Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-12-01

/ Va -
Anyhow, you're coming right in
the house with me-
NO. I'm not"
Look at your hand,' said Mary
tersely
Startled, June obeyed The Red
Circle glarcd back at her with malevo-
lent intensity. Just for a second her
face clouded. Then the same, queer,
mischieyous smile returned.
well, what OF it?' she challenged.
"You know Mary answered, sim
ply. Come into the house with me
before you get into any trouble, dear"
u don't want to-"
Please. I'm 30 worried, pet"
"Oh, all right. Only don't look 30
distressed
Upstairs, June entered her room and
ran to the window. The organ grind
er had moved out Of sight. A strange,
~sickening sensation came over her
as she thought of him and his treat
ment OF the monkey.
On n little table near the window
n small pair OF scissors caught the
sun and reflected the light, SO that
it dazzled the eyes. June caught sight
OF them. She picked them up quickly
and slipped them, almost involuntarily
into the pocket of her dress. Then
she reached for a small sport hat that
was lying on n chair and ran out Of
the room, closing the door behind her.
On the sand, leaning against q pile,
under the pier, sat the Italian organ
grinder sound asleep-his old, bat
tered organ propped up beside him.
The monkey, sitting on his lap, pulled
restlessly at his coat,
The man walked stupidity for the
fraction of a second, cuffed the mon
key over the head, forced him down
on his lap again and went back to
sleep.
June crept around, under the pier,
keeping well behind him until she
made sure that he was really asleep
not shamming. Very cautiously
she dropped to her knees and crawled
toward the organ.
With remarkable rapidity she un'
buckled the broad, tough strap that
was attached to it and got on hel
feet. Then she listened to the Ital
ian's loud breathing, before she
moved forward quietly until she
stood directly behind the pile against
which he vas leaning.
There was no fear on her face
Only caution and a certain cunning
boldness. Stealthily, she slipped thu
strap around the sleeping mans body
drawing it back behind the pile. Sh'
put the eyelet end through the buckle
but did not fasten it. Then she pu
the scissors on the sand beside her.
Having proceeded SO far success
fully, she thought for an instant, try
ing to determine what her next nov
would be. Picking up the scissor
she slipped her right hand around tn
pile and started to cut the monkey
rope, close to the Italians hand. Tn
monkey, sensing that a deliyerer ha
come, laid his little face against he
hand, softly.
= June pushed him back gently. TIL
scissors were dull. The rope wa
= tough. The effort to cut it brougt
the blood to her hand. Slowly, tn
Italian blinked his eyes and opene
them.
Immediately under his nose was
. strong young hand welding a glitte
v ing weapon. Halfconscious, h
II s|huddered inwardly. In his nigh
/, mare, someone was working out
vendetta-successfully. His eye
closed. The vividness Of the drea'
was too much for him. however. +
opened them again. This time all
could see was a ring of scarlet-s
omen of eternal bloodshed,
Stupid with sleep, he made a ha
attempt to sit erect. On the insta
June pulled the strap tight with h
Il left hand, bucklod it, seized the mo
key with the right and sped Off dow
the beach, the cut rope trailing
hind her.
On the edge of the sand, an {
woman in black, CHASTITY pale and p
rifed with fear, watched her 90.
strapped to the pile, the Itali
was kicking up an awful row.
In the distance, June ran into t
entrance to Surfton park and fount
spot girdler by shrubbery. In
ST midst OF i, stood a giant tree W
an absurdly thick trunk.
al The monkey shifted affectionat
81 at her chin and raised his little pI
ii June Rugged him up to her, cut
~ rope close to his collar, and started
take of his ludicrous little hat 6
:" coat. All undressed, as he was me
US. to be, the monkey reverted to t,
red and gazed longingly at an overha
her ing branch. June looked up at
ore low.swaying foliage,
1t, "Of course you want to get up tn,
ust you poor, ill.treated little beast
she whispered to him. That's W
hat | stole you for. To set you free.
ess thank you to the lady and sh
the hands,"
les She reached up and pulled
Iwn branch down to her. Then she "
ed to see what he would do. v
ngl lust one regrotful look, as thcugt
yer say, I'm not ungrateful-but oh,
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