The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-10-30

Il pun again, the pair were upOu IT'LL
Kicking and striking him over the
head with the butts of their weapons.
they laid him PROSTATE and uncOn
scious upon the boards of the wharf.
"What'l we do with hin-knife
him?" painted the Spider with last vi
cious kick. The other man pushed him
aside.
"No. I've got better scheme. He's
onto us and we may need him as @
ransom offering to save our OWL
necks." Gagging and pinioning the un-
fortunate one, they logged him to the
inn, and the Spider, going up tt
his room, lowered rope. This Nor
gan made fast to the inanimate form
and rejoining his companion the pail
hauled the other into the room. There
they slowed him away in closet, anc
sat down to plan what they should dc
upon the approaching day now close
at hand.
A rap at the door startled them, and
Morgan cried out, asking who it was
'It's me-the clerk. Telephone call
/
sponse Wondering whom the person
might be, the Hawk descended and
with rage, he was forced to contain
| himself as he listened to the words of
Davis as they came over the wire.
'sEthel and I were drugged while
asleep and taken out on the bay in
skiff towed by launch. When miles
| from shore, the rascals cut us loose,
leaving us in the skiff, in which were
| Internal machines. We managed to
free ourselves and leap overheard just
before the explosion. We were res
cued by fishing boat and landed here
at Seadrift. We will leave for the
inn on the trolley, which goes at five
o'clock"
"Hell's furies!" gritted the Hawk be-
meath his breath. Then he cried anx-
| iOusly:
i "Was Ethel hurt-or your?
| 'No. But it was a close CALL"
y'Thank Heaven" he called back as
he hung up the instrument. Still rag
| ing, he rushed to the room Of his fell
low scoundrel.
| "They've escaped again, curse them"
he swore, as he jerked the other man
to his feet. 'They are coming on the
five o'clock trolley, but If we move
fast enough, maybe we can get them
on the route" Hurriedly he began
throwing things into their grips.
/ "Get them; how?" demanded the
Spider as he followed the others ac-
tions in gathering up the incriminat-
ing evidence that lay about.
! Bring that box Of T. N. T., and I'll
show you," returned the Hawk. Thrust
ing the package of high explosive into
the grip, the pair hurriedly left the
house.
They hurried to a nearby garage and
secured light machine. Getting into
it and giving it full power, they went
racing down the road in the direction
Of the approaching trolley, while Nor
gan rehearsed to his confederate the
details Of the fresh dastardly plot
which had flashed through his mind
as he heard the words of Davis that he
and the girl were coming on the cleo"
| trio road. Some miles out in the
country the eyes of Morgan fell upon
the branch of tree that crossed the
rails, and he brought the machine to y
sudden stop.
"This place will do. Wen throw this
rope over that limb, tie the T. N. T. to
the end of it and then haul the box
containing it up to the branch. Then
we'll run this light line through the
grass and across the rails. When the
car comes along, of course the wheels
will cut the rope, and down will come
the explosive on top of the car. And
when that happens, down will go rock.
ably, baby and all. Get me?"
I "Sure," returned the Spider as he be.
gan whirling the rope, preparatory to
cast over the limb. you've got great
head on you for jokes, Morgan. You're
sure some humorist."
"Cut out that stuff and get down to
business" swore his companion, as he
took out the explosive. Five minutes
later the trap was set, and entering
their machine, they drove it to the
top Of a nearby hill, from whence they
could survey the scene which was to
follow.
| Within the approaching ear, Johp
was standing upon the front platform
smoking his morning cigar, Ethel
standing at his side with one arm
slipped lovingly through his own. Be
ing somewhat behind time, the motor
man had all power turned on and they
were slipping over the rails at the rate
of nearly a mile a minute. Suddenly
John gave shout.
"See that rope across the track !!
That means"
But so great was the speed of the
car that the wheels had passed over
the object before he could finish his
sentence, severing it and releasing the
hell box from above. Down it dropped
as plummet, and had it not been for
the speed at which the car was go
ing, must have landed fairly upon the
roof of the car. AS it was, 1t struck
upon the track Immediately behind the
rear platform and exploded with a ire
mendous roar.
The car, rearing in the air like a
frightened horse, burst apart and re-
mass of wreckage.
(END OF TWELFTH EPISODE.)