The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-25

savory edibles. As the clumsy pupn
bumped against an improvised tahL
consisting of a board resting on tn
barrels, q large bowl containing {
sirupy- Like mixture toppled onto hi
back and deluged him with its IN
tire contents.
At that moment there entered tn
tent q swarthy italian dressed In tn
garb Of a waiter. Either through I
doggish distrust Of this forhiddini
figure or because of a guilty dreaa
of the punishment his recent mis-
chief might bring. the sirup-drenches
puppy skunk into a dark corner Of tn
tent and waited for Black Toney b,
leave. But that worthy showed N
immediate Intention Of departure In
stead he seated himself on 4 cracks
box and studied small square q
paper with every evidence Of salts
faction.
He made a movement TO stun tha
soiled bit of parchment into his hi
pocket, but in his haste he xnissA
the pocket and the paper fell to tn
ground, where a puff of wind. creep
ing under the tent. fiuttered 1t und0
the nose OF the frightened puppy
He shifted at 1t curiously. but tn
glue-like substance now soaking
through his shaggy coat was q mat
ter needing much more urgent at
tention. Forgetting the menace q
that repellent stranger, he ROLES
frantiealiy~ on his back, endeavoTtni
to rid himself Of that cohering ant
exasperating liquid with which h
was smeared. His long. sticky hair
caught up that scrap Of paper, which
by his distracted wallowing, wa
worked into his matted coat unit
it chung with burr-like tenacity.
Although Black Tony was In igno
rance that his discriminating diagram
had been appropriated in this od'
manner. he had an inherent dislike
for all animals. which he now mani
tested by bestowing q well directe'
kick with his heavy boot upon tn
struggling Sandy. The injured an,
much aggrieved puppy gave one yell
OF panied surprise and darted out O
the tent. With dropping tail ans
equally dropping spirits. he started a
fast as his short legs could carry hin
for the home Of Aunty Kicks. which
was the place of his nativity, ans
where no such brutal treatment a.
this had ever been melted out to him
The maltreated Sandy. reaching IN,
Old gray farm house which had form
erly been his home, raced through
the open door into the cheerful living
room were a somewhat dejectet
young man was sitting with an cid
erly, kindly-faced woman.
"Sakes alive. IL 1t amt that pul
come back home!' she calculated.
Her younger-eyed companion Inn
rnediately saw that something wa
amiss with the pet he had bestowe'
upon Margory Golden as partin,
gift.
Then he saw the scrap OF pape
sticking in the dogs matted hair an'
his face grew serious. Perhaps tn
one he loved was in danger ana u
this strange way had sent a messag
asking his help. with swift fingers h
disentangied the paper and. smooth
ing out its gumny creases. studie
It with frowning intensity. What h
saw was rough sketch Of a larr
field tent, with q tree outlined clos
beside Il.
To the puzzIed-eyed young maj
came a sudden and startled compre
hension OF those apparently meaning
less drawings. Only that Afternoon
he had passed the great manor houe
and seen the preparations for the lawn
fete to which he had received no In
vitation. He had noted the stripes
marquee put up directly under tn
mammoth oak
That time would undoubtedly be tn,
supper hour. Davy's face went whit
as he hurriediy glanced at the clocl
on the mantel. A fearful apprehen
sion seized him that 1t might alreadi
be too late to prevent the fright
full massacre planned by the one
armed criminal. Paying no heed 3
the anxious queries Of his wonder
ing companion. he rushed from tha
room in a frenzy Of dread forebod
ing. AS he flung himself upon HI
pulsating motorcycle and shot on
into the darkness.
would have been a hundredfold IN
tensified could he have seen the muir
derous italian. who at that momeu
touched lighted match to the en-
OF the time fuse projecting from tn,
nearly severed oak.
It was a race between q spark
fire eating its way UP the ever
shortening fuse and a wildly driver
motorcycle lurching through tn
night. The stakes of that desperat,
race were precious human lives. Ono
the race was nearly lost. a. tn,
pounding machine missed by hair't
breadth a heavy touring car Will
vision binding headlights. Then 4
careened into the driveway of III.
brilliantly lighted grounds. races
madly across the level stretch q
lawn and into the very tent itself 10
fore its white-lipped rider leapet
from the saddle.
Run. all of you! Run for yosx
lives!" he cried frantically.
As his meaning dawned upon tn
startled guests they stampeded from
that threatened tent like a flock d
fear-crazed sheep. Even az the.
cleared the guy-ropes q dull. mutt
fed defamation split the air and tn
stricken oak swayed unsteadiiy "a
an instant: then 1t came toppltn,
down on those deserted walls OF can
vas with a roar like the mighty crasl
or thunder clouds.
AS David Manley relinquished ht
hold on the white-faced girl who's
life he had saved. she turned to him /.
little shyly.
II don't know how to thank 70,
for what you have done. Dayy." 81
m IA fvsnp,,1 sivolu