Judsonia weekly advance. (Judsonia, Ark.) 1???-1922, 1921-04-14

Harris, with a great gasp for air, re-
linquished his sudden and unexpected
advantage But Gardeners head was
again in command; he rushed through
the door, half falling over the obstruc-
ton as he went, and in an instant was
lost in the gloom of the night.
For some minutes Harris lay on the
floor. recovering his breath. AS the
oxygen welled back into his lungs he
began to realize that. save for his
choking. he was unhurt. With return
ing strength his thought reverted to
Allan. and, calling the boys name, he
sprang to his feet. The first thing was
to get IA light. He found matches in
his pocket, struck one, and peered ca
gerly into the gloom as its tlickering
flame beat back the darkness. a blan-
ket. rolled and stained. lay in the door
way. and within was a figure that
might once have been a man. Harris
heart almost stopped at the sight: AL
Ian" he gasped, my boy, Allan!' He
tiptoed across the crumbling floor to-
ward it, holding the match before him.
A mans boot and part of trouser leg
protruded from the mass. He held the
match downward, leaning over them.
They were not Allan's.
"Thank God" he murmured, swell
ing with a great hope, thank God for
that"
He struck another match and found
the lantern. When he had lighted it
he surveyed the little building, and
saw Alans gun lying at the end far
thest from the door. Not until that
moment did he think Of the money.
Allan had been uppermost in his mind,
and when he thought of Allan money
was no consideration. But now a great
wave of understanding rushed in upon
him. Yes, the bag was gone. They
had been attacked by robbers. Knowl-
edge of their expedition had in some
way got to evil ears. and while he
slept Allan had been set upon. The
boy had embtied his gun-the huddled
mass in the doorway told that tale
plainly enough-but other robbers had
seized the cash and Allan had pursued
them empty-handed. They had fired at
MN as lite iu0ilttl AAViii lAiN bftAAt4iA-
that was the flash he saw a few sec
onds after the first loud report. He
was not quite clear as to his own
share in the fight, but he saw the gen
eral plan of it plainly enough. He be-
gan to wonder what had happened to
Gardiner and Riles Had they been
shot down as they wound through the
Il
of a gang prepared to stop at nothing.
Harris never for a moment suspected
his old neighbor of treachery. He was
himself a hard, grasping, money-seell-
ing man, but he had code of honor
none the less and within its limita-
lions none was more honorable than
he. To have done what Rifles had done
would have been quite impossible for
John Harris, and because If was i'm
possible for him its possibility FOR
Rifles never suggested itself.
Harris had NOT yet fully realized the
loss of his money. II was overshad-
owed by the more tragic events of
which one evidence lay before him.
His anxiety for Allan loomed larger
in his mind, although he had little
doubt the boy would take proper care
of himself, and, even If unarmed.
would come back with the money and
perhaps with Il prisoner The fact
that Allan had not taken his gun was
reassuring; if there had been any
great danger he would not have left it
behind But he must get out now and
aid in the search.
As he reached this decision his eye
caught CLEAN of something shining
on the floor. He walked to it and
found revolver fully loaded except
for one chamber, which had been dis
charged This is evidence" said he
important evidence" Harris had
all the Old Ontario contempt for this
kind of weapon and knew compare
lively little about it, but he concluded
from its appearance that it was al
most new. AS he examined it his eye
fell on the Initials, 81. t." cut in the
grip.
j. T. he said to himself. -. T.
Those initials seem familiar I'll just
leave this thing where l found it. I'M
til the police see it,"
Replacing the weapon on the floor.
he stole out the cabin, avoiding the
silent obstruction in the doorway. Out
side he stood for a moment undecided.
The circle of light from his lantern
might beacon Allan back to the shan
ty, but it would also prove a signal to
the robbers, if they were still in the vi
cinity. The roar of water came up
from the valleys, but above or through
chat roar suddenly he fancied he heard
a sound from the bushes near at hand.
he held his breath and listened in
tently. Yes, there it was again--a hui
man sound, beyond question, half
groan, half gurgle. He turned in the
direction from which it came and stole
quietly forward. Half-a-dozen yards
from the building the light revealed,
first a shadow. and then a figure lying
OH the ground. With some trepidation
Harris approached. The mans arms
had hpou pytpndpd whom he foil apd