Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-12-22

Golden stood slowly shaking his
head up and down in comprehension
Then he turned with q morose smile
to the younger man.
And IL our Iron Claw is there
Davy. wen give him a welcome that
he's going to remember!"
Two hours later. as Enoch Golden
stood with his daughter at his side
receiving their guests, It would have
taken a particular penetrating eye to
detect any darker undercurrent of in.
trigue to that ripping tide of color
and mirth which eddied about them.
So punctilious was Golden in his hearty
hand-grasp to each of those incoming
visitors, that Margery herself made
note of this newer phase in her IA
theirs character.
Side by side with a Flemish nun
walked Paris Apache. then came a
Montenegro peasant and a flowing
robed Oriental Swami, then a red
sashed pirate and velvet clad Vene-
tian Doge. Then. following a man on
filters" who laughingly proclaimed
himself to be Hully Gee. the Chinese
Giant, came an equally tall figure in q
gold-braided Arabian burnoose. This
figure, for all its height, was strangely
stoop shouldered, moving with a dig
nifty of step which went well with the
voluminous drapery in which it was
clad. And Manley watched closely as
this stately Arabian chieftain, bowling
J gravely to Golden. reached out two un-
gloved hands to greet the two hands
which his host extended to him. About
these hands he saw at glance. there
could be nothing doubtful They were
most Enthusiastically flesh and blood.
But Manley had little time to give
further thought to the scene, for at
that moment he became aware of the
fact that Da Espares had slipped away
to another part of the house-and dur
ing that night, Manley had determined
he would keep an eye on his enigmati-
cal foreign friend. But instead of
following Da Espares, on discovering
him stepping quietly into the deserted
library. the alert-eyed young secretary
promptly retreated to the quarter
where the receiver of his dictaphone
was concealed. There, on placing this
watch-case receiver to his ear, Manley
had the satisfaction of catching the
faint hum of voices. Much of that
guarded talk taking place in the IL
brary Manley could not overhear. But
he caught enough to arouse his curl
osity.
Then the plan has worked?" asked
the anxious voice of Da Espares.
Without a hitch" answered the
other voice. THE Orders have been
cut through and the bomb placed!"
And the clock fuse adjusted?"
YES"
But what was 1t set for?"
For the stroke Of twelve!"' an
swered the unknown voice. by that
time the crowd win be at the table.
eating!"
But how" asked the anxious voice
Of Da Espares. could We get Legar
inside!'
The sound of q triumphantly quiet |
laugh came over the little instrument.
'Legar is already here!" announced
the other.
Hush! Not 80 loud!" warned Da
Espares. And from that point on 1t |
was only broken phrases that trickled |
into the hidden listeners ear.
:. Game as an Arab chief.
Mocha the Dago acrobat on his back
yes, under cloak could hold |
out both hands and never even
being watched
can't afford to lose this time!"
Again came the sound Of the quietly
triumphant laugh. And It was De rs
pares' voice that sounded clearly the
next moment.
But how did he work that bridge
fall?"
long dive came up under q
lumber schooner's stern and hung to
rudder chain down with tide
an hour later ;. swan ashore
launch to Oyster Joe's!"
Manley did not wait for more. Mid.
night. he knew, was already too peril
,usly close for half measures. By the
lime he reached the upper floor, in
TACT, he found Enoch Golden already
reading the grand march to the great
able running almost the full length of
he huge room opening on the conserv-
atory. The next moment he saw Da
Sspares himself step hurriedly, yet
'milingly to the side Of Margery Cold
N and take their places in that gayly-
.olored line that rippled with laughter
ind movement as the orchestra once
more struck up. Then, remembering,
What he had overheard about mysteri-
'usly weakened Orders and planted
,ombs, Manley likewise remembered
he newly installed vault and the fact
hat Legar's final object was the DOS ]
ession Of certain paper which that
ault held. And he slipped out through
he door. and on through the empty
frantically wondering
ust what his first move to avert that {
impending catastrophe should be.
The figure which interviewed in that
risis, however, was a much more pic-
uresque one than the slight figure Of q
Dung private secretary in somewhat
isheveled evening clothes. For when
be merriment about the great crowd.
d table was at its height an unex.
ected and unlimited guest strobe IN