The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1916-03-09

tlOudI SURROUNDINGS tuaL the DdT0
thought of any untoward event never
entered the head of any of the throng
OF guests. 4sh
Still, If one had been observant, IL
| would have been seen that a number
| of silent, formally CARRIED men moved
through the crowds with singularly
| deft, insinuating manner; that they
were constantly alert as they paused
| here and there near some group en-
gagged in low-voiced conversation, sat.
| isfied themselves that ne conspiracy
was afoot, and moved on; that faces
of many of the man guests were keen
| ly II furtively scanned; and, finally.
that no one OF the young woman
guests went outside with male escort
that she was not followed at a re-
| spectful distance and watched. -
| At eleven o'clock came the denoue.
ment; but so quietly was it conducted,
until the shooting began, that not
more than three or four of those pres.
ent knew that anything out OF the
ordinary was happening.
A few minutes before the hour the
curtained automobile left its station
in the alley and vanished. Pres
| emily when big curtained auto.
mobile, but with its lights all glazing,
| drew up across the avenue from the
| Macklin gates it was at once incon.
| spicuously surrounded by a half-dozen
| individuals who viewed it with suspi-
| cion.
Now this particular reception was
| being given in honor OF Miss Evelyn
Fowler, whose name is as familiar to
newspaper readers as our presidents
or any other individuals who is con-
stantly in the public eye. Miss Fow-
Ter could not be termed beautiful
| nor even pretty. Neither was she
| young, nor wise, nor witty. But her
| father was accounted one of the ma
| tons richest men; Miss Evelyn her.
self was many times millionaire,
and her-eccentricities we shall say
were matters Of common knowledge.
So when this lady passed out upon
| the broad stone-fagged piazza in COM
pany with no other than Edgar Mack
| lin, son of her hostess, the watchers
| within and without were not so alert
| and vigilant as they were in follow.
| ing the movements of more cherished
and admired beauties, and nothing
was thought of it when young Mr..
Macklin was heard to remark that:
| Some prank of Billy's, I'll wager;
he's always pulling off some new stunt.
Well, we'll just go see what it is"
Thus it was that the two strolled
| along path that passed some sunken
| gardens, just now inundated for win
| ter skating, scarcely noticed by any
| body.
Mr.. Edgar Macklin's head all at once
| jerked upward and back with little
| gurgling sound. Miss Fowler was on
| the point OF asking what might be
the matter when utter darkness fell
| upon her. What happened was this:
a strong arm was passed under the
young mans chin from behind and
simultaneously blanket was dexter
ously tossed, also from behind, SO
that it instantaneously enveloped the
surprised lady from her head to her
feet. Edgar Macklin was left lying in
the gravelled path; but the lady was
borne by stout arms to a hedge that
separated the Macklin property from
adjoining premises
A big curtained touring car darted
into one Of the carriage entrances Of
this yard just as the helpless captive
no hn
tonneau curtains were lifted and she
was deposited upon the cushions. So
expeditiously did every detail work
out that the automobile scarcely
paused.
The machine sped around the cir
cult Of the drive, unchecked until its
return to the entrance. Here its
further progress was blocked. A Sec
ond machine was crowding the gate
way.
Voices cursed and argued hoarsely
and commanded furtively. Miss Fow'
Ter contrived scream, muffjed and
snbdued, but despairing enough Then
q pistol parked. Followed another
and another shot. The big machine
backed and dashed headlong into the
second and lighter car
Both were hopelessly wrecked
BY this time men were running
from every direction. One man fought
desperately, almost overpowering the
four who were trying to subdue him:
another submitted docilely when hand.
cuffs were snapped on his wrists.
Altogether, either in captured or
more or less seriously wounded, six
prisoners were accounted for, Miss
Evelyn Fowler, after being revived,
was gushing with gratitude. and Felix
Hazard was jubilant
The Secret Six" at last had run
their course.
You know" Hazard was confiding
shamefacedly to Helen Bertel some
time later, sit was an idiotic little
| thing fhat rnicIod mo II uuu fhok