The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-18

forests, and thus to shorter road.
By the time they reached the first
suburb 1t had begun to grow dark
They had to cross the town to reach
the Crystal Palace. AS they passed
under the first street lamp two men
| who were standing on the corner, near
an automobile, peered closely at them.
One of the men grasped the other by
the arm and said: Come" They
jumped into the car and it shot for
ward. turning the nearest corner, and
raced toward the north. to the heart
of the city. At the new congressional
building they stopped and beckoncd to
man who seemed to await them.
II tell you, Mozrak, they will pass
this corner" said one of the men i'm
patiently.
But l would prefer to stand farther
down, where there is greater crowd"
said the man who had been waiting.
What do you want with the crowd ?"
ITO help me escape" was the lacon-
ic answer of the man called Mozrak.
Just as you please" assented the
man in the car. Select your own
place"
The automobile with the three men
went farther, where the streets and
elevated sidewalks we're crowded with
people. Mozrak looked around and
back, as if he expected to see some
one he knew.
"Here!" The man at the wheel
obeyed. wait for me at the next cor
ner, with everything in readiness, and
when l jump into the car you are to
let her out" Mozrak left the automo-
bile and threaded his way through the
crowd. The big car turned the corner
indicated and stopped. Mozrak walked
far enough to get its bearings, then
returned to the center of the block.
His hand strayed toward his hip
pocket, rested there for second and
then he stood watching the passing
throng.
In the meantime the four on horse
back neared the building in a slow
trot; as they reached the buster streets
their horses fell into walk.
Napoleon rode on Astra's left and
they were closely followed by Rositta
and Hale. They passed the building
and were nearing the place where Moz-
rak leaned against a lamp post, smok-
ing contentedly. He saw the coming
quartet, and took deep breath. When
they had reached the center of the
block, near where he stood, his right
hand went into his hip pocket. Just
as the four on horseback reached him
he jumped toward Astra with leveled
arm, and the CLINT of an automatic pis-
toll was seen.
The pistol was pointed at Astra,
whose horse made a nervous jump
when the man came forward. Before
the man could pull the trigger Napo-
Icons whip Kissed through the air,
hitting him squarely in the face. The
pistol exploded; the bullet grazed Ma
poleon's right shoulder and before the
fellow could make another attempt to
shoot he was seized by two onlookers
and his pistol was knocked from his
grasp. He was dazed by blow and
stood looking at them blankly.
Astra tainted, but many kind and
willing arms were there to prevent her
falling from her horse.
Rositta, who just few minutes be-
fore was so full of JOY. looked at the
scene shudderingly.
Napoleon. like a god of revenge,
stood over the man. She could see
blood oozing from his right coat
sleeve, but that blood was not the
cause of her pale, terror-stricken face.
1t was the face Of the assassin that
had startled her, She knew that face,
The police restored order, but before