The Elbert County tribune., 1918-01-11

AS L IOupnt, there went through my
mind n vivid picture of the little tale
Billie had told me-the tale of his
dreams of the beleaguered castle. ]
felt smile that was almost all tears
yelling up from my heart tc my eyes.
Was ever knight of old Drawer than
little Billie Dram, district messenger
boy?
| struggled more and more wildly
the window which was my goal
seemed hopeless leagues away. An
inch at time / made my way closer
and closer to IT..
Then Peter Raven turned, flashed
me another of his evil smiles and
stopped to the ground. A second later
he rose, holding in his hand the re-
volver which had been knocked from
my grasp only a minute before.
Peter Raven lifted tnat ugly gun
and took aim. / knew that a second
later l would hear the murderous re-
yerberation. 1t would mean that Billie
had been struck by bullet from that
unwayering gun.
In nightmare I jerRed my captors
with me as L ran toward Raven.
sound of shot. | was toe
late. Too latel The egony OF that
thought-the agony of Impotence
A second later Peter Raven fell hack
clutehing at his arm.
In sheer amazement my capiors
loosed their hold on me. 1 ran to The
window. Out there in the black dark
ness l could see the outlines of another
boat. There were voices, calls of en-
couragement, the thud OF bodies Wers
the children dead? There was a sud
den heavy bump-one of the boats
had touched the river house.
And then a figure crawled through
the window. 1t was Jimmy Barton,
smiling, debonair, aiming the gun
he held in hand at Peter Raven with
an air as perfectly casual as if he
had just been waiting for the psyche
logical and impressive moment to make
his entrance on the scene.
Raven had crouched back against
the wall cursing and holding his
wounded arm. His accomplices had
seized me again a moment before, but
at command from Jimmy they loosed
their hold.
l heard myself laughing rather hys-
terically. Jimmys grin put such
queer period on the ghastly horror of
that night.
And then through the open window
climbed the detective-a second gun
man come to the rescue of the be-
leaguered garrison
Next, in fitting climax, a golden
head showed over the window sill
Billie was unromantically "boosting"
his lady-fair back into the room.
His eyes We're bright with excite
ment and his voice trembled, but his
words were the completely unroman-
tic touch needed to give the situation
Its final relief
Say, Miss Fairfax" said Billie Dram
-knight-at-arms, you'd better look
after Jean. Shes all wet and she
might take her death o. cold.'
Jean had the dazed look of one who
had been hurled through space so rap
idly that even before the crash at the
foot of the abyss comes all human
consciousness is knocked from the
| shaken body.
Pretty good haul-eh, what, Detec
tive Ryan, old pal?" said Jimmy.
Good heavens The matter-of-fact-
ness of all things masculine. At the
| end of an evening of horror Billie
talking about Jeans catching cold, and
Jimmy addressing his fellow-hero in
the rescuing party as follows:
"Well-here's Peter Raven and his
handsome frau'-and n few extras
| thrown in for luck Now Sing Sing
gets back one of its favorlte sons
and I'm thinking Patrick Michael Ryan
gets promotlon-whlch he has
earned"
Jean was escorted home with a
guard of honor consisting of Jimmy,
Billie and me. Even in the midst OF
their rejoicing at jeans return safe,
well and happy in spite of her drench.
Ing, the Mortons were capable of real
gratitude and real expressions thereof
for all of us.
L couldn't resist presenting Billie to
Mr.. Barton, who, when first he had
heard of that young gentleman, had
left my desk with manner halfway
| between scowl and a flounce: "Mr.
Barton, this is Billie. He can't marry
| on his present salaryr' u.
But Billie's salary may be G little
| bigger than even 1 had expected by
the time he grows upi He has excel.
lent prospects, for Richard Morton is
going to send the boy to college.
(END OF THIRD EPISODEl