The Little River news., 1917-11-10

rebounded. Number two tried to follow ais leader Thero was a sharp snap. board crashed in two, and with the parted timbers the man came hurting downward, struck the ground with a ! groan, and lay there inert
 acted on impulse. There was not doubt in my mInd that the two men were the persons for whom Marvel was waiting. Through the open roof could see the first man clinging to the sill of window, wavering as if in doubt as to what course he should pursue I hastened his decisica 1 Reaching out for the weapon Marvel had given me, I pumped it dry against the ground in a corner of the she'd
 The fallen man stirred, bat he did , not open his eyes. The man over ] head must have seen me. With all exclamation of manifest dismay he let go of the window support. He made a smooth, splendid slide the length of the roof and landed with a dead clump on the ground with both feet, The next instant he swung into view at the open doorway of the shed. A glance revealed the condition of his comrade, the same glance took me in, empty weapon extended. He backed away with a scowl, fitted across the yard and cleared about all that was left of the fence, the top stringer, on the fly.
 I heard a door in the house slam. It was Marvel, coming out. It was Mar vel, his eye fixed on the flying fugitive, to whom l shouted, rather incoherent- 1 Iy:
 The two men-Tve got one here, i unconscious"
 Then l saw, first the fugitive disap- ] pear around the corner of long line i of freight cars, then Marvel in pur- i suit, vanishing in turn. took it upon myself to stand not two feet away l from my captive. 1 leaned over and prodded his clothing, dreaming of sure glory should I find the s80,000 pack age aboard of him.
 It was not, and the man reused up under my rather clumsy handling. He rolled over and finally sat up, rubbing his confused head with a wry grimace of pain,
 "Sit still,' l ordered full valiantly, the empty weapon extended, and it served as quieting menace.
 As I glanced towards the house saw the woman Nance come out into the yard, leading the little child by the hand She wavered irresolutely for a moment or two and looked all about the place. Abruptly she snatch. cd up the child and ran towards the street, leaving the house open and unguardod Had I been unhampered I would have detained her, for she was in a measure one of the cen tral figures in the case in hand. How ever, 1 reasoned that my duty was with the man who had fallen into my power so accommodating My pris- oner had an evil eye, and In a clear test of physical strength he was far my superior, His fall had clearly crippled his normal activity, and the leYeled weapon did the rest.
 It was nearly half an hour before Marvel reappcared One hand was in a side coat pocket, In front of him, two paces ahead, was the man who had slid the roof. As soon as my cap tive could get onto his feet and steady himself there was a group of four. Marvel made his prisoner pilot the way. A street corner was reached, a i police officer summoned and we were soon at Central station.
 Marvel showed no self-glorifcation, but was very particular as to the dis position of the prisoners. After they ! had been searched and were removed 1 to separate cells below, stairs, almost l immediately the turnkey came to the dCor of the stairway and beckoned to my friend, who joined him after a word to me to await his return.
 At the end Of an hour Marvel re- turned The cloud of thought was not yet dispelled from his face He had card in his hand, and he came over and sat down beside me with the air l of a person a good deal tired and i somewhat disturbed.
 Tt results in this" he said, and re- yersed the card so I could view what he had penclled upon it:
 "E. N.-16791."
 I looked oyer the initials and num- Der vaguely. What does it mean?" l asked.
 You tell me-" replied Marvel, and then his chin sank into his hand in his old thoughtful way, and l did not disturb him, for l knew he was wrestling with some intricate prob lem.
 The two fellows we have caged," he volunteered finally, "are kings iR their crooked profession. The one I chased down had carried the booty"
 When he reached that woman's house?"
 "Yes. We found the notation strip of the stolen package in his pocket. He led me stern chase-over tracks, under cars. through them, over their tops, and finally threw up his hands when he knew l would shoot. When l IL