The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-01-27

replied, cropping for his words. 1T was
because | love you and | thought you
were learning to love him for his
bravery in your defense
You were quite right in thinking
So" answered the blazing eyed girl;
Il do love him and | could never love
anyone who could stOop to such de-
ceptiOn as you have"
They were interrupted in the midst
of this painful discussion by the re
turn OF the Crestfallen police captain
and Davy's much-relieyed employer.
We couldn't find the slightest trace
OF that impudent masquerade" said
the aged banker in response to his
secretary's questioning look. but
don't care so much now that you are
absOlved from this ridiculous charge"
Then, turning to Captain Bracket, he
| added with pardOnable sarcasm, isn't
it about time you released this des-
perate criminal"
AS Davy stood rubbing his aching
wrists. from which the half-heartedly
apologize officer had just removed the
| constraining handouts, his eye fell on
| that strip of paper Margery had re-
| trieved at such great hazard and VIII III
now lay on the table forgotten in the
| excitement of the moment.
mo wonder they put up such a
| fight for this paper" he cried excited
| ly, for il is the key to the hiding
! place Of the Van Horn loot, which Lee
! gar must have cached when we had
! him on the run. 1t gives Wrenney's
| Oak as a starting place. and here are
the directions for pacing off the dis
tances to where the p. e." is con-
! Cealed."
Captain Bracket, now rehablitat-
ed in his customary dignity. reached
out an authoritative hand for the
paper and studied it intently for a
moment.
Anyone could see that" he an
swered slightingly. "and we've got to
get out to Wrenney's Oak in a hurry
if we're goin' to beat the Iron Claw
ard his pirates to that sack of loot"
With his usual buOyant spirits de-
. Cidedly crushed, David Marley stood
on the broad veranda and watched
the little party embark in a racing
mOtOrbOat, which carried them swift
! ly over the limpid waters, leaving a
long trail of foam in it's wake For a
| brief space Davy stared irresOlutely out
over the lake, then a look of sudden
determination flashed into his face,
and few minutes later he was at the
helm of the speedy Arrow" skim
ming over the surface of that lake as
lightly as a swallow on the wing.
He landed a short distance below
the deserted craft of his employer and
made his way through the moss-car.
| peted woods toward Wrenney's Oak
as silently as an aboriginal. AS he
approached that hOary veteran of the
forest, he saw under its wide-fung
branches the golden-haired object of
his quest.
The giant oak had implanted it's
! sturdy roots deep in the soil on the
edge of a precipitous ravine, and as
Davy's eyes travelled up the steep hill
side which abruptly fanked the mar
row path skirting this ravine his face
suddenly went white with fearsome ap-
prehensiOn.
Peering out of a tangled thicket
was the deep-seared face of Jules Lee
gar. That face was as repellant in
its beastlike ferocity as must have
been the hideously painted savages
who once roamed these forest glades,
bent on murder and destruction. I'm
conscious of the presence of this lurk-
ing foe. the stalwart police captain
was solemnly pacing off certain dis
tances, guided by slip of white pa
per which he held in his hand.
Standing near by and completely
absorbed in these awkward maneuvers
was the graceful figure of Margery
Golden, her stoOp-shoudered father
close beside her.
\ rasping oath from Legar warned
Davy that something had gone amiss
with that wOrthys plans.
The cops stumbled on the right
place by accident" grOwled the angry
voice from behind the bushes: the
fool thinks the stuff is in the ground
now he's starting to dig right in
front of the cave-that sews up Louie
good and tight-we1l have to do some
thing and do it quick"
If you want to put the kibosh on
that bunch buttin' into our business,
know how to do it," said Frank.
That big rock we seen up the hill
don't need much of shove to send
it goin' down like thunder let loose.
an it's headed just about right to
smash that whole outfit off the ledge
into the gully"
Davy saw the two rapidly moving
figures climbing up toward a massive
bowlder which by one of those odd
whims of nature hung so lightly poised
on the hillside that the hand Of a
child might have set it vibrating on
it's precarious balance. He saw Le-
gar and Dutch Frank place their shout
ders against that granite bowlder.
Davy knew that in a few seconds
that revolving bulk Of solid granite
would acquire velocity which would
send 1t tearing past him like shot out
of a gun. He raced down the hillside
and put his last ounce of strength
into a flying leap which landed him
close to Margery Golden and her star