The Elbert County tribune., 1916-09-22


fled surprise. Over the top of the Ivy
mantled brick wall Hanklng the garage
slowly appeared mans head and
shoulders. Then followed a lean-fin-
gered hand clutching glittering heavy
calibered revolver.
She saw Legar raise the nickeled
revolver and squint with deliberate
and careful aim over the sights. Be
fore she could utter the cry of warn
Ing which was trembling on her lips
the revolver in Legar's hand was sud-
denly lowered and that malignant
faced outlaw slipped out of sight.
The white-llpped girl saw that Le-
gar's hurried retreat was due to the
fact that at the moment he was about
20 press the trigger of that menncinS
revolver lveriec chauffeur had
emerged from the garage pushing
clumsy-looking motorcycle. She saw
Davy still In Ignorance Of his near
approach to death. jump into the snd-
die of the cumbersome affair, which
developed a surprising burst of speed
as 1t flashed down the drive and
veered sharply Onto the macadam
highway.
Certain that the unrelenting master
criminal would not so readily reltn-
quish his savage purpose Of extermi-
mating the young secretary, and more
anxious for Davy's safety than she
would admit even to herself, Margery
ran lightly to the broad veranda of the
manor house and caught up the field
AIx rA,,t lNnt rffaer
against the wall. Sweeping the long
stretch of highway with the powerful
lenses, she quickly picked up the
straight young figure guiding the rae
ing motorcycle. With sigh of relief
she saw him nearing the crest of that
rdgellke elevation called Seven Oaks
hill.
But as she was about to lower the
glasses she gave sudden exclamation
of dismay. for the motorcycle slowed
down and came to n stop just on the
brow OF the hill. The khakl-clNd rider
dlsmounted, and after searching
glance about him. proceeded with some
difficulty to drag the heavy machine
fectually concealed from the view of
any chance passerby. Then he struck
off along the top of the ridge in the di
rectlon of the row of stately trees
standing like sentinels guarding the
valley.
Even as Mnrgery stood puzzling over
the meaning of these strange maueu-
vers, look of startled apprehension
came into her eyes as she saw group
Of sinister figures Sinking along tile
side of the road a short distance below.
the house.
She knew she must run ns she had
never run before, If by taking advan
tage of shortcut she hoped to reach
Davy before that evil band of gunmen,
bent on his destruction.
But even as she was about to burst
way sine heard the low murmur of ap-
preaching voices and realized her reso-
lutte efforts had been in vain. Legar
and his fulsome crew of jailbirds had
outstripped her in that arduous race.
"IIe must be In back of those rocks"
she heard Legar say in positive tones,
"and If we go out along the ridge he is
going to plug couple of us before we
get him. The best way is to go down
the hill and circle around back of him."
1t flashed into the mind of the hid
den eavesdropper that one chance yet
remained to save her fathers secre-
tary from n shower of bullets fired
from ccwardly ambush. By running
directly along the crest of the ridge
she might still reach Davy before the
band of savage marauders, who were
circuitous route.
But at that moment the straggly
bush ut which she had clutched to
steady her precarious footing sud-
denly uprooted In her hand. and,
fllnglng up her arms in n vain effort
to regain her toppling balance, she
went jolting down the sharp declivity
into the midst of the astonished gun
men.
Get that she mountain-goat and get
her quick - Legar stormed at his
vicious followers.
One of the younger gangsters mnde
flying leap after the agile girl, who
now had start of several yards. AS
she frantically scrambled up the
broken slope, she could hear the heavy.
crunching steps of her pursuer coming
closer and closer. She could hear the
profane encouragement shouted by Le-
gar's men to their straining compun-
lon. Then. with the goal almost within
reach. her overtaxed strength COM
menced to fail. Her struggles became
weaker. and the world seemed clouded
with strange darkness. She heard
the sound of heavy breathing and felt
rude hand clutching ut her avn.