The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-11-11
FIFTH EPISODE
THE INTERVENTION OF TITO

David Nanley vas not altogether .
proud of his days work. As he SAT
tied and bound on the rough brick
floor beneath the Owls Nest that once .
tlippant- minded young man even ac-
knowledgcd that things looked rather
bad for him He had been made
prisoner The iron claw Of Legar had
reached suddenly out and closed about
him.
But David Manl"y did not altogether
give up AS he lay there. sore in body,
but even more battered in mind. he
still systematically struggled with the
cords that held him hand and foot,
glad enough to be no longer gagged
vet fretting. as all active animals must
fret, against his loss OF freedam. But
Legars men had not skimped their
lob. So tight and well tied were those
strands of cotton rope about his limbs,
in fact, that they had already served
to arrest circulation.
The solitude of that unsavory den
did not add to his comfort. The mere
fact that Legar could see fit TO leave
prisoner thus unguarded impressed
the prisoner with the fact that his one
armed enemy was only too well as
sured of his power. And the more
Manley thought of Legar and his meth
DDS the more that sinister figure seems
to bewilder him. He knew that Legar
vas the unrelenting and eternal enemy
Of Enoch Golden, just as he had been
the enemy OF Goldens daughter Mar
CORY.
The thought of Margory directed
Manley's mind back to the earlier
events of that strange day. He recalled
his long talk with that quiet-eyed girl
in the quiettoned shadows of the
Golden library 1t had been the first
talk between them into which the per
sonal note had entered. He had en-
loved that talk, for he had felt, as 1t
progressed, that the girl had begun to
realize he was her friend, that he want
ed to be her friend. She had ex-
planned why her father had been called
away from the city. She had even con-
fessed that she felt more secure know
ing Manley himself was within reach.
But the Quietness Of the Golden
home had proved to be nothing more
than a lull which preCedes the sud-
den storm For, five minutes after he
had left the smiling girl, the Golden
butler. with terror in his eyes. had
come running to him saying there was
stranger in the house. a stranger
who had been seen lurking about the
halls and had promptly disappeared
at the sight of one of the servants.
SO Manley forgetting everything else.
had promptly Joined in the search for
that mysterious intruder. And his first
thought. after doing so, had been for
Margory Golden.
Hurrying to the library to make sure
of her safety. he had found her seated
at her fathers desk. quietly talking
over the telephone. And there had
been little in that scene not suggestive
OF tranquility. For blinking placidly
down rom its perch beside her had
stood Tito. Margory GOlden's newly
acquired parrot. for which Manley him
self had small love. This feeling was
III, Al
air Of wisdom surrounding that green
bodied flcher of human phrases. as on
the somewhat disturbing trick, taught
II BY some earlier master, of seeking
out gas jets and turning them on the
moment it was freed from its chain.
Yet as 1t had stood close beside the
girl 80 busily talking over the tele-
phone It had seemed as companionably
innocent as a canary. And il had
turned to blink sagely at Manley as the
girl, apparently unconscious OF his
presence, had crossed to the mahogany
faced vault set in the library wall and
proceeded to open its pOnderous door.
This had startled Manley not little,
for the combination of that vault was
a secret jealOusly guarded by Golden.
a secret unknown to Manley himself.
IL was not until she stood with the
massive door swung open that Maniey
had confronted her. But she showed
no embarrassment at his sudden inter
ruption.
MY father has just phoned from
Philadelphia" she explained There
are certain papers he must have for
his conference with the Regent Trust
company tomorrow"
But when did you find out how TO
open that door," had been Manleys
inquiry.
Two minutes ago. over the tele-
phone" had been the girls reply. as
she completed her search for the neces-
sary papers.
Then the sooner that door Is shut
and locksd again the better" he had
warned her
Why" she rad asked. FOR the first
time conscious ~ his excitement.
because there's an unknown man
hiding somewhere In this house, and
heaven only knows What he's after.
IN lines Ike these"
Even az ne had spoken NanIsy had
detected an unnatural iuIlness about
the portiers drsping the side door 70
the library And on the polished par.