The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-29


ran up. Yes, the machine was at Lib
erty.
With gasping thankfuIness which
each now shared alike, since Margaret
had infected the younger woman with
her own frenzy, the two girls entered
the vehicle and babe the driver take
them to their destination as speedily
as possible.
When they reached the house they
found it lit up, but the front door had
been locked for the night. Margaret,
nerved to a marvellous energy by her
forebodings, ran Up the steps and
pressed an electric bell.
The men in the library heard It.
Bronson jumped to his feet with an
air Of surprise, almost of alarm.
why" he cried, that must be Mar
garet! She always rings three times.
What can have happened to bring her
here at this hour?'
Manning who was Just sealing a
letter threw it on the table and went
out with Bronson. They crossed the
hall quietly and anticipated the serv-
ant who was hurrying to answer the
doorbell
Most fortunately the structure Of the
house interposed a solid wall between
the front door and the library, and, al
though the door of the latter room
stood open, it really abutted on the
foot Of a staircase. Manning's hand
was actually on the latch when a ire
mendous explosion shook the air, ex-
tinguished every light In the house and
brought down nearly a third OF the
building in absolute ruin.
Manning and Bronson were blown
against the door, but the former did
not relinquish his grasp on the handle
and tore 1t open, simultaneously Sell
ing his friend and dragging him INTO
the comparative safety of the porch.
The darkness was impenetrable be.
cause the air was thick with dust, and
as they stumbled forward they tripped
over the debris OF the porch and near.
ly fell headlong. But even in that
mad turmoil Manning caught Mar
garet's shrek of dismay. She was
quite close at hand. He caught her
and said as calmly as might be:
Don't give way now. dear. By some
miracle you came here at the right mo-
ment, and your brother and / are IN
injured"
The girl, however, swooned In his
arms. He could vaguely distinguish
the lights of the taxi as by thrice for
tunate chance the driver had resisted
his first impulse and did not make of
as fast as tie machine could take him.
Bronson found May on the steps and
told her to re-enter the auto at once
Then Margaret was lifted In, and,
while Bronson mounted guard over
them with revolver, Manning went
around the rear of the house to ascer-
tain what casualties, If any, had been
sustained by the servants and the de-
tectives on duty.
No one was hurt, however. The man
who had come to answer the bell had
been blown back violently and flung
headlong into a passage. But he fell
on a rug and was more frightened than
hurt
The police Of course promptly re-
covered their self possession and in
stituted a close search Of the grounds,
carrying electric torches and ready re-
volvers. But no trace could be found
Of the perpetrators of this latest out
rage.
When the fumes Of dust ana smoke
had subsidized somewhat it was possible
to note the havoc caused by the bomb.
The library itself and bedroom over
head were completely wrecked, and an
overhanging portion Of the roof was In
imminent danger of collapse, threaten
ing to add to the unimaginable ruin be
meath.
A sharp witted detective dispatched
two of his colleagues to scour the
neighborhood for couple OF props
whereby the tottering roof might be
shored up, thus preserving any traces,
| If such existed, Of the means employ
ed by the desperadoes to destroy the
building.
A crowd gathered, for the noise Of
the explosion had reached to consid-
cradle distance, and speculation as to
It's cause ran rife among the inhab-
itants of the district. One of Man
ning's neighbors had already rung up
the fire brigade, and an engine and
hook and ladder dashed. up within
few minutes after the alarm was given.
Nothing of tangible value could be
done that night, however. so Bronson
undertook to convoy the two girls to
hotel, where Manning promised to Join
them later.
Margaret's fainting At did not last
long. Notwithstanding all the tribula-
lions she had endured. she was endc~-
ed with fine physique and perfect
health, and the very stress Of her
mind provided speedy restorative.
She was overjoyed on finding that
her loved ones were safe. but the 9th
ers far more than she herself UNDER
stood the extraordinary nature Of the
premonition which brought her post
haste from the far away Atlantic coast
of Staten Island to the northern part
Of New York
''It's fight to a finish now" Bronson
contrived to whisper to Manning be-
fore the taxi went of.
"Yes," came the savage assurance.
"An Singh and seem to be at close
grips, and he must be feeling tho
strain Surely our luck will turn SONS
time. and well be able to put that