The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-03-25

! fully upon tho colpnela long nuplne
figure.
Nick went down on ono knee beside
him. md uttered IA Erunt Of sntlsfne'
tlon. This 10 better"
Ills fellow came 70 peer over his
shoulder.
- gentry cove. dammsr no Esors
with horrible satisfaction. Their prao
iiccd ghoulish fingers went swiftlJ
over Holes. and they ehuehied Oh
scensly Of sight of the hait.dozer
gold pieces displayed in Iarry''
nlthy paw
"Sot much else" grumbled one
after a further inspection.
There's his sword-a rich HIT
look. Larry"
And there's fnio pair o. stamp
sra." said Larry. who ives alread,
busy about tho colonies feet. Lend
hand. Nick"
They pulled tho boots of and
made a bundle Of them. together viii
tho coionel'a hat and cloak. Thii
bundle larry dropped into a basket
that hung behind tho cart. whilst
Nick remained TO strip Holes Of his
touhici. Suddenly ho paused.
'Iasm sin swarm. Larry" he said
qusrulously.
Larry approached. pulling NJ hli
pipe. lie Erowied a lewd cath. ex
prcssiys Of contemp, and indiffer
encc.
what oddsT" be addcd cynlcally
Hell BE- cold enough or ever VIZ
comes TO AidEate." And ha laughed
as he took tho doabiot Nick flung al
him.
Tho nexs moment their filthy
hooks were IN Tho garments they had
left upon HOLES. and they had added
him 20 tho terrible load that already
hRiffiIled their cart.
They backed the vehicle out OF the
alley. and then trundlcd on. Eoinr
eastward. their destination being The
pit az AidEnts.
They were already approaching
their destination. and tho first light
Of dawn. pailld. cold. and eoloricsa Al
moons,ons. waH beginning 20 dis
pei the darkness. whom. DO II from
the jol,ing OF the cart. or from the
flow OF blood where one OF those foul
hooks had scraped his thigh. or yet
from preserving Nature. uulckcnlns
his wits that he might have himself
from suffocation. tho colonel was
aroused from his drunken trance.
Hs awakened. thrnating ficrcely
for mir. and seeking 70 dislodgc q
heavy mass that lay across his face
Hs braced himself and heaved more
strcnuously. until at length he won
clear. NO far. at least, MS his head was
concerned.
He saw the pallng stars above and
WINS hbls Mt last 20 breathe freely
and without effort. But the burden
which no had succeeded In thrustinr
from his head. now lay across his
breast, and the weight Of II was
troublesome and painful. lie put
forth n hand. and realizing by the
sense OF touch that what he graspcd
was a human arm. he shook Il vigor
ously. Eliciting no response. no be
gan 20 grow angry.
"Afoot there. 30 drunken lob" he
growled In n thick voice. Get up.
say. Get OPP o's my llfel Dye take
mo for bed that you put yourself 10
sleep across me7 Gerrupr' he
roarcd. his anger increasing before
that continued lack Of response
"Gerrup. or I'll =,
lie ceased abruptly. blinking In the
glare Of light that suddenly struck
ncross his eyes from tho flaming
head Of the torch which had been
thrust upward. The cart had come
TO standstiil. and above the tall
sides OF II, rising into his field OF
vision. came the two horrible figures
OF the carriers. whom the sound OF
his voice had brought TO mount tho
wheels Of the vehicle.
In plaintive lmpatlcnce came the
nasal voice OF one OF those ghouls.
Il told 80 tho gentry.cove was
warm. Larry"
"Ayei weil7 And what now?"
quoth the other auerulou,ly.
why. fling him out. o. course"
But HOLES was no longer in need
Of their assistance, Their words and
what he saw OF that grim load OF
which he was part made him real
izc at last his CHASTITY situation. lie
hcaved himself clear. and struggled
gasping. 10 HIS knees. Thence he
grippcd the side of the cart. pulled
himself to his feet, flung n leg over
and leaped down. stumbling as he did
so. and sprawling full length upon
tho ground.
BY the time he had gathered him
self up. the cart was already trun
! ding on again. and the pcals OF
hoarso, obscene laughter from tho
carriers were ringing hidcously thru
the silent street.
Mechanically ho trudgcd on and
on. uimlessly now. n man walking In
a nightmare.
AZ last he paused. without knowi,
cdgo or care OF where he was; utterly
berefi Of strength, he sank presently