Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-12-15

cliff, some ten feet beyond, appeared
the head and shoulders OF a man. A
moment later tho lean body Of Mike
scrambled to its feet on tho sum-
NIT.
Painting and exhausted from his
steep climb, the beach comber moved
/ forward uncertainty. Sam, seeing him
approach, fancied the whole man hunt
was upon him, and that dozen or
moro pursuers might be at hand. He
| snarled like wild beast cornered.
! With one smash OF his beefy fist he
knocked the painting beach comber
half senseless to the ground then
made off at top speed along the sum-
NIT of the bluff,
AS Mike bllnked uncertainty about
him. he heard mufiled cry that
seemed to come from the ground be.
meath his feet, He jumped to one
side, In superstitious dread.
"Who's-whos there?' he mum
bled.
Six feet below him, and hanging
over a sheer three-hundred foot drop,
chung mana man who had broken
his fall by selling an outcropping jut
Of stone.
TO the stone the unfortunate Lamar
was clinging with both hands.
Mike drew back from the edge
yanked off his ragged coat, twisted It,
ropewise, and tied one end firmly
around his thin waist He wound both
his spindling legs around an upcrop.
ping rock near the edge and once more
leaned over.
The collar OF the coat brushed
against Lamar's face. Max seized it.
Tho weight nearly tore the tramp
loose from his impromptu anchorage.
But he set his teeth and hauled up,
ward.
After what seemed O century OF
agonized EFFORT, Max rolled over the
edge on to the crisp grass of the sum
NIT. There, side by side, he and his
rescuer lay, for space-panting,
Max was in horrible condition. His
evening clothes were torn to ribbons.
His face was bloodsmeared and
bruised. His palms were raw and
bleeding.
Where shall take your" asked the
beach comber.
ITO the Surfton hotel, please an.
swered Max, If you can"
Slowly, Lamar leaning heavily on
his new-found friend, they set Off to.
ward the hotel. Ten minutes later
they were In Maxs own room; and
Mike was easing the injured man care.
fully down into a chair. AS he did So
their eyes met full in the glare of the
electric light above them.
The beach comber started violently;
his palid face turned battleship color
He turned and made as though to
leave the room.
Wait" painted Lamar. Il can't let
you go like this, old man. You've done
me mighty big service-bigger thar
! can ever repay, What can do fol
you in return?"
Nothing at all, MIR. Lamar" was
the beach comber's reply. I'm glat
to have been of service to you"
you know my name!" calculated
Lamar.
II have seen you several times,
evaded the other.
III you won't let me try to repa.
you now." urged Larmar, at leas
let me be Of use to you II ever yov
need help. Here"
Shakily, he drew out one OF hi
cards, from his torn vest pocket
scrawled word or two on 1t an
handed 1t to Mike. The latter too
tho card, pocketed it and--uneasy III
der the increasing curiosity In Max
gaze-shuflled hurriedly from tn
room.
Lamar stared after him; bewildeI
ment momentarily making him forge
his pain and fatigue.
Il know I've seen him BEFORE"
murmured aloud. But where an
when? It wasn't with that tallo'
white face and hunted look and tw,
weeks stubble OF beard. l know tina
But-but-who Is he?"
Tho morning sun was blazing G
the waves and turning Surfton beac
into vista Of glittering silver
From half-hidden cave-mout
near the base OF the bluffs peere
forth puffy and bruised face.
Smiling Sam" Eagan had blunderC
upon this cave In the course Of h
. flight, after his battle with Lamar.
He looked up and down the CLEAR
ing beach, wondering II he might dal
venture forth to appease his goadil
hunger, but, even as he took a st,
forward, he halted and shrank ba,
3 again.
. Along the shore, a turlong distaI
two men were strolling, and to San
!. keen eyes their faces were clearly v
ible.
3 "Jacobs!" he sputtered wrathful
!, And Boyle! The two fly central offi
detectives that used to work with
I mar. Gee! The police haven't vast
much time in hitting my trail"
. He drew back into his cave pausi
= only for an instant to peer down I
8 beach in the opposite direction frc
that whence he had seen the two