The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1916-12-28

not minded to risk broken heads and
sore bones in Il fair hand-to-hand fight.
One of them whipped out revolver
and fired pointblank ut Reilly. The
bullet struck him in the breast and
he staggered and fell. Burton, giving
his faithful companion one agonized
glance. was momentarily taken una
wares and soon yielded to an attack
In force.
The whole dramatic scene ended al
most as quickly as ii had begun. Bur
ton was now prisoner again. and
poor Reilly lay grooming on the floor,
little caring what further suffering a
vicious fate might have In store for
him.
For few seconds II looked as
though the brains of both men would
have been shot out then and there.
But. as Burton asccrtained subse-
quently. Mother Flanagan had been
an interested spectator not only of the
fight but Of Reilly's unexpected re-
lease, with its sequel in the explosion
of the bomb outside the house. The
old hag herself. aided by Two-Gun
Jake, had experimental with fuses of
various lengths. and meant making II
last attempt 10 extort ransom from
the principal victim before il WAS too
late.
Knowing that the gang did not pos
sess II second bomb, she determined TO
change her tactics. and interviewed
shrilly ut the very instant one of her
henchmen was drawing pistol with
intent to fire poiut-hlank in Burton's
face.
'I GU wait for orders, you boob she
screamed. "Who told you To butt in?
Put away that gun. and tie him up in
the chair again"
Her command was obeyed with diff
ticulty. since both chairs had been
broken in the struggle. While John
WAS being dashed To II rickety seat. he
looked calmly into the scowling faces
of his prosecutors.
What good will it do any of you
To kill me?" he said. "You are only
committing n stupid crime, which will
hue and cry of the most determined
kind"
Mother Flanagan thrust herself for
ward. Her evil eyes blazed into his.
Nov you're talkin'," she croaked.
"Do us a bit of good. an save yourself.
VIII you give us fifty thousand dollars,
an keep mum when we turn you
loosen"
John shook his head.
That is not my meaning at all" he
said quietly. TO buy my life on those
terms simply implies the triumph of
evil. l will repay You by help and
kindness. l will promise you the fair
treatment which many of you have
never yet received from society, but
l absolutely refuse to bargain In terms
OF money"
You do, eh?" screamed the yirago.
We'll see about that. You are In our
hands here. Mr.. Marquis. and don't
you forget it. II 1t weren't for the
carelessness of some of these blunder-
in idiots you and your pal would have
gone up minnit since In smoke an
fire. You think. perhaps, that the
cops are after us. an II you can only
waste time they'll rescue you. Don't
you believe ii. To prove my words,
I'll give you one hour. If. however, at
the end of that time you don't promise
To pay down fifty thousand plunks just
when and where we want 'em, | my
self will drive knife through your
ribs, an let the boys here finish the
job as they like afterwards"
Ii was only too evident that the
dreadful old creature meant what she
said. but John met her malignant gaze
unflinehingly. almost with compassion.
Every WELL" he said, Il accept your
respite of an hour. Bind Reilly's
wounds, and give him some water.
+. Now, men," he added, sweep