Tensas gazette., 1916-12-01

breathing quick through parted lips.
Yes. Ill bring it," she at last said
over the wire. Then she sat motion
less. with her hands gripping the desk
edge for several minutes. When she
moved 1t was with the quickness of a
sudden and clear-cut decision.
Give me police headquarters" she
called out as she caught up the re-
ceiver. The next minute she was ex-
planning to the desk official at Center
street the news of Legar's latest
threat and the need Of forestalling it.
Then, after another interval of studi-
GUS thought. she crossed to the vault
and began a hurried search for the
document which Legar had described
as being stored away there.
She found 1t at last, in a package Of
faded deeds and papers to do with
Windward island, and while one
glance at 1t persuaded her that it was
indeed chart of the island, the fact
that 1t represented only one-half Of
this island tended to convince her that
Legar had spoken the truth.
But she had no time to deliberate
over that discovery. for her next
move, she felt, should be to call the
servants and warn them against any
midnight intrusions, with probably
Wilson himself posted as an armed
guard until the police arrived.
She crossed to the rosewood desk to
carry out this plan, and her finger
was even extended to press the bell
button when a sudden soft move
ment at her shoulder caused her to
swing sharply about.
Confronting her. with a slightly tri-
umphant smile on his deep-scarred
face. stood Legar himself.
Il am intruding, know" he began
in his suavely acidulated tones, but
there was a possibility. you see. Of
your friends in uniform interrupting
our meeting beside the Soldiers mon
ument!"
The girls fingers, as she edged
away along the desk, closed determin-
edly on the scrap of MANILA paper
still held In her hand. The vault door,
she saw. was also still open. But that
was not the thought troubling her.
The vague fear at the back of her
mind was whether or not she was too
late to save Dave Manley from the
danger threatening him. And she
edged still farther away.
Her movement was arrested by the
ringing Of the telephone bell close be-
side her. As she stood watching Le-
gar that call was repeated. again and
again.
Answer that phone!" he suddenly
commanded.
The next moment Q great load
seemed to lift suddenly from her
heart. and q renewed wave of audacity
swept through her body, for the voice
that spoke to her over the wire was
the triumphant voice Of Manley him.
self. Manley declaring that he was
free and that he would hurry back a.
fast 40 wheels could carry him.
who spoke then?" cried Legar. his
-
emily was an unexpected one from his
standpoint. But the wine of hope now
singing through the girls veins made
her more crafty, more ready to face
Legar with his own weapons. Instead
Of answering him her hand moved out
to the bell button. for with the ring.
ing of that bell. she felt, would surely
come help. And once the slip Of ma
nilla was back In the vault, and the
door locked. she now had little to fear
as he sprang forward to strike her
hand from the bell. she saw that her
retreat lay in the direction Of the
vault door.
Her pursuer. however. was in no
mood for eQuivocation. He seemed
suddenly to foresee her intention. For
without warning he leaped towards
her, as an animal leaps for it's prey.
And with one sweep of his manned
arm the iron hook at its end was
shared deep in the folds of her cloth.
ing.
"Give ne that map!" he said, in q
voice husky with blind and unreason-
ing rage.
Margory Golden. however. had no
intention Of giving him the map In
question. She fought against him.
with all the strength at her command,
knowing that any moment now would
bring the needed help.
But Legar, with his hand on her
throat, hurled her back against the
heavy vault door, shook her as a ter
rier shakes q rat, snatched the yellow
sheet from her fingers. flung her stag
gering into the NAV Of the open vault.
and with q throaty and beastlike cry
Of triumph swung the great steel door
shut. even as the partly-dressed VIII
son ran gaping in through the library
door. Yet Legar took time to throw
back the tumbler lever and spin the
dial before turning to confront that
wide-eyed servant Then. hearing
other approaching steps. he dove
through the second door, scurried like
a pelted hound through shadowy
rooms. slipped eel-like through a
quickly opened window and escaped
to the street.
There he ran for q dark-bodied car
standing In the deep tree shadows,
and with gasp of relief flung himself
up into tho cushioned seat