The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-10-09

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locked the door of his vehicle. Then
mounting the box he drove off. Mean
while Jake was making ready to carry
out his part Of the infamous plan.
Putting his pencil and paper in his
pocket, John, his attention attracted
by the sudden stopping of the taxi.
looked about. They were standing at
the foot of a steep hill at a sharp bend,
while coming down upon them and
apparently beyond control, was a great
truck of such ponderousness that
should it strike them it would crush
them even as 81 locomotive. The pas
senger shot a glance at his chauffeur
who was working desperately at the
| wheel. Believing from the actions OF
| the other that there was some engine
trouble, and that to remain seated
where he was would involve his death
before the oncoming monster of the
hill, John seized the door of the cab
and turned the knob. 1t was locked,
and whirling to the other side he tried
that way Of exit also with the same re-
suit.
One glance showed him the truck
coming at terrific speed and almost up
on them. To delay longer meant GER
tain disaster, and with no alternative
left he raised his cane and smashing
the glass window of his prison, leaped
head first through it just as the truck
struck the taxi. Throwing himself fiat
into the gutter, he raised his eyes to
see the %ponderous vehicle crash into
, the light framework of the deserted
cab, roll it over and grind it to pieces
as though it had been crushed by a
war tank. Getting upon his feet,
Davis found himself quickly surround
ed by a crowd. A policeman zane in
to their midst. leading the driver of
the truck by the arm, Johns chauffeur
officer stopped before Davis, then turn
ing upon Jake.
"What is the meaning Of thisY
"My brakes wouldn't work." said
Jake with a defiant glare.
"And my engine went dead on me
and / was stalled" supplemented the
one-eyed man. John laughed grimly as
he faced the policeman.
"Guess we'd better call it au acct
dent, officer, and let it go at that"
Arriving at the Office cf Caldwell,
Brace s. Co., the senior gentleman Of
that firm concluded his talk with John.
sThat mining machinery was brought
from Alaska and unloaded at Alamac
Island. You will find a launch, the
| Seabird, at our private dock. One Of
our men can take you over IL neces-
sary." John interrupted him.
81 can run it myself if you like"
"Good. Go and look the stuff over,
then come back and we will talk bust
ness" With this understanding be-
tween them, the two parted.
Down in the undergrad the Spider,
u~ndismayed at the lucky escape of the
intended victim, was seated upon a
huge pile of boards so laid that the
top of the pile o%verhung the bottom
by several feet. Barney and Jake, who
had reported to him the miscarriage
of their plans, were ordered by Bellas
to remain in attendance, whereupon
the latter left them. Securing a pack
age marked Dynamite" which he had
secreted near by, he carried the ex-
plosive to a small boat which was tied
to the wharf neal the motorboat, Sea-
bird. Placing the dynamite in the fore
part of his skiff he covered it with a
tarpaulin, then laid q fuse. The watch
man Of the lumber yard approached.
"Hurry up" he warned. "The boys
will be coming back from dinner sOon."
The Spider nodded with a pointing of
his finger at what he had done. Then
sneaking away he secreted himself
where he might be ready for the decid-
ing moment.
Driving up to the place that he might
inspect the machinery, John dismoUnt-
ed from his machine and stepped for
ward with the idea Of inspecting the
! stuff before he returned for his final
consultation with Caldwell. Pursuing
his way as directed by the latter, he
stepped directly beneath the middle Of
the lumber pile which overhung it's
great weight some t~wenty-feet high in
the air, and at this the. watching Spi-
der gave the signal. At once the two
scoundrels upon the top gave the over
balanced heap a powerful pry with the
lever they had ~improvised, and the
whole massive pile thus thrown from
its equilibrium, started down.
Warned by some slight sound from
above, the threatened one below
glanced upward just in time to see the
mass start it's descent. With the quick
ness of a cat he made a leap, and as he
did so the descending boards, falling
about him in an avalanche Of lumber,
shut him off from sight. And at that
same instant Barney and Jake, seeking
to leap and make their escape, were
caught in the downpouring slide. The
one-eyed one, thrown aside by some
plunging board. escaped instant death
and scampered from the scene. The
head Of Jake was crushed as
though by a pile-driver and his vii
lainies were a thing of the past. From
where they had watched the affair, the
Waterman and a helper came running
up and lifting boards away from the
place where Davis had disappeared,
Hogs Work In Silo.
Cherokee, Ia.-Unable to secure heir
5000