Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-02-23

the nose of the frightened puppy. He
smiled at ii curiOusly. but the gluelike
substance now soaking through his
Shaggy coat was matter needing
much more urgent attention. Forget
tlng the menace of that repellent
stranger, he rolled frantically on his
back, endeavOring to rid himself of
that cohering and exasperating liquid
with which he was smeared. His long.
sticky hairs caught up that scrap of
paper, which, by his distracted wallOw-
ing, was worked into his matted coat
until it chung with burrlike tenacity.
Although Black Tony was in igno-
rance that his discriminating diagram
had been appropriated in this odd
manner, he had an inherent dislike
for all animals, which he now mani
tested by bestowing well directed
kick with his heavy boot upon the
struggling Sandy. The injured and
much aggrieved puppy gave one yelp
of panied surprise and darted out of
the tent. With dropping tail and
equally dropping spirits. he started as
fast as his short legs could carry him
for the home of Aunty Kicks. which
was the place of his nativity, and
where no such brutal treatment as
this had ever been meted out TO him.
The maltreated. Sandy, reaching the
old gray farmhouse which had former
ly been his home, raced through the
open door into the cheerful living
room where somewhat detected
young man was sitting with an elder
ly, kindly-faced woman.
Stakes alive. if it amt that pup
come back homer she calculated.
Her younger-eyed companion imme-
diately saw that something was amiss
with the pet he had bestowed upon
Margery Golden as a parting gift.
Then he saw the scrap of paper
sticking in the dogs matted hair and
his face grew serious. Perhaps tina
one he loved was in daasezf0 in
this strange way had sent message
asking his help. With swift fingers he
disentangled the paper and. smoothing
out its gummy creases. studied it with
frOwning intensity. What he saw was
a rough sketch of large field tent
with tree outlined close beside il.
To the puzzled-eyed young mar
came a sudden and startled compre
hensiOn of those apparently meaning
less drawings. Only that afternoon he
had passed the great manor house and
had seen the preparations for the lawn
fete to which he had received no in
vitatiOn. He had noted the striped
marquee put up directly under the
mammoth oak.
That time would undoubtedly be the
supper hour. Davy's face went white
as he hurriedly glanced at the CLOCK
on the mantel. A fearful apprehen
sion seized him that it might alread,
be too late to prevent the fright
full massacre planned by the one
armed criminal. Paying no heed t.
the anxious queries of his wonder
ing companion, he rushed from tina
room in a frenzy of dread forebOd
ing. AS he flung himself upon his pull
Sating motorcycle and shot out into tn,
darkness. His fear would have been
hundredfold intensified could he hav,
seen the murderous Italian. who a
that moment touched lighted mattel
to the end of the time fuse prOjectin:
from the nearly severed oak.
Ii was q race between q spark O
fire eating its way up the ever
shortening fuse and n wildly driver
motorcycle lurching through the night
The stakes of that desperate race wer
precious human lives. Once the rae
was nearly lost. as the pounding ma
chine missed by q hairs breadth
heavy touring car with visiOn-blindin
headlights. Then it careened into tn
driveway of the brilliantly lighte
grounds. raced madly across the leve
stretch of lawn and into the very ten
itself before its white-lipped ride
leaped from the saddle.
Run. all of you. Run for you
lives!" he cried frantically.
AS his meaning dawned upon tn
startled guests they stampeded fror
that threatened tent like a flock O
fear-crazed sheep. Even as the
cleared the guy-ropes dull, muffie
. defamation split the air and the stricl
en- oak swayed unsteadily for an In
slant; then it came topping down o
, those deserted walls of canvas with
roar like the mighty crash of thunde
clouds.
AS David Manley relinquished hi
hold on the white-faced girl whose lif
he had saved. EnOch Golden graspe
him TREMENDOUSLY by the hand in siler
| thanks for their deliverance from di.
aster Margery turned to him q littl
shyly.
, II don't know how to thank you fo
, what you have done. Davy," she sal
, impulsively.
But the deeply hurt young man oni
r acknowledged her gratitude with
f stifiiy formal bow as he turned an
; strobe away into the darkness.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)