The Elbert County tribune., 1916-09-08
improv1sed from a red bandanna nand.

as ne caught SlSnt Oh the stalWart
figure of one of the undergraduates
amid the shrubbery he added. reflec-
lively, land bring Peter with you.
Fishing in the depths of moldy bin.
DSyy drew out a heavily weighted
gunny sack. which claEked musically
to the ears of the russetfaced police
captain.
This is goin' to make some stir at
headquarters" he gloated. tenderly re-
placing the yellow metalled dinner set.
"an' I've got a hunch that one-armed
crook amt so far off. WeTl send the
swag up to the house an then beat
every inch of the gully for this bunch
of rattlesnakes."
This plan met with Golden's APPROX
al, 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 Margery
want it locked in the gunroom safe.
and keep that safe guarded carefully
until we get back"
II was with much dubious head
shaking that old Tim accepted this
apparently unwelcome trust, and hob
bled off in company with Peter. who
bore the treasure sack on his shoulder,
while the perturbed Negus trailed
close behind with his rife. AS they
reached the graveled driveway swing
ing in a graceful half circle under the
columned porte-cochere the head gar
dener stopped as though struck by
sudden thought.
BE gorryn" he calculated. 'th' mas
ther clane forgot he kapes that safe
locked up entoirely. nary a soul but
himself KNOWN tn combination-Na-
gus, be a good lad and run back an
ask him what'll we be doin' with tn
sack"
Tim and his companion entered the
house and made their way along high
ly polished floors to the gunroom at
the further end of the imposing hall.
Here they found Margery Golden, who
listened with amused interest to the
old Irishman's voluble description of
the treasure.
There was no necessity for sending
Negus back" she exclaimed, 81 know
the combination of the safe quite as
well as father"
A startling Transformation sudden
ly took place in the person of old Tim.
The stoop vanished from his back,
and with a quick movement he freed
his left arm, carried in a sling by
his side. The next moment that left
arm, bearing a heavy hook of wrought
iron, crashed down upon the skull of
the unsuspecting Peter.
With panther-like spring the meta
gardener was upon the be-
wildered girl bending over the safe,
and again that cruel iron claw shot
out, clutching her arm as in wise.
With a derisive laugh of triumph Le-
gar tore off his false trappings. his
thin lips gave shrill, penetrating
whistle. In response to this signal
faint shuffling noise came from the
direction of the fireplace, and two of
Legar's followers. with faces black
ened like imps of darkness, sprawled
out. At a curt command from their
grim-faced leader they quickly bound
the shrinking girl, and, tying a hand
kerchief over her mouth, dragged her
across the floor into the fireplace. Le-
gar caught up the sack of disputed
plumber and. clawing his way up the
ragged lining of the murky chimney
flue. vanished.
Even as the quaint personality of
old Tim merged into that viciously
depraved character, Jules Legar, the
bafIled group of searchers returning to
the old barn saw approaching them
the rheumatic stopped figure of the old
gardener who carried his left hand in
a red bandanna sling.
What does this mean, Tim" Enoch
Golden interrogated sternly. Il thought
told you to guard the safe until we
returned"
Faith an I dom know phwat ye
moight be talkin' about, Misther Col
den." rejoined the old man querulous-
ly. "th' new docthure yer was afther
sendin to look at me hand gave me
a shlapin powdher to relave tn pain
an said twas ye'er ordhers to stay in
me bed tn whoile.'
Into the faces of his startled listen
ers flashed bewildered amazement,
then they rushed with one accord
toward the distant manor house. Davy
was already throwing his slender
weight against the bolted door of
the gunroom and calling out words
of encouragement to the gentle girl
he believed was in that room. The
strong-armed police captain. seizing
a medieval battle ak which ornament
ed the wall, smashed in the locked
door with couple of well-directed
blows. The men stormed across the
threshold of the gunroom, then
stopped short in blank surprise. The
windows were shut and fastened from
the inside. the limp and sprawling Pc