Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-08-29


away. Well, Annie was in a little
room with Lilly and made her prom
Use to take us out Of here quick.
told you had gun and we were get
ting along all right when all of a sud.
den she ducked into passage back
there and knocked my light out of my
hand as she did it. Then 1 heard you
people behind us, and we ran up
here, and then you yelled. Lilly
screamed, and l was SO surprised /
grabbed her and dragged her into a
side passage up there, and that's
about all. Let's get out"
"Good boy!" exclaimed Sheldon. II
reckon this has got dime novel skin
ned to death. Where'd that she.wolf
go to anyway
II don't know" said Reich.
There's about million of these and
she ran off in the dark. But guess
we can follow her tracks back with
your lights"
"Listen!" Dual commanded.
We obeyed on the instant and 1t
seemed that somewhere feet were run
ming Their echo came in dull, thud-
ding falls through the darkness, not
one but many, as of body of people
within the alleys which honeycombed
the hill.
Back" hissed McKabe. "Beat It.
Stick together"
stand where you are," said Dual.
On the word light filled the black
ness.
Overhead, before and beyond us,
the swinging incandescents grew lum-
inous and glawed at the bidding of a
hand unseen. All the tunnels length
grew visible in the glare, and into its
sweep springing out of the mouth of
a passage, came woman's form.
II was still clad in black, but its hat
was gone, and the tumbled hair on its
head hung in tendrils and strands
above face distorted by every saw.
age emotion. She leaped out and turn
ed toward us, and at her back ran
pack of yellow wolves.
My heart bounded and seemed to
stop as gazed upon them racing to
the attack. The light struck upon
their yellow faces, their glaring eyes,
and snarling lips.
Some of them ran in Tapping gar
ments, some of them half naked as
they had sprung from sleep. Their
naked torsos glistened under the
lamps as they strained forward behind
their leader.
Light was flashing from the gleam-
ing blades of knives clutched fast in
bony fingers and shone on yellow
teeth in half opened animal mouths.
They boiled out of the mouth Of the
passage like a yellow wave, and
turned down upon us where we stood.
Greek Annie pointed at us. Her
voice rose in a scream.
kill them. They're stealing the
girl. Slay them and spare not. Kill!
McKabe sprang past me, drawing
his police weapon. l reached for my
own, My glance fell on Sheldon at
the moment.
The old fighter had lost his hat
somewhere in the tunnels, and his hair
glowed grizzled in the light of the in
candescent over his head. Beneath it
his face was set into snarl of a crea-
ture at bay; his lips drawn back, his
eyes glaring.
He had drawn his revolver and was
swinging it loosely in his hand in the
manner of the gunman of old, ready
to lift it and fire swiftly from the hip.
] thought with a sense of satisfaction
that he would give good account of
himself, and that before the COM
mands.of the woman heading the yel-
low pack could be fulfilled, some of
her wolves would die. l even re-
solved somewhat grimly that l would
add to the score myself.
/ looked for Reich. He stood some.
what to the rear OF the others, close
beside Lilly Lawton, who had sunk
down IN a huddled heap and hidden
her face in her arms.
Dual, too. l noticed had drawn out
an automatic and was holding ii
ready.
So much / thought in an instant of
time, while Greek Annie led her pack
into the tunnel and turned toward us,
still leading the charge.
One thinks fast at such times, and
! glanced back to find that some
twenty feet still separated us from the
yellow horde. In that moment / lift.
ed my weapon, my finger went to
the trigger, and then
"Stop!"
The word doomed out in irresistible
command, with subtle power such as
only Dual could have given to 1t at
such time. For it was calm, posi-
tive. arresting in its intonation. Un-
der its sudden, whiplike demand the
onrushing mob faltered and wavered,
and lost headway.
For the first time, perhaps, they
gepsed that we were armed and would
fight, and that some one besides our
selves would die; and perhaps it was
all in the power Of that word and the
way II was uttered which reached
their coolie brains and demanded