The Elbert County tribune., 1916-09-22

es Stormed Up the Hill.
sticky hairs caught up that scrap of
paper, which, by his distracted wallow-
ing, was worked into his matted coat
until it clung with burrlike tenacity.
Although Black Tony was In igno-
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 a well directed
kick with his heavy boot upon the
struggling Sandy. The injured and
much aggrieved puppy gave one yelp
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 meted out to him.
The maltreated Sandy, reaching the
old gray farmhouse which had former
ly been his home, raced through the
open door into the cheerful living
room where somewhat detected
young man was sitting with an elder
ly, kindly faced woman.
"Sakes alive, If it mint that pup
come back home |" she calculated.
Her younger-eyed companion imme-
diately saw that something was amiss
with the pet he had bestowed upon
Margery Golden as 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
disentnngled the paper and, smoothing
out its gummy creases. studied 1t with
frowning intensity. What he saw was
rough sketch Of 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
had seen the preparations for the lawn
fete to which he had received no In
vitation. He had noted the striped
| marquee put up directly under the
mammoth oak.
supper hour. Davy's face went white
as he hurriedly glanced at the clock
on the mantel. A fearful apprehen-
sion seized him that 1t 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 frenzy of dread forebod-
ing. As he flung himself upon his pull
sating. motorcycle and shot out into the
| darkness. His fear would have been n
hundredfold intensified could he have
seen the murderous Italian, who at
that moment touched n lighted match
to the end of the time fuse projecting
from the nearly severed oak.
1t was a race between a 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 ma
chine missed by hairs breadth a
heavy touring car with vision-blindIng
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 before its white-lipped rider
leaped from the saddle.
"Run. all of you'll Run for your
lives! ~ he cried frantically.
AS his meaning dawned upon the
startled guests they stampeded from
that threatened tent like a flock of
fear-crazed sheep. Even as they
cleared the guy-ropes dull, muffied
detonatlon split the air and the strick-
en- oak swayed unsteadily for an in
stant; then it came toppling down on
those deserted walls of canvas with a
roar like the mighty crash of thunder
clouds.
AS David Manley relinquished his
hold on the white-faced girl whose life
he had saved, Enoch Golden grasped
him tremulously by the hand in silent
thanks for their dellverance from dis
aster. Margery turned to him a little
shyly.
Il don't know how to thank you for
what you have done. Davy." she said
impulsively.
But the deeply hurt young man only
acknowledged her gratitude with
stifiiy formal bow ns he turned and
strobe away into the darkness
ITO BE CONTINUED