Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-07-03

self being pinioned. A moose was
slipped about his neck, strangling hin
until he was no longer capable Of re-
Sistance. Ropes were fastened around
his body and legs. A gag was thrust
in his mouth. He was helpless as g
trussed chicken.
Then the room leaped into light, and
he saw Shorty fastening the ends OF
the rope to a beam, and PATHWAY
standing over him.
A moan came from Joyce's lips. and
her body strained against Its bonds
Railway looked at her and uttered
his hyena laugh.
Taking the lighted candle from the
table, he set 1t down In hole beneath
the sill. A thin coil Of smoke quickly
began to spread upward. Within q
minute the tinder-dry thin boards OF
the hut were covered with running
flames. Smoke began to fill the in
terror.
Railway waited till he was sure the
hut was well alight, then he slashed
the bond that tied Joyce to the bed,
picked up the struggling girl, and car
ried her down the path as easily as a
child In spite of her resistance.
AS he neared the neck a spire of
flame shot up from the hut behind
him.
He was half way to the water when
figure, silent and tense as cat,
leaped at him from among the reeds.
1t was Leboeuf, tracking Lee. Rath-
way, by instinct alone, sprang side
wise just in time to save himself.
Leboeuf fell sprawling In the morass.
Estelle and Shorty were waiting be-
side the motor boat among the reeds.
Railway had reached the side Of the
boat before Estelle recognized Joyce
In his arms. She sprang toward him
with a cry. But PATHWAY coolly placed
the girl In the bottom, and quickly
fastened the ends of the rope about
the seat. The boat, wedged In the
sand, only tilted a little as Joyce
struggled.
Jim, what does it meanP You
swore-you swore you'd leave her in
the hut" screamed Bstelle frantically
Railway swore at her. She ran at
him like fury. and he dealt her a
blow in the face that struck her to
the ground.
She got up dazed, staggered toward
him, and stood still as the bright
spire of light burst upward from the
burning hut. At the same instant a
single pistol shot came from the end
Of the promontory, followed by sud
den outcry.
Hold that d-n she-wolf for a mo-
ment, Shorty" said Railway, coolly
and, as Shorty threw himself upon
Estelle, who had begun to scream
frantically again. he turned aside,
found the bag Of gold, and, lifting 1t
in his arms, staggered to the boat,
and, with a mighty heave, raised 1t
over the gunwale and placed 1t in the
bottom.
With a mighty heave Of his shoul-
ders he pushed the motor boat into
the water.
The shouting on the promontory
broke into a yell. Figures came run
ming toward them; then, at Estelles
screams, broke and doubled back
again. Only Railway had seen-not
Shorty, gasping as he wrestled with
Estelle.
"W-what'n 1 do with herT Shorty
gasped.
Railway regarded the pair compla-
Gently. Everything was his; one in
stant now and every care would have
fallen from his shoulders And there
was that d-n woman screaming!
Shorty dealt Estelle a blow that
sent her staggering back. He swung
around to Railway.
Good bye, Shorty" said Railway
softly, and shot him through the head
The body tottered and dropped at
Estelles feet. Railway leaped into
the boat, pushing 1t from the shore.
AS Estelle ran into the water he felled
her with an oar.
Next moment he was at the engine,
and the put-put began. The boat shot
out into the lake. The rattle Of the
motor was like music in Railways
ears. He held the craft steady with
out difficulty against Joyce's incessant
efforts to overturn 1t. Seeing that she
had too much leeway, he stopped and
tightened the rope that bound her to
the seat.
On the margin Of the lake Estelle
stood with arms raised to the bright
ening sky screaming as If she were de-
mented Suddenly she turned and dis
appeared among the reeds that fringed
the shore.
Behind the promontory the hut was
going up in a vast sheet Of flame.
Railway chuckled. All his fears
had disappeared forever. He looked
at Joyce, who was now lying quiet in
the bottom of the boat. He looked at
the gold. The girl and the gold He
said that over and over. Already he
was far out upon the breast of the
lake, and the promontory was dwind-
ling behind him.
He looked at the drum of gasoline
IN the bow, tried to lift it, and assured
Q.,ll l1g.-l