The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1916-03-16

| tional surroundings that the bare
| thought of any untoward event never
| entered the head of any Of the throng
of guests.
| Still. if one had been Observant, it
would have been seen that number
of silent, formally CARRIED men moved
through the crowds with a 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-
! istied themselves that no conspiracy
was afoot, and moved on; that faces
Of many of the man guests were keen
ly if furtively scanned; and, finally.
that no one Of the young woman
guests went outside with male escort
| that she was not followed at 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 it's station
in the alley and vanished. Pres
emily when a big. curtained auto
mobile, but with it's lights all glazing,
drew up across the avenue from the
Macklin gates it was at once i1con-
spicuously surrounded by half-d0zen
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
ierked 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 a 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
was handed across the hedge The
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 it's
return to the entrance. Here it's
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 a scream, muf1]ed and
| subdued, but despairing enough Then
| a 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 con6ding
shamefacedly to Helen Bertel some
time later. lit was an idiotic little
| thing that misled me. 1t was that
word belle. They did net mean Miss
Belle Surtoris, the debuuante. whom I