The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-06-27
THE IRON TEST
Continued from last week.
Chapter 10-"In The Coils.

from the well into which he had been
thrown, bound and helpless, by Peaky
when she was seized by Craven, who
had hurried back from the circus with
Peaky on noting her absence. The
girl tried to shout a warning to Bert,
but the villains gagged her and throw
inc her on horse rode swiftly to a
shack back in the hills belonging TO
Manuel Gracia, cut-throat associ-
ate Of Craven. There she was left in
dog while Craven and Peaky hurried
back to the circus intending to steal
the funds and make a getaway
Bert, meanwhile, puzzled by the
failure of Edith to draw him up and
getting no response to his Calls,
pulled on the rope and it fell back
into the we'll. Then he knew that
something had happened to Edith.
Realizing he could not climb the
sides of the we'll, he hit on an in
genious scheme. He fashioned a
balloon out of his silk shirt and in
flating it by means of the lantern
Peaky had left with him, he allowed
the balloon, attached to the string, to
float above the we'll, hoping thus to
attract a rescuer.
Dawn brought knowledge of the
absence of Bert and Edith and also
Craven and Peaky and the ci1cus
camp was thrown into CONSERVATION.
O'Doherty Immediately scented a
plot to make away with Bert and the
girl and openly accused Craven, de-
failing his evidence against the
man in the previous attempts on
Forbes life, adding:
And it is my opinion that your
hostler, Peaky Finn, has been in
cahoots with Craven all the time"
Jenkins expressed doubt but the de-
tective stood his ground and asserted
he would have the motive for the
villainy when he got reply to the
telegram he sent the night before to
Los Angeles asking for information
concerning the Beresford estate and
heirs.
Edith, held prisoner in the shack
by the dog, lost no time in planning
escape. Her acrobatic ability made
it easy for her to climb to the rafters,
from which vantage she broke
through the 1imsy sheathing and
gained the roof. The shack was
built alongside a cliff from which
trees overhung and the girl instantly
saw her escape lay in that direct on.
There were several laSSOOs in the
shack and joining these she threw one
end over a limb and prepared to
climb to the tree and thence to the
top of the cliff and away.
Bert also was fortunate in his
clever effort to escape from his
prison we'll for little girl on her
way to school saw the balloon and at
tempted to catch it was startled by
cries from the well:
is that you, Edith"
Mary heard the voice from way
down in the gloom and dropping the
rope scampered away in terror. Bert
listening breathless1y heard her re-
ceased running and after time, her
treating footsteps and again gave up
hope of rescue. But the child soon
curiosity getting the better of ner,
returned to the we'll Bert heard her
approach and leaping up called:
Edith. Edith. For Gods sake"
Mary peered down into the we'll and
showing Bert her face, replied:
I'm not Edith. I'm Mary. I'm
seven years old and in the fourth
grade. Why do you live in a well?'
Bert, again filled with hope, began
giving Mary instructions how to get
him out of the we'll Tying the rope
by which he was bound to the cor
set string, he told her to pull it up.
Mary finally did this and then asked
what she should do with it. He told
her to tie it to something and the
child climbed up the well box and
fastened the loop into the hook which
held the pulley wheel, quite a task
for girl her age.
Returning to the edge of the we'll,
Mary called down. what she had done
Bert tested the rope carefully and
then climbed hand over hand to the
top. He clasped Mary in his arms and
then searched his pockets for some
present to give her. He had nothing
but his seal ring and this he removed
and handed to the delighted child,
fastening it about her neck with the
corset string.
Come to the circus any afternoon"
he said, land bring all your friends
and ask for Mr.. Forde. Give him the
ring and you'll all get i'm free" Mary
promised she would and then Bert,
away.
Craven and Peaky, confident they
had finally disposed of Bert and had
Edith where they could get her any
time, rode into town and hurried to
the hotel, where Craven, after giving
instructions to Peaky, went to his
room. He stuffed all the circus
funds into his pockets and taking al
% Bert's locket and revolver, he
left to join Peaky, who had gone to
the stable tent to select fast and
fresh horses for their fight.
He took the wrong path, however,
and ran into Jenkins and ODoherty
busily discussing his very case The
detective grasped Craven by the arm
and swinging him about, demanded
where he had been. The arch-villain
did not for a moment lose his nerve
and assuming an air of innocence,
replied:
II have been out looking for Bert
and Miss Paige. Have you found
them?"
For a moment his assurance had
the men stumped but O'Doherty had
too much evidence against the man
to be bluffed and he replied hotly:
mo, but you are going to tell US
where they are and then begin a long
SojOurn in jail"
Even this did not shake Craven,