The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-01-13

ever. another ferryboat brought them
across the upper harbor, and then be-
gan another long journey uptown.
These delays and frequent changes
| were very trying; but. happily for her.
| self and the two men whose lives were
| even then trembling I'm the balance,
| Margaret Bronson did not really know
| the vital Importance of her self i'm
| posed journey.
Arrived at the nearest uptown sta
| ton, from which Mannings house was
distant mile or more, they met with
a stroke of good fortune. A taxi had
| just deposited fare in the vicinity
and was In the very act of starting,
back downtown when May Manning
ran up. Yes. the machine was ut lib
erty.
With gasping thankfulness which
each now shared alike, since Margaret
had infected the younger woman with
her own frenzy. the two girls entered
the vehicle and babe the driver take
them to their destination as speedily
as possible.
When they reached the house they
found 1t lit up, but the front door had
been locked for the night. Margaret.
nerved to a marvellous energy by her
forebodings, ran up the steps and
pressed an electric bell
The men in the library heard It.
Bronson jumped to his feet with an
air OF surprise, almost of alarm.
why" he cried. that must be Mar
garet! She always rings three times.
What can have happened to bring her
here at this hour?"
Manning. who was just sealing a
letter. threw II on the table and went
out with Bronson. They crossed the
hall quietly and anticipated the serv-
ant who was hurrying to answer the
doorbell
Most fortunately the structure of the
house interposed q solid wall between
the front door and the library. and. al
though the door Of the latter room
stood open. it really abutted on the
foot of a staircase. Manning's hand
was actually on the latch when ire
mendous explosion shook the air. ex-
tinguished every light in the house and
brought down nearly third Of the
building In absolute ruin.
Manning and Bronson were blown
against the door. but the former did
not relinquish his grasp on the handle
and tore 1t open. simultaneously seiz-
ing his friend and dragging him into
the comparative safety Of the porch.
The darkness was impenetrable be-
cause the air was thick with dust. and
rs they stumbled forward they tripped
over the debris of the porch and near
ly fell headlong. But even in that
mad turmoil Manning caught Mar
garets shrek Of dsmay. She was
quite close at hand. He caught her
and said as calmly as might be:
Don't give way now, dear. BY some
miracle you came here at the right mo-
ment. and your brother and are I'M
injured"
The girl. however, swooned in his
arms. He could vaguely distinguish
| the lights of the taxi as by thrice for
tunate chance the driver had resisted
his first impulse and did not make OFT
| as fast as the machine could take him.
Bronson found May on the steps and
| told her to re-enter the auto at once.
Then Margaret was lifted In. and.
while Bronson mounted guard over
them with a revolver. Manning went
around the rear of the house to ascer-
| tain what casualties, II any, had been
| sustained by the servants and the de-
| tectives on duty.
No one was hurt. however. The man
| who had come to answer the bell had
been blown back violently and flung
| headlong into a passage. But he fell
on a rug and was more frightened than
| hurt.
The police Of course promptly re-
| covered their self possession and in
stituted q close search of the grounds.
| carrying electric torches and ready re-
volvers. But no trace could be found
OF the perpetrators Of this latest out
rage.
When the fumes of dust and smoke
had subsidized somewhat It was possible
| to note the havoc caused by the bomb.
| The library itself and a bedroom over
head were completely wrecked. and an
overhanging portion of the roof was In
| imminent danger of collapse. threaten
| ing to add to the unimaginabe ruin.
A sharp witted detective dispatched
| two Of his colleagues to scour the
neighborhood for couple Of props
| whereby the tottering roof might be
shored up. thus preserving any traces.
IL such existed. of the means employ
ed by the desperadoes to destroy the
building.
A crowd gathered. for the noise OF
the explosion had reached to consid-
cradle distance. and speculation as to
its cause ran rife among the inhab-
itants of the district. One Of Man
ning's neighbors had already rung up
the fire brigade. and an engine and
hook and ladder dashed up within r.
few minutes after the alarm was given.
Nothing Of tangible value could be
done that night. however. so Bronson
Undertook to convoy the two girls to
hotel. where Minimizing promised to join
them later.
| NorU0rotM fofnffpn Ala not 1oat