Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-16
The Night
Flyer
BY HENRY NJ. Nicely
Copyright.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

"VVvVTvT$vSNS 'NeSS$SSHSNNSNT
Il tel you TINS so mat you VIII NOT
Try to outwit me if you see what looks
like a good chance.
MAKE up yolr mind 10 one thing
you cannot leave this place alive
without my consent-not even II YOU
tie my hand and foot and Ting me
into the sea. If | DO not manage to
set the stuff of myself it will he eX-
ploded automatically If at certain
times | do not open the switch that
ALLOWS ,the time.clock mechanism to
pass the contact point. | am desper-
ate man, and | am taking desperate
chapces- here: but consider the
stakes high enough TO justify it. Now
70 and get Provan."
He opened the door for me, and we
stepped out into the sunshine. ! drew
a deep breath of the bracing sea air
and turned to speak to him, but as !
glanced over his shoulder | met the
leering eyes Of the big brute, Sam,
and looked straight into the muzzle of
his menaclns gun
Now both o. you two fellers put
YOUR hands up" he snarled.
Lacey swung around quickly, but
Sans victory was complete. He had
been hidden behind the door AS we
pushed it open, and 80 we had not
seen him. With q little shrug OF an
noyance. Lacey slowly raired his
hands abol his head, and followc |
his example.
"Manoel" Sam shsulol.
From somewhere among the huts
there came the muItled sound Of al
answering cry.
Come here, all O. YOU command
ed Sam
There followed the sounds OF slam
ming doors and hurryins feet, and we
were joined by three of the most evil
faced Williams | have ever seen. |
identified Manoel even before sam
spoke TO him
Re was all OF six feet tall and
broad as bull, with 4 swarlhy skin,
lips that hung pendant and thick and
brutal, and smoldering eyes that were
for all the world like the yelled eye.
Of q crouchng cat
Across his forehead, the skin was
pucksrsd and whtish along the edges
Of 4 great scar that ran from under
his tousled black hair down diagonal
~ Ia his opposite eyebrow His nose
was squat and crooked, and gnarled
bump on the bridge showed where the
cartilage had once been broken by a
savage blow.
His two companions were stable
men, lacking much of Manoel's bulk
and Drawn, but having all of his vile
characteristics and eylness OF face
and expression.
search these men!' Sam ordered
a. soon as ss, allies had arrived.
Manoel approached Lacey with a
leer, met the eyes of the master Grim
inal, finched, shrugged deprocatingly
and, passing him, came over to me. 1t
was evident that he had wholesome
respect for the man in front Of me,
and | noticed that the other two liked
their Jobs no better. for Sam had to
snarl cut a string Of curdlng curses
at them and swing over the muzzle
OF his gun threateningIy before they
finally began to 30 Though Lacey
pockets
or me, of course, they fo3nd no
weapon but they took two aut omatic
pistols from Lacey's clothes and hand
ed them to Sam
Nov YOU en- put your hands
down." said that worthy.
Man0el strobe over to him. and the
two held whispered conversation, in
which Manocl was evidently expos
tulating against this high.handed pro
cedure and Sam was defending his
course Of action. While thi. was
going on Lacey showed his hands
deep into his Nrouser.pockets, winket
goodnaturedly at me and, stlollins
q few PAGES away, stood with his
feet planted far apart his eyes fixed
dreamly out tossea, and his lips puck
cred as he whistled again that littl'
haunting snatch OF tune.
| watched Sam and Manoel furitive
ly ashley continued the debate tina
knew concerned my own destiny.
Apparently ManoePs arguments
were having weight for | saw San
turn and regard Lacey with lool
that contained an odd MIXTURE %
hatred, fear, and genuine resneet
And finally Sam seemed to be con
WINGED.
Ito Ne continued)