Tensas gazette., 1916-11-17

IL Was Too Dazed
ger than a mans hand, piece OF NOR
tar Enthusiastically few out and struck
her on the arm. She was still staring
incredulously into this crevice when
flutter of white passed her eyes and
a small square of paper fell at her feet
close to the edge of the Goals. She un-
folded the missive and read:
"A cask of cognac is coming. II Le-
gar and his men drink from 1t they
should be drugged asleep inside Of ten
minutes. Press spring concealed on
top of cask and follow directions there.
Don't give up. And II you understand
this, tap twice with the fire tongs."
Below these words was the sign Of
the Laughing Mask. And strange as
was the message this slip of paper
brought her, Margery Golden knew
that her unknown benefactor was not
altogether ignorant Of her predica-
ment.
So fortifying was this knowledge In
fact, that when Casavanti and Legar
himself entered the gloomily-lighted
room, Margory Colder no longer
cringed at the sound of their voices.
Casavanti, walking over to her.
turned her face to the light. He peered
at it hungrily, from half-closed eyes.
"Legar," he called out to that
worthy, who had remained at the door
to warn his stickup to admit nobody
but immediate members of their band,
"I like the spirit in this girl. She's as
sleek as a she-panther. Why. she
hates me like poison. Shed fight me
tooth and nail, believe. II she had
the chance. That's the way like 'em
That tells me I'm going to have the
time of my life, before I've taught her
how to purr!"
Legar, grim-eyed. moved towards
the couple.
Then at least see that she doesn't
claw her way out again!" was his curt
comment.
Legars stickup lodged in through
the door.
Say, chief, there's an outsider tryin
to butt in here!"
Both men promptly wheeled about
at those somewhat disconcerting
words.
who is her" was Legar's quick
query.
AN Oh boob wit q barl o. brandy
| Says he's driven In from Oyster
Dump"
Legar looked relieved. Casavanti
even lighted another cigarette.
That's all right. It's Old Eli. Help
him in with it. But see that nobody
else gets near that outside door"
There's always help around, Casa.
vanti, in a case like this" proclaimed
the scoffing Legar as a white-whisk.
cred old figure in bottle-green coat
and hat laboriously rolled the cask of
liquor through the opened door. The
Owl, with unlooked-for nimbleness in
one of her years, was already close
at hand, waiting with bung starter and
glasses.
Margory watched the suddenly clam
II
orous group as they clustered about
the open barrel Her heart sank as
glasses were refiIled and the clamor.
instead of diminishing. grew louder
and louder.
Then, even as she stood depressed
and troubled by this thought, soft
pedal seemed to be slowly applied to
the tumult about her. The soporific
Owl herself, stumbling to a chair,
sank inertly into 1t. Then one after
another they sank into dreamless
stupor.
1t was then. and only then. that
Margory dared to move. She studi.
ously stared at that uncouth company
of sleepers. Then. no longer watch.
ing them, but with her eyes on the
door through which their lookout
might at any moment appear. she
groped her way to the side Of the bar.
rel. There she felt about the black.
ened oak barrel top for the hidden
spring, A gasp of relief escaped her
lips as she found It The covering fell
back on its concealed hinge. and hoat-