The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-03-10

half-sitting posture as he did so, ana
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 yeas unhurt. With return
ing strength his thought reverted to
Allan. and. calling the boys name, he
sprang 70 his feet. The first thing was
70 Get light. He found matches in
his pocket, struck one, and peered ca
rerly into the gloom as its fiickering
flame beat back the darkness. A blan-
ket rolled and stained, lay in the door
way. and within was figure that
might once have been q man. Harris
heart almost stopped ut the sight: Al
Ian" he gasped, my boy, Allan! He
tiptoed across the crumbling floor to-
ward IL. 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 Adams.
'Thank God" he murmured, swell
ing with a great hope, thank Cod FOR
that"
He struck another match and found
the lantern. When he had lighted IT
ne surveyed the little building, and
saw Alan's gun lying ut 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
i 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 ne
| slept Allan had been set upon. Inc
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 few Sec
onds after the first loud report. lie
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
shot down as they wound through the
woods? This was evidently the work
of q gang prepared 10 stop at nothing.
Harris never for a moment suspected
his old neghbor of treachery. He was
himself a hard. grasping, money-seek-
ing man, but he had a code of honor
none the less. and within its llmita-
lions none was more honorable than
he. To have done what Riles had done
would have been quite impossible for
John Harris. and because 1t was i'm
possible for him It's possibility for
Rifles 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 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 a CLEAN Of something shining
on the floor. He walked TO II and
found a revolver, fully loaded except
for one chamber, which had been dis
charged. "Thls is evidence" said he
Important evidence" Harris had
all the Old Ontario contempt for this
I kind of weapon, and knew compare
/ lively little about it, but he concluded
| from its appearance that ii was al
most new. As he examined il his eye
fell on the initials, ~. t." cut in the
grip.
-. t." he said to himself. u. T.
Those initials seem familiar. I'll just
leave shis thing where found it, un-
I'll 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 moment undecided.
The circle of light from his lantern
might beacon Allan back to the shan
~, but It would also prove signal TO
the robbers. If they were still in the vi.
entity. The roar Of water came mp
from the valleys, but above or through
that roar suddenly he fancied he heard
n sound from the bushes near az hand
lie held his breath and listened in
tently. Yes, there 1t was again--a hu-
man sound, beyond question half
groan. half gurgle lie turned in the
direction from which il came and stole
quietly forward Half-0-dozen yards
from the building the light revealed
first a shadow, and then a rigure lying
81 the ground. With some irepidaiion