Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-03-23
fmprovised rom a req nrndanna hand


kerchief knotted over his shoulder.
you can let that work go and come
along with u.s." Golden replied. and
as he caught sight of the stalwart
figure of one of the undergraduates
amid the shrubbery he added, rehec-
lively, and bring Peter with you.
Fishing in the depths of a moldy bin.
Davy drew out heavily weighted
gunny sack, which clanked musically
to the ears OF the russet-faced police
captain
This is goin' to make some stir at
headquarters" he gloated. tenderly re-
placing the yellow metalled dinner set.
AN I've got a bunch that one-arme6
crook amt so far off. Well send the
swag up to the house an then beat
every inch of the gully for this bunch
of rattlesnakes."
al, and he 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 1t locked in the gunroom safe,
and keep that safe guarded carefully
until we get back"
1t was with much dubious head
shaking that old Tim accepted this
apparently unwelcome trust. and hob
bled off in company with Peter, who
bore the treasure sack on his shoulder.
while the perturbed Negus trailed
close behind with his rifle. 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
sudden thought.
BE gorry," he calculated. 9Th mas
Their clane forgot he kapes that safe
locked up entoirely, nary soul but
himself KNOWN tn combination-Na-
gus, be a good lad and run back an
ask him whatTl 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 10 the
old Irishman's voluble description OF
the treasure.
There was no necessity for sending
Negus back she exclaimed. 81 know
the com ination IL :he 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 fef'
arm. bearing 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 wise
With a derisive laugh Of triumph lie
gar tore of his false trappings, hi:
thin lips gave a shrill, penetrating
whistle. In response to this signal q
faint shutting noise came from the
direction OF the fireplace, and two o.
; Legar's followers, with faces black
ened like imps of darkness, sprawleC
out. At a curt command from theil
grfm-faced leader they quickly bound
the shrinking girl, and. tying hand
kerchief over her mouth, dragged he
, across the floor into the fireplace. lie
, gar caught up the sack of dispute'
I plumber, and, clawing his way up tn
, ragged lining Of the murky Gimme
? flue, vanished.
t Even as the quaint personality o
: old Tim merged into that viciousl
{ depraved character, Jules Legar, tn
3 baffied group of searchers returning t
> the old barn saw approaching ther
the rheumatic stopped figure of the oil
: gardener who carried his left hand i
a red bandanna sling.
What does this mean. Tim?" Enoc
, Golden Intercepted sternly. Il though
l told you to guard the safe until W
) returned"
Faith an I dom know phwat y
moight be talkin' about, Misther Go
q den," rejoined the old man querulou.
8 ly, "th> new docthure yer was afthe
sendin' to look at me hand gave m
;, a shlapin' powder to relave tn PAT
!. an said twas ye'er ordhers to stay 4
. me bed tn whole"
r Into the faces of his startled lister
ers flashed bewildered amazemen
y then they rushed with one accor
toward the distant manor house. Dav
r was already throwing his slende
,. weight against the bolted door @
A the gunroom and calling out word
r Of encouragement to the gentle gil
he believed was in that room. Tn
a strong-armed police captain, seizin
a medieval battle ak which ornamen
J. ed the wall, smashed In the locke
). door with a couple Of well-directe
!. blows. The men stormed across tn
~ threshold of the gunroom, the
stopped short in blank surprise. tn
o. windows were shut and fastened frol
;. the inside, the limp and sprawling p
" ter lay where he had been dropped