Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-29


tives all carried the long sharp spears OF
the aboriginal head hunters. Their swords
swung in their harness, and their ancient
armor clanked as they ran.
It was q weird picture that the oddly
contrasted party presented as they raced
across the clearing of this forgotten isfe
toward n jungle as primitive as when the
evening and the morning were the third
day" An American girl OF the highest
social caste borne in the arms of that most
vicious OF all social 'pariahs, the criminal
mucker of the slums of a great city; ana
defending them with drawn revolver,
French count and soldier of fortune, while
In their wake streamed n yelling pack of
seven eight half-caste demons clothed
In the habiliments of sixteenth century
Japan and welding the barbarous spears
of the savage head-huntlng aborigiues
whose fierce blood coursed in their veins
with of the descendants Of Taka-mi-musu-
bi-no-kami.
Threo-quarters of the distance had been
covered in safety before the Ssmurai came
within safe spear range Of the trio. Their
iere, seeing the danger to the girl, dropped
back few PAGES, hoping to hold the brown
warriors from her.
The foremost of the pursuers raised his
weapon aloft, carrying his spearhand back
of his shoulder for the throw. Therieres
revolver spoke, and the man pitched for
ward, rolling over and over before he
came to rest
howl Of rage went UP from the Sam
urai, and a half dozen spears leaped at long
range toward Theriere. One of the weap
ons transhxed his thigh, bringing him to
earth.
Byrne was at the forests edge as the
Frenchman fell. 1t was the girl, though,
who witnessed the catastrophe.
"Stop" she cried. "Mr. Theriere Is
down."
The mucker halted and turned his head
in the direction OF the Frenchman who
had raised himself to one elbow and was
firing at the advancing enemy. He dropped
the girl to her feet.
wait here !" he commanded, and sprang
toward Theriere.
Before he reached him another spear
had caught the man full in the chest, top
pling him, unconscious, to the earth. The
Samurai were rushing rapidly upon the
wounded officer-it was a question who
would reach him first.
Theriere had been nipped in the act of
reloading his revolver. 1t lay beside him
now, the cylinder full of fresh cartridges.
The mucker was first to his side, ana
snatching the weapon from the ground, fired
coolly and rapidly at the advancing Jap
anese.
Four of them went down before that
deadly fusillade; but the mucker cursed
beneath his breath because Of his two
misses.
Byrne's stand checked the brown men, of
whom only two were left. These two had
evidently had enough, for they retreated at
run. The mucker sped them with q
couple of shots, then lifted the unconscious
Frenchman to his shoulder and bore him
back to the forest.
In the shelter of the jungle they laid him
upon the ground. To the girl 1t seemed that
the frightful wound in his chest must prove
fatal within few moments.
Byrne, apparently unmoved by the seri-
BUSINESS of Theriere's condition, removed the
mans cartridge belt and bucltled It about his
own waist, replacing the six empty shells
in the revolver with six fresh ones.
Presently he noticed the bound and
gagged Oda Iseka lying in the brush behind
them where he and Therere had left him.
The Samurai, encouraged by renforcements,
were now sneaking cautiously toward their
refuge.
A sudden inspiration came to the mucker.
Didn't hear youse chewin' de rag wit
de chnlts wen I hit de dump over dere?"
he asked of Barbara.
The girl, oddly, understood him. She
nodded.
"Youse savvy deir lingo den, eh?"
"a little"
Tell dis gazimbat to wise his pals to de
fact dat I'll croak i'm II dey don't beat It
an let us make our getaway. Theriere
says as how he's kink when his ole man
croaks, an his ole man was de guy youse
put to sleep in de chicken-ooop," explained
the mucker lucidly. so dis slob's klnk
hisself, now"
Barbara Harding was quick to see the
strength OF the mans suggestion. Stepping
to the edge of the clearing in full view of
her side, revolver in hand she called co
them in the language of their forebears to
listen to her message. Then she explained
that they held the son of Oda Yorimoto
prisoner, and that his life would be the
price of any further attack upon them
The Samurai conferred together for n
moment, then one of them called out that
they did not believe her; that oda Iseka,
son of oda Yorimoto, was safe in the vii
lage.
wait !" replied the girl. I'VE will show
him to you." and turniry to Byrne she
asked him to fetch the youth.
When the white man returned with the
boy in his arms a wall of mingled anguish |
and rage rose from the lcolIing natives |
'If you molest us no fuIS.er we shall not |
harm him." cried Barbara, "and when we |
leave your island we shall set him free but
renew your attack upon us and this white |
man who holds him says that he will cut |
out his heart and feed 1t to the fox !" |
This was rather a blood-thirsty state |
ment for so gentle character as Barbara |
Harding hut she knew enough of the super |
stitious fears of the ancient Japanese to feel |
confident that this threat would have con-
siderable weight with the subjects OF the |
young Lord of Yoka.
Again the natives conferred In whispers. |
Finally he who had acted as spokesman |
before turned toward the strangers.
I'VE shall not harm you" he said 80 |
long as you do not harm Oda fseSa but we |
shall watch you always until you leave the |
island ana II harm DeIallS MN tnen sHall |
you never leave, for we shall kill you ALL" |
Barbara translated the mans words to |
the mucker.
"Do youse fall fer that?" he asked.
81 think they will be careful TO make |
no open assault upon U.S." replied the girl |
but never for an instant must we cease |
our watchfuness, for at the first opportun-
ity am sure that they will murder us"
They turned back to Theriere now. The |
man still lay. unconscious and moaning, |
where Byrne had deposited him. The muoker |
removed the gag from Oda Iseka's mouth. |
(which way is water? Ask him." he |
said to Barbara.
The girl put the question.
"Ife says that straight up this rayine be- |
hind us there is little spring" translated |
the girl.
Byrns lifted Theriere in his arms, after |
loosenlng Oda Isekas feet and lettering |
him to his own belt with the same grass |