The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-08-03
THIRD EPISODE
An Hour to Live.


He was just in time to see Bentley
get into the car with the girl.
All sorts of dark thoughts flashed
through his mind. He determined to
slip on behind and see what happened
to protect Philippa If need should
arise.
Mr.. Bentley was one Of those indi-
viduals who regard all girls as fair
game. He began his attentions to his
companion as soon as they we're out Of
sight of the house and her resistance
he put down to sham modesty. Bridgey
was mistaken. He found it out when
he attempted to kiss the young lady.
She screamed and struggled, and Peter,
pulling himself up, leaped over the top
Of the touring car and joined in the
fray.
Meanwhile the girl, freeing herself,
leaped from the car, and the chauffeur,
slowing down, devoted his efforts to
aiding his master OverpOwer Peter.
They accomplished this in short order
"a blow on the head knocked the
young man unconscious and he lay like
log at the bottom of the tOnncau.
Mr.. Bridgey Bentley was angered as
well as surprised. The chauffeur
pointed in the direction of the woods
into which the girl had run. He SHOOK
his head sayagely. "Never mind the
girl-an apology will square all that
but let's get this fellow to town. Wei
get rid of him for good. Drive to thu
city. You know where"
Arrived at their destination, the own
err Of the car was so intent in helping
his man get the limp Peter into tn
basement that he did not notice tax
which stopped close by, nor observe 1T
occupant, q dark young woman, VIII
peered out and seemed to take a sud
den interest in the proceedings.
Just to what extent her interest wen
Mr.. Bentley was to learn later-bu
now he was occupied In getting hi
victim safely into one of the uppe
rooms, where group of his worker
was waiting.
They jumped when they heard tn
noise on the stairs and then hastene
to assist their leader in binding Pete
hand and foot. He regained conscious
ness during this proceeding and, ga
ing wildly about him, asked where n
was, and struggled to set himself fire.
Mr.. Bentley stood aside and laughed
"Glad to see you're all right agail
Hale" he said mockingly. ut wi
help you to appreciate q little ente
tainment l have arranged for you"
Mr.. Bentley's idea of little ente
tainment proved to be a slow waitir
for death staged with all the ingenu
| ~ of the middle ages, for Peter WI
! carried, bound as he was, until l
stood before q grandfather clock, fro
| the face of which extended q lar'
| army pistol. Before he was fully ava
! of the plot his hands were tied ADO
! his head, his head secured in a kind
! iron brace such as photographers u
! 70 steady nervous sitters and he WI
| left with his eyes on a level with Il
deadly revolver.
| When he realized the hopelessness
his position q wave Of terror swe
a over him.
, His thoughts were diverted from
= terrible position and a glimmer of no
< dawned In his breast when footste
z were heard, as though someone W
y descending the stairs. The noise caus
= a sudden alarm to Mr.. Bentley and
x crew. The leader dashed out to inv
Z tigate, leaving his men to watch I
v prisoner. Creeping up the stairs
y came face to face with dark fgu
4 and Immediately grappled with 1t.
= But Mr.. Bentley had reckOned
y much on his strength. With sudC
= motion his antagonist, who was
n other than the mysterious woman "
e had seen him from the taxi, hers
y unseen, tossed him head first down
y stairs. The thump, thump Of his ]
y brought the watchers pell-mell IT
X the room, and while Rridgey was ca
Y fully feeling his shoulders and legs
~ search for broken bones, several
q the desperadoes ran up the stairs al
n his assailant.
x The mysterious lady, who by gain
v the roof of the adjoining house
q been able to enter the skylight
- Bridgey's rendezvous, had a good ST
x of her pursuers. She had even t
" to use a saw on the plank that ser
g Ms a bridge across the well that di'
cd the buildings. The foremost OF
desperadoes, seeing her skirts Oils
+ pearlng, stepped on the plank Eel
i break In half, threw up his hands
+ plunged fifty feet through the
+ while his Mortified companions, sicl
+ the sight, stood peering below, "
& and trembling.
But Bridgey Bentley was rot
: sort Of man to let even such an 9
! dent divert him from his object. ,.