The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-28

of brain of the ferret-faced youth.
There was nothing of Teutonic slow
ness in the manner in which he
grasped the significance of my ap-
pearance in the door of the inn with
the command to hold up his hands.
Instead Of obeying he jumped side
ways and began to run zig-zag fashion
toward the camouflaged wireless
where Otto waited his command He
stopped and doubled in such clever
| fashion that 1 saw it was useless for
me with my limited knowledge of
craftsmanship to attempt to fire the
small weapon in my hand. l stood
very little chance of hitting him, and
the noise of the shot would surely
| bring Otto out to see what was hap
pering.
| My eyes turned instinctively to the
figure of the army officer. He had been
poised ready to spring upon the fer
ret faced youth, yet when Ernest had
jumped to one side upon hearing me
the officers spring had missed him by
only a fra ction of an inch. Ernest had
slid from under the officers very fin
gers.
The Officer Counters.
L
that in some way my unexpected APP
pearance had Iessened for an instant
the efficiency of the officers watch
fulness That he was chivalrous to
degree I knew from his courtesy to
me at the time of the trolley unpleas-
antness And he had come back in
search of me, a stranger. to save me
from the long journey home! was
afraid that in his fear for me had for
gotten for only the one necessary in
slant the quick spring which would
have made the ferret-faced youth
captive.
But even as 1 looked at him he
atoned magnificently for any apparent
or real slowness of the moment before.
With colorless face and eyes blazing
like the traditional Goals he stood
poised, cycling the fleeing figure be
fore him, in his extended hand an
ugly looking automatic
Otto ReapPears. .,
"Stop!" His voice rang out COM
naandingly. IF you don't the first shot
will nick your ear, the second your
foot, and the third your heart
Ernest's only answer was a derisive
laugh, which was stopped on his lips
by a. shot from the revolver. His hand
went up to his left ear, which to my
amazement, was nicked as neatly as II
If had been cut with a pair of sharp
scissors.
"One!" said the officer impressively.
To the eternal credit of his bravery
Ernest didn't stop running. Instead ne
made another jump to one side. and as
he zig-zagged, began to. shout:
lotto. where the dew
Another shot rang out, and Ernest
stumbled, almost fell. With marks
manship that was almost uncanny II
was so unerring, the officer had kept
his promise and shot the Their man In
the foot.
Ernest put up his hands even before
he turntd around to face the offlcer.
But even as he did so he finished MS
shout:
lotto! Where the devil are your"
Come back here!" the oft1cer COM
manded sternly.
sure, I'll come back" jeered ERNEST,
his spirits evidently unconquered even
in the face of capture. Fhls rooster
knows when the axe is sWinsn Tor
Sunday dinner. But youh nave 10 40
st1,nt of initatin' Job for little !
smell. TnaL S6COIu SAAOC ~ ,
nut my foot out of business I'm
lame for life I'll haunt you. mister"
They'll help you to the gallows." the
offioo, nrornised erimly. Now call that /
other man again and tell him to come
ont hree. And no monkey business,
mind. There are several more snots |
where those two came from
"oh, please" called to the otIlcer'
Who did MT turn his eyes away from |
ernest. but who, / knew, was listening |
to me attentively, the other man is |,
going to blow up the wireless over in
the windmill at the signal this man
just gave"
The words died on my lips in sud
den terror. For Otto. huge figure OF
in,pla cable rage, had emerged from |
the old windmill. In his hand was |
rifle. AS he raised it and fired felt !
a sudden stab of pain in my arm