The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-24


comfortable when undressed and lying
IN bed propped up by pillows, she went
to her room, taking the book with her.
She had hardly resumed her reading
when Margaret Bronson came In. odd
ly enough, sleep had deserted Mar
garet the moment she sought 1t. With
wakefulness came a renewed desire for
chat. Nevertheless May was bent
on reading her book and gave only a
desuitory heed to her friends words.
While they were talking they heard
the men come In and go to their rooms.
Now" chirped May gayly, '1f you
don't want Enrol to catch you In that
very attractive night suit you had bet
ter skip, because he will be in here In
a minute. to kiss me good night"
That's a mere excuse to get rid Of
me-" pouted Margaret.
"oh, is TT I'll show your Before
the more staid Margaret could stop her
May had called her brothers name
loudly.
Threatening vengeance next day,
Margaret had to run for It. She had
just gained her own room when she
heard Enrol Manning crossing the
landing and entering his sisters apart
ment. 1t was easy to follow his move
ments. He drew a chair close to the
bedside, laughed cheerfully when May
| told him how she had routed her com
| panion and after a brief conversation
went to the window and opened it,
probably at his sisters request, as the
night was warm and the air in the
room rather sultry..
He left the window open, but drew
the blind and was in his own room
again when n piercing scream came
from the front of the house. Apparent
~ some woman was shrieking in NOR
tai agony and fear, and the sounds of q
scuf1ie on a fight Of steps leading to
the porch dispelled any doubt as to the
exact locality whence the alarming cry
came.
Stufing a revolver into the breast
pocket Of his dressing gown. he raced
downstairs, followed almost immedi-
ately by the Bronsons, both brother
and sister. As Mays room lay at the
back of the house, she either heard
nothing of this commotion, or II the
hurried passage of feet in the hall
caught her ears she merely imagined
that some joke was toward, since Mar
garet might have been caught by one
of the young men while endeavoring
to reach her room again. May had, of
course, completely forgotten the letter
meant for her brother.
The butler Joined his master In the
hall and tore open the front door,
whereupon the moonlight which food
ed the front of the house revealed a
singular and disconcerting scene.
A slender, well dressed girl was ap-
parently engaged in violent struggle
with a young man who was endeavor-
ing to carry her off and at the same
time smother her despairing appeals
for assistance.
] Manning was quick to act in such
circumstances. He raced down the
steps, caught the brutal assailant In q
strangle hold and compelled him to let
go. Bronson took the fainting End al.
most unconscious girl In his arms and
left his friend free to deal with the
ruflan in the way he deserved. Con-
sequently very few seconds elapsed be-
fore Manning had his adversary pinned
to the ground, with the breath almost
handed the revolver to the butler.
"Get this fellow on his feet" he said
land jab the muzzle into the small Of
his back. Make it clear that you will
shoot at the slightest sign Of ugliness
on his part. Now, Bronson, carry the
girl inside the house. I'll ring uI
Kemp. We must investigate this aftai,
ifully. Unless am greatly mistaken Il
means mischief"
He was not yet inclined to breathe
the half formed suspicion that the two
people who had engaged In furioui
struggle at such late hour outside hi
front door were none other than Mile
Malta, Ali Singh's niece, and Hong
|, Kong Harry, the half caste degenerat,
and trusted lieutenant Of the highe
one.
It must be remembered that he hat
seen them earlier In circumstance
! which varied to an extraordinary dc
gree from those obtaining at tina
= moment. Then Malta was dressed II
oriental attire. Hong Kong Harry hat
} figured on the scene only long enough
to be dung headlong to the floor O
All elbows joint, and the interior o
!, the place was filed with binding
: smoke. In the bright light of the hall
however. one glance at the faces O
the girl and her would be abductor tolt
!. him that his intuition was not at fault
! The butler backed Hong Kong Harr.
; into q corner, and the mans palltt
} features were SO convulsed with rag
, that Manning was certain some vii
, plot had miscarried solely because o
} the scream uttered by the girl. l
} that were 80 her intent could hardly b
criminal or If she had indeed lent her
self to Ali singh's campaign Of murder
} her resolution had weakened at tn
, crucial moment. What then was tn
project which she had helped to de
| feat? Who was threatened7 Wer
there other agents Of the Asiatic'
malign intent lurking about the neigh
borhood Of the house?
j It was hard to guess accurately. blu
j every prscauhon must be taken. H