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

A Group Of Silent Fiaur
his extortiOn-resisting cOmpatriots. For
this reason Legar had prepared a
rough diagram. which he now carefully
explained to the furtive-eyed black
mailer.
That this diabolical undertaking was
entirely to the liking Of Black Tony
was evidenced by his evil, yellow
tOOthed grin as he took the paper from
Legdr's fingers and placed 1t In his
pocket. Carrying a small and we'll
worn black bag, he started blithely
forth on his terrible errand Of destruc-
ton.
Dressed in a rusty tuxedo, the sup
posed waiter emerged from the gayly
striped marquee where the long sup
per table was receiving its finishing
touches and paused for a moment on
his way to the small service tent
which was pitched near by. His eyes
roved over that assemblage much as
the eyes of a cold-blOoded butcher
might appraise a flock of sheep herded
for slaughter. As his glance rested
upon the massive oak towering over
the r~efreshment tent, he made a little
grimace Of evil satisfaction.
Several feet from its base the great
trunk had been nearly sawn through
by Legar's picked henchmen. And
now their ruthless handiwork had
been supplemented by the charge of
powerful explosive which waited only
the spark Of ignition to send that
huge oak patriarch crashing down up
on the fimsy affair Of canvas under
its branches.
The dark-skinned Italian, exulting
over the successful completion of the
first part Of his deadly mission, stood
amidst a scene of wOndrOus beauty.
High in the heavens swung the full
moon, casting its mellow effulgence
over shimmering lake and wooded hill.
Dispelling the waverlng shadows were
myriads of softly glowing lights, fes-
looming the trees and bespangling the
%shrubbery. From the rose garden came
the sound of gently spiashing fountains
as they flung their silvery cascades
into the scented air. Beautifully
gowned women and their somber clad
escorts danced on the velvety lawns to
the softly swelling music of the great
orchestra, or strolled arm in arm about
this brilliant land of enchantment.
A slender, golden-haired girl was
the center of a laughing group. AS
she caught sight of something NOV
ing at her feet she stopped and picked
up a sleepy and bllnkingeyed collie
puppy, which she held snuggled in
her arms for a moment.
snow, Sandy" she admonished, as
she set him down, lit is time all good
little dogs were in bed, so run home
as fast as you can"
The dutiful Sandy started for the
house In obedience to the commands
of his mistress, but as he passed the
caterers service tent sundry whiffs
and Odors assailed his nostrils with
an insistent temptation that was moi
to be denied. He quietly slipped
through that inviting opening and
finding no n 20 dispute him, nOsed
inqUisitively into various hampers OF
savOry edibles. AS the clumsy PUPPY
bumped against an ~imprOyised table
consisting of a board resting on two
barrels, a large bowl containing {
siruplike mixture toppled Onto his
back and deluged him with it's entir,
contents.
At that moment there entered thu
tent a swarthy Italian dressed In tn,
? garb Of a waiter. Either through
dOggish dlstrust of this forbiddlnl
: figure or because Of a guilty dreaC
t Of the punishment his recent mis-
chief might bring, the sirup-drenche,
r puppy skunk into a dark corner Of tn
tent and waited for Black Tony t
leave. But that worthy showed n,
e Immediate intention OF departure. In
. stead he seated himself on a cracke
e box and studied a small square o
paper with every evidence Of salts
5 faction.
a He made a movement TO stun tina
r solled bit of parchment into his hi
( pocket, but in his haste he misseI
, the pocket and the paper fell to tn
r ground, where a pun Of wind Greer
+ ing under the tent, huttered It undo
the nose of the frightened puppy. H
!, shifted at 1t c%uriously, but the gluelik
$ substance now soaking through hi
s shaggy coat was a matter needin
y much more urgent attention. Forget
ting the menace of that repellen
s stranger, he rolled frantically on hi
back. endeavoring TO rid himself Q
d that cohering and exasperating liqui
4 with which he was smeared His lOni