The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-09-21

ing to do me lot of harm If it stays
there. Get 1t tonight and bring the
original to me at The Hole in the
Wall l am to be released on bail.
Detain the girl. have plan. B."
Having read this over, the compan-
ion of the strange girl laughed. Bent
ley's clever boy" he said gayly. zone
of the best things he ever did was to
hit old Hubert Brewster over the
head"
Erickson resumed his seat by the
girl he.had left. How'd you like to
pick up a bit of cash tOnight?" he
asked.
The girl nodded. Anything l can
do?"
Easy" said her friend. There's
q little job-just to get paper back
that's in a safe, and all you got to do
is to get a Waterman drunk-too
easy"
I'm on" said the girl, and the two
left, slipping out almost unnOticed.
AnnesSley, while pretending to be
one of the rufIians that filled the sa-
loon, began to worry about Philippa,
and Guiding the vigilant eyes of the
rest made his way to the room where
she was imprisoned.
/ On seeing the disguised reporter en-
49,. H. 70, al in
/ "COme, come, Miss Brewster" said
AnneSSley, "dOn't you know me? I'm
AnnesSley," and as her face lighted
he went on rapidly: 81 want to save
you if | can from this rascal. I'll pre-
tend to be intoxicated and you follow
me-"
The plan might have worked well if
AnneSsley had been better known to
the followers of the social pirate. AS
it was they objected to his singing out
this messenger of Bentley's and
blocked his escape. The result was
quick attack and AnneSsley was over.
powered and bound while Philippa,
realizing her helplessneSs, resolved to
remain quiet till Bentley arrived.
While the frachs was taking place
above stairs Peter had entered 'The
Hole in the Wallp downstairs and seat
ing himself at table had been Joined
by ViscO, who insisted on treating.
At the adjoining table was watch
man and an attractive girl who was
engaged in plying him with liquor. As
he drank more and more Peter gath
cred from scraps Of conversation that
he was supposed to be on guard at the
office Of the district attorney.
While he sat bordering this infor'
lua;ion it gradually dawned on him
that this was no doubt one of the rea
sons of the warning received by An
neSs.ey. The girl with the watchmar
suddenly left and Peter went over tt
him and questioned him, but he wa:
too far gone to give any definite infOr
/ nation. Peter hustled him outside ant
| tried to secure further facts. Th'
/ fresh air walked the delinquent suffi
\ GENTLY to bring him to realization
/ of his position, and Peter, calling 1
4 couple of policemen, told them hi
II fears. They jumped into taxi ant
Il sfarted full speed for the district at
II t0rneys Office.
III They were not moment too soon
II Already Erickson had opened the SAT
81 and distracted the paper. He wa
Il assuring himself it was the right on
= when he saw the girl he had left-Stant
ing in the doorway.
"Are you craZy?" he whispered
l. what are you here for?"
d, 81 wanted to be sure you got tn
paper, that's all. Is that it? Goo'
Ie Give it to me-" and Erickson passed
: over.
eyes, that's it. I guess I'll hold
lg Hurry up"
lie Put Erickson had no time to hurr
lg Peter and the policemen burst in an
n the girl crouching against the doc
es managed to slip out just before tt
lights were turned up.
Id "There he u.s." cried Peter, "searc
IN him" But though the policemen d
he this thoroughly all they found was Il
lie note written by Bentley which hf
lg been delivered by Philippa earlier
ny the evening.
Of Better take him to The Hole
as the WALL" suggested Peter, and II
nd party started back ignorant Of Il
III part the girl confederate Of Erickst
had played in the theft.
OF Thus it came about that when Ber
wv ley, freed at last on bail, made his WI
Is to the rendezvous, he found his lie
ELI tenants waiting for him and also -four
nj Philippa, who threw herself into b
TIC arms.
no Into this scene came Peter, the
De- licemen and the now repentant waite
OF man. He searched the room quick
IN and in the corner, apparently unco
ed cerned, he beheld the girl who h
IL luled him to forget his trust.
III There's the one, he cried, pointiT
But the girl only smiled. Draw
an from her dress black mask S
me slipped it over her eyes and, risi
ne leyeIed pistol at the astonished Be
ac- ley, who had now faced her,
ice At the same time Visco, drawing
l. a false wig and pair Of bushy mi
RED taches, revealed the face of Hub
Z" Brewster.
'lu- There's your man." he said, poi
ing an accusing finger at the social
the rate. "There's the man who attemp
II y. .r,