The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-10

savory edibles. As the clumsy puppy
bumped against an improvised table
consisting of a board resting on two
barrels, a large bowl containing a
sirupy-like mixture toppled onto his
back and deluged him with its en-
tire contents.
At that moment there entered the
tent a swarthy italian dressed In the
garb OF waiter. Either through a
doggish distrust of this forbiddEng
figure or because of a guilty dread
of the punishment his recent mis-
chief might bring, the sirup- drenched
puppy skunk into dark corner of the
tent and waited for Black Toney to
leave. But that worthy showed no
immediate intention of departure. In
stead he seated himself on a cracker
box and studied a small square OF
paper with every evidence of salts
faction.
He made a movement TO stuff that
soiled bit Of parchment into his hip
pocket, but in his haste he missed
the pocket and the paper fell to the
ground, where a puff of wind, creep
ing under the tent, fiuttered Il under
the nose of the frightened puppy.
He shifted at it euriously, but the
giue-like substance now soaking
through his shaggy coat was a mat
ter needing much more urgent at
tentfon. Forgetting the menace Of
that repellent stranger, he rolled
franticafly on his back, endeavoring
to rid himself of that cohering and
exasperating liquid with which he
was smeared. His long, sticky hairs
caught UP that scrap of paper, which.
by his distracted wallowing, was
worked into his matted coat until
it chung with burr-lilxe tenacity.
Although Black Tony was in lgno-
rance that his discriminating diagram
had been appropriated in this odd
manner, he had an inherent dislike
for all animals, which he now mani
tested by bestowing well directed
kick with his heavy boot upon the
struggling Sandy. The injured and
much aggrieved puppy gave one yeip
of panied surprise and darted out OF
the tent. With dropping tail and
equally dropping spirits, he started as
fast as his short legs could carry him
for the home of Aunty Kicks, which
was the place of his nativity. and
where no such brutal treatment as
this had ever been melted out to him.
The maltreated Sandy, reaching the
cid gray farm house which had form
erly been his home, raced through
the open door into the cheerful living
room were g. somewhat detected
young man was sitting with an eld-
erly, kindly-faced woman.
"Sakes alive, If ii amt that pup
come back homer" she calculated.
Her younger-eyed companion i'm
mediately saw that something was
amiss with the pet he had bestowed
upon Margory Golden as a parting
gift.
Then he saw the scrap of paper
sticking in the dogs matted hair and
his face grew serious. Perhaps the
one he loved was in danger and in
this strange way had sent message
asking his help. With swift fingers he
disentangled the paper and. smooth
ing out its gnmmy creases. studied
It with frowning intensity. What he
saw was rough sketch OF q large
field tent, with tree outlined close
beside it.
To the puzzled-eyed young man
came sudden and startled compre-
hension of those apparently meaning
less drawings. Only that afternoon
he had passed the great manor house
and seen the preparations for the lawn
fete to which he had received no in
vitatiof1. He had noted the striped
marquee put up directly under the
mammoth oak.
That time would undoubtedly be the
supper hour. Davy's face went white
as he hurriedly glanced at the clock
on the mantel. A fearful apprehen-
sion seized him that it might already
be too late to prevent the fright
full massacre planned by the one
armed criminal. Paying no heed to
the anxious queries of his wonder
ing companion, he rushed from that
room in a frenzy OF dread forebod-
ing. AS he flung himself upon his
pulsating motorcycle and shot out
into the darkness.
would have been hundredfold In
tensified could he have seen the muir
derous italian, who at that moment
touched a lighted match to the end
Of the time fuse projecting from the
nearly severed oak.
It was a race between spark OF
fire eating its way up the ever !
shortening fuse and wildly driven
motorcycle lurching through the
night. The stakes of that desperate
race were precious human lives. Once
the race was nearly lost, as the
pounding machine missed by q hairs
breadth a heavy touring car with
vision binding headlights. Then It
careened into the driveway Of the
brilliantly lighted grounds. raced
madly across the level stretch Of
lawn and into the very tent itself be-
fore It's white-lipped rider leaped
from the saddle.
Run, all of you! Run for your
lives!' he cried frantically.
As his meaning dawned upon the
startled guests they stampeded from
that threatened tent like flock Of
fear-crazed sheep. Even as they
cleared the guy-ropes dull. muf-
fed defamation split the air and the
stricken oak swayed unsteadily for
an instant: then 1t came topping
down on those deserted walls Of ces(s
vas with roar like the mSabtY 4spe4hsi
Of thunder clouds.
As David Manley relinquished hia
hold on the white-faced girl who6o
life he had saved. she turned to him :
little shyly.
II don't know how to thank You
for what you have done. Davy," oho
said impulsively.
But the deeply hurt young man only
Acknowledged her gratitude with Z