The former found
himself suddenly clenched By the
waist and lifted clear Of the wagon.