Charlevoix county herald., 1918-10-04


And 1t was then that McKabe took
action. I have said he was a nervy
little man, and he proved II then.
Even as her followers checked their
advance he sprang forward. seized the
woman by an arm, and dragged her
back to our sides.
Call off your dogs!" he gritted
hoarsely. "Call 'em off or, SO help me,
I'll drop you. You amt a woman,
you're she wolf, an I got you. II
they rush us, I'll drill you II it's the
last thing do. Call 'em off"
mol" she Kissed at him shrilly.
~No!"
Dual spoke again.
His voice rang out against the
crowding figures like that of master
to slaves. Not that l understood one
word that he said. 1t was the intona-
ton, the subtle meaning which lay In
accent and gesture.
He advanced slightly as he spoke
until he stood almost midway between
us and them. His figure lowered like
something majestic, and his words
poured forth upon them in a steady
stream of sibilant, almost musical
rhythm, which rose and fell and ran
on and on in variant gradations Of
sound.
And as he spoke it came upon me
that this man / had known for SO long
was speaking to them in their own
language; addressing them as ruler
of their country, as a mandarin OF
highest caste might have hurled con-
tempt and contumely upon them.
For they covered away before the
things he said. Like culprits before
an implacable Judge they shuffled and
cast down their Eyes, and drew back
as though each might be seeking to
escape too prominent observation.
Dual raised his arms and swept
:hem forward as though driving them
before him, and they retrested. He
lifted one arm and pointed. and they
fell back. And even as he ceased came
the shrilling of whistles from behind
and I knew the police had arrived.
They came storming around the
angle where we had turned at LiltyS
cry and charged down upon u.s. Their
blue coats and glinting brass filled the
passage from side to side. With them
ran Lucille. gave them one glance.
and turned my eyes back to Dual aud
beyond him.
The passage was clearing. Like rats
into their holes the yellow men of this
underground world were leaping aud
darting in an effort at escape. Not
one stood his ground against this
menace Of the force they feared and
yet defied.
Without word or cry, or a
sound save the pad of their feet, they
turned in frantic flight, and left Greek
Annie still in the hands of the grin
ming McKabe.
Upon her Reich advasced with a
scowl and threatening hand.
Staring into her face he spoke
swiftly some words l did not under
stand.
Without any apparent reason Greek
Annie laughed in his face.
Lucille had bent and lifted Lilly
Lawton to her feet. McKabe snapped
a pair of handouts on Annie's wrists
and surrendered her to two of the
policemen. We turned back along the
underground tunnels to the room
where the stairway ran up, mounted
it, and came out in the back room of
the sQualid shop.
No one sought to bar our passage,
and our sudden advent seemed to
bring CONSERVATION to the proprietor
of the place. He stood silent and
staring while we made our way
through to the street.
McKabe glanced up and down the
thoroughfare and broke into
chuckle.
Washington" he said. 'Well,
that's some tunnel. We came under
one street and ran around in the half
of circle. Come on and we'll close
this business up"