The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1923-02-08

Is the prize and who is giving it?'
'The prize" replied Shottle blandly.
ais a--turkey. 1t is given by the
by a leading butcher of the town."
Boyce laughed and the girl added
her silver merriment. I'm sure liz
hattered" she said. ''The name ID
Nadine la vitte, and the address"
She broke off, and flushed little.
Shottie's jaw had dropped; then lie
gulred with an extraordinary contor-
tor OF his face in the endeavor ts
mask his establishment. And the ad'
dress?" he pursued.
The girl and Boyce exchanged
troubled look. ~ think" interposed
Boyce ut would be better to take the
the fowl home tonight. Perhaps YOU
would be good enough TO deliver 1t to
our carriage. 1t is ordered for one
o'clock--Number 297." Bowling with
| pelican grace, Shottls departed, but
he delayed some ten minutes IN dark
thought before he sought Drace again.
For Shottle wanted the hundred dol
lars, and If he were to tell BRACE that
her name was La Vitte! Could 1t be
possible that she was Stephos daugh-
ter?
He presented himself before Drace
at length. Master" he announced.
"her name is Nadine Brown and her
address is Carriage Number 297."
Carriage Number Two But that
Is no address. And"
Listen, Master" weNt on ShOttle
hurriedly. II have scheme-a magni-
ficent scheme Not only shall you be
introduced TO this lady. but you shall
be presented to her In the role Of 4
protector and rescuer."
''How in the world will you manage
tbat?"
'Very simple. At ten minutes past
one, you are to be standing on Blank
street just beyond the lamp at the
corner of X street. Carriage 297 VIII
drive past. From out the shadow OF
a garden wall two men will spring cut
and stop the carrlage-attempt to rob
this Boyce fellow and that girl. Yet
will rush up with q cane cane, vir-
gil, no pistol-and drive or the rob-
bers! You are hero-the lady thanks
you. Tableau"
"But-but-"
Leave it all to me-bnt give nae
that twenty-five dollars. l know fel-
lows who'd hold up the devil himself
for FIVE"
At ten minutes past one o'clock vir-
gil brace was standing In the shadow
of a tree near the street-cTessing de
cided upon. cursing himself for hair
Drained fool and Shottle for an addle-
pated rogue. A rattle of wheels came
to his ears, and cab approached him.
As 1t came under the lamp at the
corner, Virgil was sure he recognized
the flamingo neck Of Liberty Shottle
rising from the turned-up collar OF the
cabby on the box.
Good Lord" gasped Drace. "He's
done it. Pray heaven Boyce carries
no pistol"
The cab passed him. And then from
the shadow Of wall hundred yards
or so distant two dark figures darted
out. There came hoarse command,
a stifed scream, a cry for help Drace
ran forward and found Boyce, Nadine
and the supposed cabmsn standing
with uplifted hands beside the vehicle
while masked desperate threatened
them with pistol and second robber
demanded their yaluahIAs
Now Drace played his part right
CALAMITY, rushing upoa the robbers
with uplifted cane. The fellow with
the pistol fired once-then q blow on
the wrist from Drsce's stick sent the
weapon flying. The pain of the blow
enraged the fellow, however, and as
Drace made at the second robber, the |
first one struck him heavily, memen |
tariJy dazing him. The two supposed |
robbers now took to their heels, Dur.
sued half-heartedly by Cabman Shottle
and theoretically by BOyce, who had
been robbed in good earnest. And |
to complete the melee, the poor cab.
horse, frightened by the plstol-shot,
galloped off with the ramshackle We
hicle lurching behind It.
Nadine turned to BRACE, her face |
lighted with gratitude. She held forth |
her hand. With grace that would |
not have Knocked a Highlander who, |
schoOled in France, had followed home |
the Queen of Scots, he bent over II |
ind reverently touched 1t with his
lips. Wild was her nature, this half |
barbaric maid, and she snatched her |
hand away, but repcnting instantly !
smiled and spoke.
II thank You much You are brave
You are like one on the stage, thu
hero"
Her words came freely, and witt
Just enough of accent TO convince tbs
they were sweeter than IL there wer
none. Drace asked her n she rene
bered him, and her black velvet eyes
flashed dark in establishment.
How could l when never have I
seen you? You must mistake me.
No." S
i saw you on the boat. at the ball
at the St Louis" BRACE said But
come to think Of 1t, l know that II
would be vanity on my part to believe
mat you have seen me-"
No. 1t would not be vanity" pleas
unity she contradicted him, shaking
ler head, her cloud Of hair. "The
brave do not be vain, but did not see
you l am so sorry. You sorry, too,
laT
ohe laughed, and Drace thought that
lever till that moment had he heard
music In Its sweetest purity. Then