Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-07-10

foot they gagged him and placed him
In n long wooden box which bore the
label Mining machinery for John
Carr" closing the lid with a metal
clasp.
Il reckon he's settled this trip"
painted the Hawk, Now for the next
move" Quickly they left the cellar.
Ethel, entering the room which she
had left the moment before on some
slight erraud, stared about in amaze
ment. Ii was empty. Softly she call
ed "John-where are yOu?" but there
was no response. Bridget and Rain
face, attracted by her exclamations
came hurriedly in. followed a momen
later by the Hawk and Bellas.
whats up?" demanded Morgan.
Swiftly she told them Of the unac-
countable vanishment Of the missing
one.
Another mystery" murmured the
Hawk In the tones of n greatly per-
plexed. Come on and we will scat
ter and search. The s%coundrcl cannot
have gone far" Drawing his re'ol-
YER he rushed from the room the otit
ers upon his heels, filled with wonder
ment. dazed by the suddennesS OF IL
all and half wondering If the world
had gone mad. A half hours Search
revealed nothing and slowly they re-
turned. standing idly about until the
girl with "A despairing gesture agaln
entered the room.
In the cellar below a flicker OF con-
seriousness returned to the imprisoned
John. and feeling the returning the
of life he began to writhe and twist
beneath his bonds. His feet touched
the end of the chest, and discovering
that he could make a sound by beat
ing them against II he began a tattoo.
Ethel in the room above him, hearing
the weird sound and being unable to
locate it. ran to the door and called
TO the others telling them Of the mys-
FERROUS noises that had reached her
ears.
what has become Of it," queried
the Hawk as they all strained their
hearing.
Listen" she breathed. But John.
convinced that he could make no II
hear had become silent.
Ghosts. most likely" sneered the
Spider with a leer at her. "Spooks
com back to the scene Of the crime
More likely it was further deviltry
on the part of that mysterious stran-
GER" added Morgan. "Bellas here, and
| will go to the barn and keep a look.
out. If he turns up we'll get him
sure" With Il last assurance to Ethel
that she need not fear 81 long as they
were there to protect her, they disap-
peared within the barn.
Once there they lost little time In
pursuing the plan they had decided
upOn. Closing the door behind them
they paSsed to a side entrance which
lay beyond the view Of a possible
watcher from the house, and making
a short detour crept silently into the
cellar. Gloom filled the place, and
feeling the way with their feet they
approached the box and bent over it.
As they did so a form arose from be-
hind it and a mighty blow sent the
Hawk reeling across the room, while the
| Spider felt himself gripped in n stran-
Cling grasp. Back and forth across
the room the pair fought in the semi
darkness, while the Hawk, half dazed
by the blow he had received, staggered
uncertainty about unable to distinguish
friend from foe. Ethel and Bridget,
startled by the sudden turmoil beneath
the floor, clutched each other in alarm
"Howly Saints, but it must be al
the divils of the Pit, Themselves
Phwat shall we do?" cried the Irish
woman. Ethel sprang to the table
and the next instant u lighted lamI
was in her hand
1--WE must 90 and see. 1t might b'
John in Distress she cried. Quicl
as a cat Bridget seized a rolling pir
and, rolling the sleeve up a might!
arm, went waddling toward the CELIA
door.
MAY the Lord have mercy upoI
: thin who Is bateing him, be they saint
or devils" she cried as she went heaV
lily down the steps. Lamp held hlgl
|, the girl followed her close.
AS the light from the lamp fallinI
over them revealed the faces or tn
1 STRUGGLING men each to the other, d,
, common consent they ceased their ba,
Ting, and as Davis in amazemeh
I dropped his arms his heart leaped a
8 he found Ethel clinging to lin, sol
bling, pressing her cheek against III
' shoulder. Gently he drew her to mn
e "Where have you beenT' she asked
, quickly returning his embrace an
freeing herself as a faint tide OF colo
arose to her cheeks. Grimly Jon
r pointed to the box.
d an that thing where l lay until
{ managed to break my way out II
took a step toward Morgan. VIVA
were you doing here"
The Hawk fell back a step befor
the threatening front Of the other.
y "DOn't be too hasty, Davis. Bella
9 and | were In the barn watching an
y wa saw n man In n fur coat and wit
his face masked sneak around inc co
r. ner Of the house. We followed, bt
II when we had arrived there he wa
Q out Of sight. Seeing the cellar do'
IS omen and thinking he had come dow
% here, we came down also and had har'
~ entered when you jumped MS liR
a mountain lion. Had II not been th'
d Miss Ethel and Bridget heard the rhcl
1T and anne | believe you you'd nav
killed Ms both before we could nav
# gotten ont Of here" Slowly, deep
a. thought, John turned to the o o
a "Thls thing has got to stop. "
musi cnlci ihnt man Of none or ~