The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-05-07
CHAPTER xi-continued.

- yNh VI pun SDTdH
10 his feet, jerking the farmer into
haif-sitting posture as he did so, an
Harris, with a great gasp for air, RI
nnquished his sudden and unexpecte
advantage. But Gardeners head wa
again In command; he rushed throug
the door, half falling over the obstruc
ton as he went. and in an instant wa
lost In the gloom of the night.
For some minutes Harris lay on tn,
moor. recovering his breath. AS tn,
oxygen welled back into his lungs hs
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 light. He found matches I'm
his pocket, struck one, and peered ca
gerly into the gloom as its Pickering
name beat back the darkness. A bIan-
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 II, 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, II
he surveyed the little building. and
saw Allan's gun lying at the end far
fhest 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. Know4-
edge of their expedition had I'm some
way got to evil ears. and while he
slept Allan had been set upon. The
boy had emptied his gun-the huddled
mass In the doorway told that tale
plainly enough-Abut other robbers had
seized the cash and Allan had pursued
them empty-handed. They had fired at
him as he rushed from the building
that was the flash he saw q 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 1t plainly enough. He be.
gan to wonder what had happened TO
Gardiner and Riles. Had they been
snof down as they wound through the
woods? This was evidently the work
o. gang prepared to stop at nothing.
harris never for moment suspected
nus old neighbor of treachery. He was
himself hard, grasping, moneylseek-
mg man. but he had a code of honor
hone the less, and within its limita.
mons none was more honorable than
1e. 10 have done what Riles had done
Fouid have been quite impossible for r
'onn Harris. an& because II was i'm.
,ossib'e for him its possibility for
Aes never suggested itself.
Harris had not vet fully reaIized tho
o~ OF his money. 1t was overshaJ
.eo py the more tragic events of
..'cn one evidence lay before him
''s anxiety for Allan doomed LANCER
ms mind, although he had IIttIe
"'ot the boy would take proper care q
himself. and. even If uparmed II
0u'u come back with the mopev o,d -
'aaps WIN prisoner. The fact ~
'a' A'ian had not taken his gun was -
IT.tw. a
u'ng; II there had been any ~
' ~ uanser he would not have left n ~
s ]. But he must get out now and ~
2 In the search. 'io" anu -
AZ ne reached this decision b,s o ~
'asnt CLEAN of something sh;,;no Nv
.,' ~e moor. Ee walked to il and I
! revolver, fully loaded except
ue chamber, which had been dis ques
$50 This is evidence" said he rela
porl3nt evidence" Harris bad had
= e va Ontario contempt for this crus
- u weapon, and knew cor.nora infie
- n.tie about 1t, but he concl,dad had
' appearance that II was nj hims
4 AS he examined 1t his eve 1t
1. W 'ne initials, u. t." cut in the out
e the
ne said to himself. ct IT ing b
hiuais seem familiar. ri inst form
= uis ming where found n nm but i
81, posice see it, his o
aeins the weapon on tba floor creed
u out the cabin. avoiding tho such
I obstruction In the doo,,vay M, II wa
|. $1,000 Tor moment undecided his pl
4. I've Oh light from his Ion,a,,, cientl
&, 1eacon Allan back to the chan. befor'
would also prove n signal =, truth
g 00ers' II they We're still IN tha :, but n
1 ~ me roar of water came M In HI
~ Valleys. but above or tbro,rt grown
'.s' nv suddenly he fancied be be-rd ers; I
~, ,om the bushes near a, bon.- | s'd b
Il v MS breath and listened in boy. A
. 50. 'nere 1t was again-a h. the afl
q hs,S beyond question hole had CT
|rsios, surgle. He turned i'm tbe worshi
~ ,a lrp'u which it came and stole He I
! the ,,,,,,,, haif-a-dozen yards camper
ID. a.. A.. 'he light revealed at the
q sra' sow' and then figure Iyinr few
- apnro.. "'n some trepidaiion the liz,
len ex,.s lie mans arms that SO
nj WINS .s "nen he fell, and had st;
Il rto.' ss thrown over his head could ,
oktulds.ss ana drew it down over lining
= Allan. inc iace. again
- oPsf shls,,- could d