Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-09-12

four of them to the statioR-house and
don't let them go till you've put the
fear of the law into their hearts"
He walked out, summoned the ele-
vator, and paused on his way through
the lobby long enough to communicate
confidentially with the sardonic clerk.
Just one more break like that, my
friend" he said, smiling sweetly, land
you'n lose your license. Remember 1
have warned you"
Without waiting for response, Don
aid left the hotel.
| As he did SO, taxicab drew up at
| the carriage block and Rodney Wrenn
jumped out and turned to help Patria,
who uttered little cry of pleasure at
sight of her betrothed-a cry that,
drawing Rodney's attention to Donald,
struck the former limp with surprise
and dismay.
"Why, Don! 1 didn't expect to find
you herel Rodney persuaded me to
come with him to see Mother Wrenn
and"
Just waitl" Donald interrupted,
signaling the taxi-man. To Rodney
he said quietly:
do l understand you told Patria
/ your mother was stopping at this
hotel? Or is the truth of the matter
that Huroki put you up to this trick,
and you brought Patria here to see me
led away under arrest-disgraced?
The boy could neither find words to
answer him with or endure his eyes,
but stood with head bowed in shame.
Still no answer; but Donald knew
that he had guessed shrewdly at the
truth.
"Come, dear" Donald said to Patria,
and assisted her to re-enter the cab.
Within ten minutes they Joined
Ryley at the corner of that quiet street
in the Murray Hill quarter.
you're just in time" he informed
them; 'the trap is ready TO spring.
Nobody has come out since Huroki re-
turned over an hour ago but De Lima
has just gone in"
"Did he see you, or suspect-w
81 think not. Only one thing wor-
ries me; he used a passkey to open
the front door after ringing the bell
several times and getting no answer"
"Get your men together. Wen waste
no more time"
Ryley's whistle brought up half
dozen men, plain-clothes detectives
and subordinates of Patria's private
force. Together they moved toward
the modest little residence in the
middle of the block.
AS they approached, Donald, search
ing its windows with suspicious eyes.
detected a face at one-a face that
peered out furtively, then disappeared.
The brief glimpse he got of it remind
ed him of De LIMA badly frightened
and bewildered De Lima.
Then they were at the door. One
of the men produced stout jimmy
and stopped to apply it to the lock.
Simultaneously frightful detona-
ton Numbered within the building. 1t
rocked upon its foundations. The
glass panels of the door broke and fell
outwards, shattered by the force of the
4
When Donald's party, was able to en-
ter, the entire interior of the house
was found TO be in ruins, completely
demolished by dynamite.
Near the front door the body of De
Lima lay, pinned between two great
timbers, his back broken; the mans
death had been mercifully instantan-
eous.
Further investigation established the
fact that Huroki and his creatures,
making their escape by way of a secret
passage to a house on the downtown
side of the block, had planted an in
fernal machine at the mouth of the
passage, so wired that the first at
tempt to follow would bring about the
| explosion.
De Lima, arriving too late to accom-
pany the fugitives, and seeking TO es-
cape the police. had thus been left to
/ bring about his own humiliation.
(END OF NINTH EPISODE.)