The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-02-11

again. But the would-be robber Ia.
still and the big ram stood over him
Mrs. Gale walked to the side of tn
pen, picked up the automatic revolver
examined it and found that it was
ready for business. She eyed tn
man keenly and then drove the ami
NAL away and took his place on guard
Several minutes passed before thu
man began to move his legs ant
groan. Finally he sat up, and put.
ting one hand to his head, stared
dazedly at the unfamiliar surround.
ings. His gaze wandered until il
rested on Mrs. Gale, and then his
memory returned. His right hano
closed quickly; he found it empty anc
it flashed to his hip pocket. 1t stop.
ped there, fumbling; he was evidently
! disconnected.
give got your gum" announced Mrs
Gale, pointing the revolver at him
YOU'D better get up"
81 can't" he snarled.
Every well, can call Ajax. -
Aiax?" A.
eyes, our registered RAM"
"Was that what struck me? !
thought it was a cyclone"
eyes. Shall | call him ?"
"You needn't trouble" he growled
81 want to get out of here alive" He
struggled to his feet and, walking
close behind him, Mrs. Gale headed
her prize for the house. He travelled
slowly and with such a haltering step
that she decided he was only pretend
ing to be badly hurt. AS he passed
through the gate of the barnyard he
scowled. He had botched things, sure
enough!
Entering, the house, Mrs. Gale was
confronted with the problem of dispos-
ing of her captive. She looked at
the telephone; if she could only use
that! There was a very slight posi-
bility that the crook was not the cause
of its being out of order and that it
might now be working. She deter
mined to risk trying to use it.
Stand over there by the farther wall
and turn your back to mel" she or
dered. The man looked for an in
slant as if he would refuse; then he
sullenly complied. She shrank from
turning her back to him for fear he
might wheel quickly and catch her at
a Disadvantage. Still facing him,
she took off the receiver.
At the sound the man whirled
swiftly, but weakened at sight of the
woman facing him with the pistol.
Her arm and body tingled and drew
taut at the imminence of danger. In
stantly there was squirt of smoke
and a report which shook the room
The bullet shipped the button from
the top of the mans cap, and, smash
ing vase on a shelf behind him, sent
it crashing to the floor. The crooks
face blanched to sickly gray as he
realized how narrow had been his es-
cape, and he sank into a chair.
Mrs. Gale laughed Historically.
That's the first time in my life
ever fired a pistol" she declared. 81
wonder if l can come any closer at the
next shot?" But her arm was now
shaking violently.
Don't shoot again." implored the
lemoralized intruder. 'I've got
enough! I know what that gun can
lo!"
Mrs. Gale lowered the weapon.
Don't you dare" she began, but size
vas interrupted by the bursting open
# the door and the abrupt entrance
# a neighbor.
George Kent!" she cried, in delight.
eyes, it's me! What's the mat
err" he asked. "Gale stopped and
wanted some of us to come over, and
started as soon as l could. Gale
aid you was awful nervous, was see
ng things, think he said"
eyes," commented Mrs. Gale, terse-
Y, "my husband was right. I was
eeing things. There's one of the
Kings l saw-it's worth a thousand !,
ollars just as it stands. That's the
eward offered for the capture of one |
r all of the gang that robbed Bing. I
am. But | guess our old Ajax is the
ne that deserve it," And she told
lie story from the beginning, while
ent secured the burglar and gave
lie alarm over the telephone.