The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-11

set. IAN I've got bunch that one
armed crook amt so far off. Wen
send the swag up to the house an
then beat every inch of the gully for
his bunch of rattlesnakes."
This plan met with Golden's ap-
prevail, and he turned to the old
gardener who was standing with
mouth agape.
Here, Tim" he ordered. take
Peter and Negus and get this bag up
to the house. Tell Miss Margory |
want 1t locked in the gun-room safe,
and keep that safe guarded carefully
until we get back"
BE gorry!' he calculated, 9TH
masther ciane forgot he kapes that
safe locked up entoirely. nary a soul
but himself KNOWN tn con- bination-
Nagus, be a good lad and run back
an ask him whatll we be dom with
tn sack"
AS the somewhat reluctant Negus
departed on this errand, Tim and his
companion entered the house and
made their way along highly polished
floors to the gun-room at the further
end of the imposing hall. Here they
FOUND Margory Golden, who was cften
drawn to this room by it's fascinating
collection of death-dealing weapons.
There was no necessity for sending
Negus back" she exclaimed, II know
the combination of the safe quite as
well as father"
AS Peter, the under gardener, curl
Dusty watched the fair-haired girl
spinning the safe dial in her slender
hhsers q startling transformation
suddenly took place in the person of
oid Tim. the trusted servant of many
years Tho stoop vanished from his
pack and his eyes hlazed with the
savage lust of battle, as with q quick
movement he freed his left arm, car
ried in sling by his side The next
moment that left arm, bearing a
heavy hook of wrought iron, crashed
down upon the skull of the unsus-
pecting Peter and sent him thudding
to the floor like felled OK
With a panther-like spring the
metamorphosed gardener was upon
the bewildered girl bending over the
safe, and again that cruel iron claw
shot out, clutching her arm as in a
wise. With a derisive laugh of tri-
umph Legar tore off his false trap
pings, revealing the scar-twisted face
hideous with evil passion. For a
full moment he stood gloating over
his pinfoned captive, then, as the I'M
subdued girl started to call for help.
he roughly pressed communicating
hand over her half open mouth. and
pursuing his thin lips gave shrill,
penetrating whistle. In response to
this signal a faint shutting noise
came from the direction of the fire.
Z place, which was of such huge dimen-
sions as to occupy almost an entire
side of the room.
The shutting sounds became more
distinct, and two of Legar's follow
ers, with faces blackened like imps
of darkness, sprawled out Of the rec
tangular opening of the chimney
amid powdery cloud Of falling SCOT.
At a curt command from their grim
faced leader they quickly bound the
shrinking girl, and. tying a handker-
chief over her mouth, dragged her
across the floor into the fireplace.
Muttering violent imprecations as
they laboriously gained a foothold.
they disappeared with their helpless
burden up the cavernous NAV of the
chimney. Legar strobe to the door
and. rapidly turning the key in the
heavy lock, caught up the sack of
disputed plumber, and, clawing his
way up the ragged lining Of The
murky chimney fiue. vanished as
completely az though the earth had
swallowed him.
Even as the quaint personality Of
old Tim merged into that viciously
depraved character. Jules Legar, the
baffied group Of searchers returning
to the old barn, after vainly combing
the ravine for some trace Of that
arch criminal. saw approaching them
the rhemuAtic-st stopped figure Of tho
old gardner who carried his left hand
In q red bandana sling.
What does this mean. Tint"