The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-11-06
BY Cyril. N cNEII.E
SAPPER
Copyright BY GEORGE II. DORM CO.


ball until you feel yourself falling"
She doubled herself up and he
picked her up. One hand held both
her feet-the other gripped the waist
| band at the back of her skirt. Once
he lifted her above his head to the full
extent of his arms to free his muscles:
then he took little run and threw her
up and forward with all his strength.
And she cleared the top Strand by two
| feet. /.
| She landed unhurt in some bushes,
and when she had scrambled to her
feet she realized he was speaking
again-imperatively urgently.
Get the gang. darling: somehow or
other get the gang. I'll try and get
you good start. But-hurry."
The next instant he had disappeared
into the underground. And then loud
and clear the boot of an owl thrice
repeated. 1t was q message for her,
she knew-not senseless piece Of
bravado: a message to tell her that
he was all right. But the call at the
end was the urgent call Of the gang,
and though he was safe at the mo-
ment she knew there was no time to
be lost. And, with little prayer that
she would choose the right direction,
she broke into the steady run of the
girl who beagles when she goes
beagling, and doesn't sit on the top
Of a hill and watch. Hugh had never
let her down yet: 1t was. her turn
now! ~ --l
To what extent it was her turn,
perhaps 1t was as well that she did
not realize. Even Drummend was
ignorant Of the nature Of the odds
against him. He had not the slightest
Idea how many men were In the house
and while 1t remained dark he didn't
much care. In the dark he felt con-
fident of dealing with any number, or
at any rate Of eluding them.
But since the inmates were ignorant
Of what they were up against, they
somewhat foolishly, decided on instant
action. They came streaming across
in body, and by so doing they played
straight into the hands Of the man
who crouched in the shadows close by
them. Without a sound he faded
away from his hiding place. and
emerged from the underground ten
yards nearer the house. Then with
his collar turned up, and his shoulders
hunched together. he Joined the group.
And "a man-eating tiger in their midst
would have been a safer addition to
the party.
Slowly the line of shadowy men
moved forward through the under
growth, and creeping behind them
came the man they We're out TO kill.
And gradually he edged nearer and
nearer to the wire fence, until he was
following the outside man of the line.
He saw him pause for moment peer
ing round bush, with his revolver
ready in his hand. Aad then the ter
ror started Gne, beaten next to the
victiE3 had fleeing vision of a huge
black object springing through the
darkness: a muttered curse and, CUR
gle--and, dreadful strangled, scream
And the outside heater was no<moEe,
He had been hurled against the live,
wire fence as if he was child--and
the exhibits had been increased by
one. -,
With .hoarse cry of fear the, man
who had been next him. turned and
ran toward the house, only to find
himself seized from behind with q
grip of iron. 1t was Franz. and as he
stared into the face of the man whom
he knew to be drowned he gave a
squawk like trapped rabbit. Rut
there was nothing ghostly about the
hands round his neck, and as he felt
himself being rushed toward the fence
OF death he began to struggle furious
ly. But Drummond was insane at the
moment, and though Franz was pow
erful man he might hive saved him
self the trouble. A terrific blow hit
him on the face, and with grunt he
fell back against the fence The ex-
hibits were increased by two. and
through the darkness rang a cheerful
laugh. followed by the hooting of an
owl.
And now the line was broken. and
hiCh NCAC CRUSHING dDOut III all Olr6C-
lions shouting hoarsely. Here, there
and everywhere they heard the boot
ing Of an owl: they formed into
punches of twos and threes for pro-
lection. they blazed away with COM
1 pressed.air revolvers at harmless rho
dodendron bushes. and sometimes at
their own pals And every now and
then a great black figure would leap
silently out Of the darkness onto some
straggler: there would be below Of
fear and pain-followed by an omi-
nous silence, which was broken Sec
kond or two later by the hooting Of
, an owl twenty yards away.
''And at last they could stand 1t no
longer. They had no idea how many
men they were up against. and a COM
plete panic set in. With one accord
they rushed for the house, and a
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