Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-04-20

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have consoled him greatly could he
have see II. The next moment that
look changed swiftly TO one Of horri-
fed surprise. Over the top OF the Ivy
mantled brick wall hanking the garage
slowly appeared a mans head and
shoulders. Then followed a lean-hn-
gered hand clutching a glltterlng heavy
calibered revolver.
She saw Legar raise the nickeled
revolver and squirt with deliberate
and careful aim over the sights. Be
fore she could utter the cry Of warn
Ing which was trembling on her lips
the revolver In Legar's hand was sud
denly lowered and that malignant
faced outlaw slipped out Of sight.
The white-lipped girl saw that Le-
gar's hurried retreat was due to the
fact that at the moment he vas about
to press the trigger Of that menacing
revolver a hveried chauffeur had
emerged from the garage pushing a
clumsy-lOOking motorcycle. She saw
Davy. still In ignorance Of his near
approach to death. jump into the sad
die Of the cumbersome affair, which
developed a surprising burst Of speed
as 1t flashed down the drive and
veered sharply onto the macadam
highway.
Certain that the unrelenting master
criminal would not so readily relin-
quish his savage purpose Of extermi-
mating the young secretary, and more
anxious for Davy's safety than she
would admit even to herself, Margery
ran lightly to the broad veranda of the
manor house and caught up the field
glasses which were kept hanging
against the wall. Sweeping the long
| stretch Of highway with the powerful
lenses, she quickly picked Up the
straight young figure guiding the rae
Ing motorcycle. With a sigh Of relief
she saw him nearing the crest Of that
ridgellke elevation called Seven Oaks
hill.
.
But as she was about to lower the
glasses she gave a sudden exclamation
Of dlsmay. for the motorcycle SLOWED
down and came to a stop Just on thu
brow of the hill. The kbaki-clad ride
dismounted, and after q SEARCHING
glance about him, proceeded with som,
difficulty to drag the heavy machin,
over the stone wall, where 1t was eff
fectually concealed from the view o
any chance passerby. Then he strucl
OF along the top of the ridge in the dl
rectiOu of the row Of stately tree
standing like sentinels guarding tn,
valley.
Even as Margery stood puzzllng owe
the meaning of these strange maneu
vers, a look of startled apprehensiol
came into her eyes as she saw a grOul
of sinister figures Sinking along tn
side of the road a short distance below
the house.
She knew she must run as she hal
never run before, If by taking advan
tage Of a shortcut she hoped to reacI
Davy before that evil band of gunner
bent on his destruction.
But e-1a az she was about to burs
through the bushes bringing the high
way she heard the low murmur Of ap
preaching voices and realized her reso
lutte efforts had been in vain. Lega
and his fuls0me crew OF jailblrds hal
outstripped her in that arduous race
"He must be In back OF those rocks.
she heard Legar say In positive tones
"and If we go out along the ridge he
going to plug a couple Of us before W
get him. The best way Is to go dow
the hill and circle around back Of him.
It flashed into the mind Of the hid
den eavesdropper that n chance We
remained to save her fathers secrC
tary from a shower Of bullets fire
from a cowardly ambush. BY runnin
directly along the crest OF the ridg
she might still reach Davy before tn
band OF savage marauders, who wer
seeking to creep up on him by a NOR
circuitous route.
But at that moment the straggl
bush at which she had clutched
steady her precarious footing SUE
denly uprooted In her hand, ant
nlnglng up her arms In a vain effOI
to regain her topping balance, sh
went jolting down the sharp decliyit
into the midst Of the astonished guI
men.
Get that she mountaln.goat and e
her quickg' Legar stoImed at hi
vicious followers.
One Of the younger gangsters mad
n flying leap after the agile girl, VIII
now had a start OF several yards. A
she frnntically scrambled up II
broken slope, she could hear the heav.
c~runchlng steps Of her pursuer comm
closer ana closer. She could hear n