Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-01-19

ponderable space of time to under
stand the scene confronting her. But
as she stared out she saw where her
unsuspecting chauffeur had stepped
on the cross-marked flagstone. for it
was now several inches lower than
the rest of the floor. And this, OBJ
viously, had released a steel arm
which had swung suddenly forward and
swept the startled intruder fiat
against the stone wall, holding him
there as in a wise. And as he stood
pinioned there a great block of gran.
lite, released by some hidden ma.
chinery, was slowly descending from
the roof of the corridor. Margery
quickly manipulated the chains and re-
leased the chauffeur.
Let me at 'em!" he shouted, bran.
dishing the automobile wrench which
he still carried in his hand. Just
let me at emf
Its no use," cried Margery, hold
ing him back. They have gone, the
lot of them. And we've got to follow
quickly, or there'll be whole fam
lily meet a worse fate than yours
might have been tonight,
She had taken the wrench from his
hand and was leadingDhim out of the
tunnel mouth by this time, explain
ing that he would have to bring his
taxicab from it's hiding place and at
once start in pursuit of the Iron Claw.
But these explanations came to a sud-
den and an unexpected ending. for Le-
gar and his followers, skulking in the
bushes, caught that betraying sound
too good to be missed. They closed in
on the girl and the taxi-driver. Yet
that sullen-spirited driver. when cor.
nered. fought with an energy so ex-
plosive that the entire circle became
involved in the struggle. It was Le-
gar himself. and only Legar. who had
the presence of mind to direct the at.
tention towards the girl. He swung
suddenly about and started for her.
She saw him coming. raised the heavy
wrench which she still carried in her
hand. and sent it fat against his bony
temple. Before her stunned assailant
could get to his feet again she turned
and ,darted on through the bushes.
reached the road. and ran on through
the moonlight. with her breath COM
ing in little gasps of fatigue.
So colorless was her face as the be-
wildered Dan O'Mara opened the door
that he started back in alarm. And
her words were even more disturb
ing.
Come away" she called out.
Come quick, or It will be too late!"
And what's wrong now?" asked
the astounded householder.
Get Peggy" gasped the girl as she
stared frantically about the little
room. Get her away from here, quick!
The house has been mined! There's
been a bomb left here. and any mo-
ment-"
She stopped speaking. for the pun
gent smell of powder smoke had as-
sailed her nostrils. Then from the
open window, in which a somewhat
neglected flower-box stood, came q
faint sputter of sound. one moment
lower and the next moment louder.
And drifting in from the flower-box
she could see q thin trail of gray
smoke.
She ran to the window. Lying in
the fower-box she saw a heavy
cylinder of metal. Even before she
caught sight of the time-fuse which
quietly Kissed and burned at one end
of the cylinder. she knew what 1t was.
1t was the Internal machine which Le-
CARS agent had placed there to dc.
stroy the house. And at any moment
the explosion might take place.
Margery caught the heavy cylinder
up in her hands. She even tried to
blow out the fuse. But this was use.
less. Then she tried to tear it away.
But this second effort was equally
fruitless. And sheer panic took pos
session of her at the thought of her
helplessness. The bomb dropped from
her fingers to the floor. She made one
instructive effort to warn poor young
Peggy O'Mara away. as the girl ran
to her side. But instead of repeating
that warning she let her arms close
about the slender body a. though in
mute acknowledgment that she knew II
was already too late. For the fuse. she
could see, was burning down into the
end of the cylinder itself. She even
closed her eyes. awaiting the inev'
| table.
She opened them again, At the sound
| of q sudden step. She opened them
to see a masked figure dart into the
room, catch up the smoking metal
| cylinder, and with one and the same
movement hurl 1t out through the
| open window.
| The next moment q great detona
ton shook the walls of that house. rat
Ting the windows and driving cloud
of mingled dust and smoke in through
every opening.
| The bomb had exploded. But the
house of O'Mara still stood. And
Peggy and her father stared open
mouthed at the newcomer, who, In