Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1921-03-11

lluQulSIeu HIS SuuueH anu 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 light. He found matches in
his pocket, struck one, and peered ca
gerly into the gloom as its Pickering
fame 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 man. Harris
heart almost stopped at the sight cal
lam" he gasped, my boy, Allanw 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 We're not Allan's.
"Thank, God,7 he murmured swell
ing with q 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 Allan's 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 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 emptied 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
him as he rushed from the building
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 1t plainly enough He be-
gan TO wonder what had happened to
Gardiner and Rifles. Had they been
nhot down as they wound through the
woods? This was evidently the work
Of a gang prepared to stop at nothing.
Harris never for moment suspected
his old neighbOr Of treachery. He was
himself hard, grasping, money-seek-
ing man, but he had a code Of honor
none the less, and within it's limita-
lions none was more honorable than
he. TO have done what RlleS had done
would have been quite impossible for
John Harris, and because 1t was I'M
possible for him its possibility for
Riles never suggested itself.
Harris had not yet fully realized the
loss Of his money. 1t was overshad-
owed by the more tragic events Of
which one evidence lay before him.
His anxiety for Allan doomed 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 d 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 il 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 1t, but he concluded
from its appearance that 1t was al
most new. AS he examined it his eye
fell on the initials, u. t." cut in the
grip.
y. T." he said to himself. II. r.
Those initials seem familiar. I'll just
leave this thing where 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 q moment undecided.
The circle of light from his lantern
might beacon Allan back to the shar-
ty, but 1t would also prove a signal to
the robbers, if they were still in the vi. |
entity. The roar of water came up |
from the valleys, but above or through
hat roar suddenly he fancied he heard |
/ sound from the bushes near at hand.
He held his breath and listened In
emily. Yes, there it was again--a hui |
nan sound, beyond question, half |
yroan, half gurgle. He turned in the
Erection from which 1t came and stole
quietly forward. Half-a-dozen yards
rom the building the light revealed.
irst a shadow, and then figure lying
IN the ground. With some trepidatlon
Harris approached. The mans arms
lad been extended when he fell. and
lis coat was thrown over his bend