The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-11-27

worry about that, sheriff Look
there is your car. Gwyn stole it. He
is a thief"
1t was a small card, but it took the
trick. The sheriff knew his master
ITS true" he said. "Mr Gwyn, you
are under arrest" White with anger
at such outrageous treatment, Gwyn
sprang forward in vigorous protest,
but Nan caught his arm and restrain
ed him with a whispered warning. The
explosion, she knew, sounded its own
alarm, and help would be on its way
from the village.
Held did come, and very soon. The
road up the mountain side was dotted
with motors and horsemen before the
last echo had died, and at the head
of the procession came a bright red
machine with a strip of flying bunt-
ing whipping in the wind behind it,
It's radiator was boiling like a kettle
when it drew up beside the track The
man at the wheel was Square Deal"
Hogan, a very wiry little Irishman
who had come to Lost Mine when it
was still a municipal infant, and
whose standing among the townspeo-
pie was won by the fact that he was
ready to give each newcomer his hand
or his fist, as the conduct and inten-
tions of the visitor might warrant He
took in the situation at a glance.
What's the trouble?' he asked,
stepping forward.
Gwyn started to explain, his audi
ence growing larger every minute as
the rescuers arrived. Nan, standing
at his side, sought the eye of each
friend in the crowd nodding silent as
sent. When Gwyn concluded there
was a silence. Hogan read the faces
about him with growing confidence
and walked out to face the sheriff.
But Causley too, had seen the swift
rise of suspicion. With a wink to
Won Bleck he turned to Gwyn with
smile of conciliation
"Why didn't you tell me this be-
fore?' he said. Then turning, he al
most shouted at the abject Won Bleck
stand up, therel Come herei You
are under arrest, do you hear?"
Won Bleck rose painfully and was
led to the sheriffs machine
"The sooner he's under lock and
key the better!" Causley called back
to the crowd, and a moment later the
car turned a corner and was gone.
very odd, wasn't it?' said Gwyn
''You must have hypnotized him, Ho-
gan. But l don't understand it yet"
AS the words passed his lips he chok-
ed and started. Comprehension swept
over his features like a fit of pain, a
realization more agonizing than phys
ical torture. Won Bleck had the old
deedsl Causley had tricked him. The
ownership of the mine and all it meant
to the nation would pass into the
hands of the enemy
He fairly dragged Nan and Hogan
to the auto, explaining as he went
Hogan. clear-eyed and determined,
took the wheel. 1t was race for
the greatest prize on earth. They
swept down the road like a flying
projectile, faster and faster, and fas-
! ter yet, as they struck the downgrade
and rushed on. Mans ears hummed
and rang with the pressure of the
wind. Gwyn shielded his face with
his hands. But Hogan, his eyes mar
rowed to mere Sits, crouched tense
and motionless over the wheel.
At the top of a rise they glimpsed
the car of the sheriff only a half a
mile ahead They were gaining. .
And then occurred one OF those tricks
of fate that so often twist our hopes.
A little thing it was-only a wood
cutter Telling a tree. But both cars
were on the same stretch when the fl
nal stroke went home, and the great
oak began to fall across the road. 1t
was a desperate chance, but Won
Bleck was desperate enough to meet
it.
Drive on" he commanded. more
speed" And Causley's car shot out
from the swiftly descending shadow