Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-04-06

improvised from q red bandanna nand'
kerchiet knotted over his shoulder.
"You can let that work 90 and come
along with u.s." Golden replied, and
as he caught sight Of the stalwari
figure OF one Of the undergardenerH
amid the shrubbery he added, reheo'
lively, "and bring Peter with you.
Fishing in the depths Of a moldy bin
Davy drew out a heavily weighted
gunny sack, which clanked unsteady
to the ears Of the russet-faced police
captain.
This is goin' to make some stir al
headquarters" he gloated. tenderly re
placing the yellow metalled dinner set.
AN I've got a bunch that one-armed
crook amt 30 far OF. Wen send the
swag up to the house an then beat
every inch Of the gully for this bunch
Of ~rattlesnakes." @
This plan met with Golden's approx
al, and be turned to the old gardener
who was standing with mouth agape.
Here, Tim" he ordered, take
Peter and Negus and get this bag up
to the house. Tell Miss Margery
want It locked in the gunroom safe
and keep that safe guarded carefully
until we get back"
It was with much dubious head.
shaking that old Tim accepted this
apparently unwelcome trust, and hob
bled OF in company with Peter, who
bore the treasure sack on his shoulder,
while the perturbed Negus trailed
close behind with his rife. AS they
reached the graveled driveway swing
ing in a graceful half circle under the
columned porte-cochere the head gar
dener stopped as though struck by a
sudden thought.
BE gorry!" he calculated, eth mas
Their clane forgot he kapes that safe
locked up entoirely, nary a soul but
himself KNOWN tn combination-Na.
gus, be a good lad and run back an
ask him what1l we be dom with tn
sack"
Tim and his companion entered the
house and made their way along high
ly polished floors to the gunroom at
the further end Of the imposing hall.
Here they found Margery Golden, who
listened with amused interest to the
old Irishman's voluble description Of
the treasure.
There was no necessity for sending
Negus back" she exclaimed, 81 know
the combination of the safe quite as
well as father"
A startling Transformation sudden
ly took place in the person Of old Tim.
The stoop vanished from his back,
and with a quick movement he freed
HIS left arm, carried in a sling by
his side. The next moment that left
arm, bearing a heavy hook OF wrought
iron, crashed down upon the skull of
the unsuspecting Peter.
With a panther-like spring the meta
morphosed gardener was upon the be-
wildered girl bending over the safe,
and again that cruel iron claw shot
out. clutching her arm as in a wise.
With a derisive laugh Of triumph Le-
gar tore off his false trappings, his
thin lips gave a shrill, penetrating
whistle. In response to this signal a
faint shuf1ing noise came from the
direction of the fireplace, and two OF
Legar's followers, with faces black
ened like imps OF darkness, sprawled
out. At a curt command from their
grim-faced leader they quickly bound
the shrinking girl, and. tying a hand
kerchief over her mouth, dragged her
across the floor into the fireplace. Lee
gar caught up the sack Of disputed
plumber, and. clawing his way up the
ragged lining Of the murky chimney
fue. vanished.
Even as the quaint personality Of
old Tim merged into that viciously
depraved character. Jules Legar, the
bafied group of ~searchers returning to
the old barn saw approaching them
the rheumatic stopped figure Of the old
gardener who carried his left hand in
a red bandanna sling.
What does this mean, Tim?" Enoch
Golden Intercepted sternly. II thought
I told you to guard the safe until we
returned"
Faith an I DON know phwat ye
moight be talkin' about, Misther Col
den," rejoined the old man ~querulous-
ly. 9TH new docthure yer was afther
sendin' to look at me hand gave me
a shlapin' powdher to relave tn pain
an said twas ye'er ordhers to stay in
me bed tn whole"
Into the faces of his startled listen
ers flashed %bewildered amazement
then they rushed with one accord
toward the distant manor house. Davv
was already throwing his slender
weight against the bolted door Of
the gunroom and calling out words
OF encouragement to the gentle girl
he believed was in that room. The
strong-armed police captain, selling
a medieval battle ak which ornament
cd the wall, smashed in the locked
door with a couple OF well-directed
blows. The men stormed across the
threshold OF the gunroom, then