The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-10-26

likely to call in municipal aid In their
search, lest their WI duplicity would
be discovered. He reasoned that he
was dealing with desperate men who
would stop at nothing to get back he
original cipher paper, and stop his
mouth. He was well aware that only
death would be considered q sufficient
%silencer for him after what he a seen
at Mr.. Holman's Dime table, for the
evidence he could give would involve
the honor Of every man who a sat
there. He saw in a flash that the two
henchmen whom he was sure were even
now riding in the car on his right a
been at the table for the purpose Of
silencing him If he showed any signs
Of giving trouble. The wonder was that
any of them dared call in a stranger
on a matter Of such grave import,
which meant u to them all If they
were found out, but probably they had
reasoned that every mar had his price
and had intended to offer him a share
of the booty. 1t was likely that the
chief a caused 1t to be understood by
them that he was the right kind of man
for their purpose. Yet. Of course, they
had taken precautions, and now they
had him well caught, an auto on one
side, a motorcycle OF the other, and no
telling how many more behind! He had
been a fool to get into this carriage. He
might have known it would only trap
i'Ali ~ IlAo 4 llS l. coo
lutely no chance for escape now-yet
he must fight to the last He put his
hand on his revolver to make sure 1T
was easy to get at, tried to think
whether it would not be better to chew
up and swallow that cipher message
rather than to run the risk Of it's fall
ing again into the hands Of the enemy;
decided that he must carry it intact to
his chief if possible; and finally that he
must make a dash for safety at once,
when just then the carriage turned
briSkly into a wide driveway, and the
attendant auto and motorcycle dropped
behind as If puzzled at the move. The
carriage stopped short n 9 bright
light from an open doorway was
flung into his face. There seemed to
be high stone walls on one side n the
lighted doorway on the other HAND evil
IDENTIFY led into a great stone building.
He could hear the putting of the car
and cycle just behind. A wild notion
that the carriage had been placed in
front of the house to trap him in case
he tried to escape, and that he had been
brought to prison, fitted through his
mand.
His hand was on his revolver as the
coachman jumped down to fling open
the carriage door, for he intended to
fight for his liberty to the last.
He glanced back through the carriage
window, and the lights Of the auto
glared in his face. The short, thick set
man was getting out Of the car, and the
motorcyclist had stood his machine up
against the wall and was coming to-
ward the carriage. Escape was going
to be practically impossible. A wild
thought Of dashing out the opposite
door of his carriage, boldly Selling the
motorcycle and making off on it passed
through his mind, and then the doo
on his left was flung open and the
10 rri n sa woo i'm M oIiata1v SI1rrn11n1n1
by six excited men in evening dress, all
talking at once. Here you are at
last!" they chorused.
Where is the best man?" shouted
some n from the doorway. Hasn't
he come, either?" And as if in answer
n Of the men by the carriage door
wheeled and called excitedly: yes,
he's come! Tell him-tell Jeff-tell
him he's come" Then turning once
moro to Gordon he seized him by the
arm and cried: Come on quickly!
There isn't a minute to wait. The or
ganist is fairly frantic. Everybody has
been just as ervou as could be. We
you know. But don't let that worry
It's all right now you've come.
Forget 1T, old man, and hustle" Dimly
Gordon perceived above the sound Of
subdued hubbub that an organ was
playing, and even as he listened it
- NM SAAS ~ 41oNSS VI i "Cu-
ding march. 1t dawned upon him that
this was not a prison to which he had
come but a church-not a court room
but a wedding, and, horror Of horrors!
they took him for the best man. His
disguise had been his undoing. How
with his pursuers just behind!
Let me explain" he began, and
wondered what he could explain.
There's no time for explanations
now, man. I tell you the organ has
begun the march. We're expected to
be marching down that middle aisle
this very minute and Jeff is waiting
for us in the chapel. I sent the signal
to the bride and another to the organ
list the minute we sighted you. Come
on! Everybody knows your o was
late in coming In. You don't need to
explain a thing till afterwards"
At that moment one Of the ushers
moved aside and the short, thick set
man stepped between, the light shin
ing fully upon his face, and Gordon
knew him positively for the man who
had sat opposite him at the table a few
minutes before. He was peering
eagerly into the carriage door and Cor
don saw his only escape was into the
church. With his heart pounding like
a trip hammer he yielded himself to
h six ushers, who swept the little
pursuer aside as If he had been a fly
n literally bore Gordon up the steps
and into the church door.
A burst of music filled his senses,
and dazzling lights, glimpses Of flow
ers. palms and beautiful garments be-
wildered him. His one thought was
for escape from his pursuers. Would
they follow him into the church and
drag him out in the presence of all
these people, or would they be. thrown
off the track for a little while and
give him opportunity yet to get away?
He looked around wildly for a place
OF exit. but he was In the hands OF
the insistent ushers. One Of them
chartered to him in q low, growing
whisper, sue as men use on solemn
occasion:
ut must have been rough on you,
being anxious like this about getting
here, but never mind now. It'll go all
right. Come on. Here's your cue and
there stands Jefferson over there. You
and he go In with the minister, you
know. The groom and the best man,
YOU understand. they'll tell you when.
jeff has the ring, all right, so you
won't need to bother about that.
There's absolutely nothing for you to
do but stand where you're put ard go,
out when the rest do. You needn't feel
a hi% nnrryoy,o y ~ s S