Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 11, No. 39, Ed. 1 Friday, October 17, 1919 Page: 3 of 8
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PALACIOS BEACON, PALACIOS, TEXAS
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SYNOPSI8.
John Davis and Hawk Morgan, execu-
tors of the estate of John Carr, miner,
disagree over the disposition of the profits
of the mine. Morgan seek* the gold and
the girl, Ethel, Carr's adopted daughter,
for himself, and unsuspected by Davis,
whom Ethel really loves, makes several
sensational attempts upon the life of
Davis. Suspicion Is diverted to a mys-
terious hermit. Davis and Rainface are
bound and hurled Into the sea hy Hindus.
episode 12.
the rushing horror.
John Davis, captured by the Hindus
and brought to the cottage on the bluff
overlooking the sea, managed to cut Ills
bonds and barricade himself In an up-
per room of the house. The door was
finally battered down by the gang of
orientals, and John, after making a
great fight against them, went down be-
neath the weight of numbers. Raln-
fuce, who had hastened to his rescue,
suffered a similar fate, and the two
were bound and put In large' gunny
sacks. They were tlien carried to the
edge of the bluff and thrown headlong
into the sea to be drowned like blind
kittens.
They struck the water with a tre-
mendous splash and disappeared in
twin spots of foam. A full minute
passed. Then a head appeared upon
the surface, immediately followed by
the arm of John, the hand of which
clasped the short shoatli jcnlfe which
he had carried concenledTn the waist-
band of his trousers, and with which
he had cut himself free of bonds while
In the ivitt'ige of the Hindus. Floating
upon his back barely long enough to
fill his lungs half a dozen times with
fresh air, he turned and dove otter
like. Fortunately the water here, be-
ing close off shore, was not more than
a dozen feet deep and ho had little dif-
ficulty In finding the sack in which was
confined the form of his Indian follow-
er. One long, sweep of the knife rip-
ped the receptacle from end to end, and
not stopping to do more than thrust hts
lcnlfe in his pocket he seized the mo-
tionless and half drowned man by the
collar and began kicking his way vig-
orously toward the surface. Greatly
out of breath he reached it.
For a moment more he treaded water
as ho supported the face of Rainface
to the air, and, once more recovered,
started for the shore towing the Indian
at his side. It was but a few dozen
strokes to the beach, and arriving
there he laid the stllliseffseless form of
the red man on the sand and waited
for nature to take its course. Not long
afterward Rainface gasped, groaned
and then sat up. Fifteen minutes later
he was little the worse for his ducking.
At once they started up the face of
the cliff. Precipitous though it was, by
following, the windings of a narrow
trail they eventually reached its top,
and soon after, encountering a passing
taxi, they engaged it and ordered that
they be driven with all speed to the
Mackenzie hotel.
With a hasty paying* of their driver
they dashed into that hostelry and ran
to*the door of their apartment. The
rooms were empty. A hurried search
revealing no clue as to the whereabouts
of the absent ones, they hurriedly
•sought the elevator man and began
plying him with questions. He scratch-
ed his head reflectively.
"Yes sir. Now that I think of it the
lady with two doctors—leastwise they
looked lllce doctors—went out about
half an hour ago."
Wondering what this might mean,
the puzzled pair descended and sought
the street. As they were deliberating
as to what course to pursue, a police-
man came strolling by, and promptly
John fell upon him.
"Yes, I seen a lady such as you
describe drive off with a couple of
medical gents a little while ago. She
seemed sick or snmethin' and I was
going to ask her what was the matter,
but they got started before I could get
to them. However, It looked klnda fun-
ny, so I made a note of the number of
the ear for future reference in case I
wanted it."
"And that number?" cried Davis. The
officer consulted his note book,
"Cal. 37055. And if it concerns you,
mister, if you will call up the License
Bureau and say that Patrolman Waddy
gave you the number, they'll tell you
who the owner Is."
"Thank you, ottlcer," returned Davis,
as he slipped him a bill, Back into the
hotel tliey hurried, where John imme-
diately accosted the operator at the
telephone switchboard.
"Will y<m please call up the license
bureau and say that Policeman Waddy
wishes to know the owner of car num-
ber 376J55?" he requested. "We will be
back in ten minutes to get your reply."
Returning to the lobby they were In-
formed that the car was owned by a
Dr. Fream, also receiving the further
and very welcome Information that the
said gentleman had recently rented a
country house in Idle Wild, a residen-
tial suburb on Eucalyptus avenue,
(Number 22.
Much pleased at having struck so
wartn a scent, tht?y at once en-gaged a
motorcar and instructed that they be
token to the number named. Arriv-
ing there, they glanced at its sign
which read "St. Luke's Hospital. Dr.
Fream, Sup't.," and dismounted from
their vehicle.
Meanwhile as to Ethel.
Terribly worried at the report
brought by the physicians that John
was badly hurt and in danger of dy-
ing, she sat listlessly In the machine
as the Spider sped them over the road
to Idle Wild where the bogus "St,
Luke's Hospital" with its sign especial-
ly painted for this purpose by Mor-
gua, WuS oiiUtmnl. Aa Uiey drove iulo
the carriage way and the handsome
building confronted her, she clasped
her hands over her bosom and with a
little gasp summoned her fortitude for
the ordeal which lay before her. In
front of the door Dr. Fream and his
assistant helped her carefully down,
and supporting her lightly upon eacli
side, led her within. Escorting her to
the reception room, they seated her.
Dr. Fream spoke.
"If you will rest and compose your-
self for a few moments, I will go and
see In what condition the patient is.
If ho is well enough to see you, T will
take you to him. But I implore you,
Miss, to bear this in mind. While I
expect you- will find him alive and con-
scious, you must be prepared for n
shock' when you first see him." Bow-
ing gravely to her he left the room,
while the distressed girl, biting her
lip and With fingers clenched, subdued
her wild Impulse to follow him and
throw herself at the bedside of the
man she loved so dearly.
Morgan, his coat and collar off and
wearing a white shirt, was standing
in a room upstairs which had been
fitted up as a hospital private room,
when his confederate, Fream, entered.
"Is she here?" he asked. The other
nodded.
"Then we'll get busy." Placing him-
self upon the bed Morgan covered
himself while Fream bandaged Ills
head and the other confederate donned
a white hospital interne's uniform.
When Fream had finished the entire
head of the Hawk was swathed in
bandages, save for one eye which had
been left unbound that the pretended
sufferer might see. This done, Fream
turned the light low and returned to
the lower floor.
Ethel was standing at the window
looking out into the darkness when
he entered. Noting the fluttering of
her Hps and the heaving of her bosom,
and fearing that she was about to col-
lapse beneath the nervous strain, he
hastened to her.
"Yes, he is still alive," he said hur-
riedly. "He wants you to do some-
thing—some strange request. If you
can comply with it, I believe it will
help him in his fight for life."
"Anything!" she cried passionately.
"Anything he may ask. Only take ine
to him at once." Taking her by the
urm, he led her from the room.
Softly he opened the door and
Ethel, feeling herself growing faint
nnd dizzy, stood gazing into the sub-
duedly lighted room. At the sight of
the bandaged one in the bed, she ut-
tered a low cry and started impulsive-
ly forward, but the hand of Fream
held her back.
"Slowly and quietly," he warned in
a low tone. Realizing that she must
control herself, the girl slowed her
pace. She kneeled beside the bed
and one hand lovingly touched the
bandages.
"I am so glad that you are alive,
dear. You will live for me, John,
won't you?" By a slight movement of
the head, the swathed one indicated
that he wished to speak to her. She
bent closer to him, her ear turned to
catch his whispered words.
"ne asks me to marry him, so if
he dies—" She burled her face in her
hands, but regained her self control
and looked up at Fream. "I am r»ady.
Send for a minister," she said.
"It will help him," returned Fream
soberly.
"IIow strange his voice sounds," she
said. A slight smile crept to the Hps
of the physician.
"What would you expect when one
has been burned nearly to death, be-
sides being terribly cut? The wonder
is that he can speak at> all." Silently
she nodded her understanding.
Fream, stepping Into the next room,
spoke to the Spider who sat there
smoking.
"The girl is ready. Take the car and
get the Reverend Dr. Preston and
bring him here as quick as the devil
will let you. Then in ten minute* we
will have the thing cinched." Leaping
to his feet, the Spider went hurrying
on Ills mission.
Leaving their machine, John' and
Ttfflnface walked up to the house. All
was dark within, nor did any re-
sponse come to their ringing of the
bell. With vague suspicion crawling
Into their minds they walked about
the place, Inspecting it closely. Then
as the sound of an approaching nuto
smote their ears, they ran to the front
of the building and peeped around a
corner Just as the Spider and another
man who was unmistakably a minister
entered the door. Now wholly suv
pi clous and alarmed, they hastened to
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Exploded With a Tremendous Roar.
the auto and glanced at. its number. It
was Calif. 37650, the machine of Dr.
Fream.
"That other fellow with preacher,
him St>ider," grunted Rainface. "Hlin
got on wig and whiskers, but me know
his walk."
"You're right, Rainface. I was try-
ing to place that gait of his. There's
the devil to pay in there sure, and
we've got to get in, 'ocks or no locks."
Tearing open the tool box of the ma-
chine lie drew forth a heavy screw-
driver, and closly followed by the In-
dian sprang to the nearest window.
Inserting the point of the impro-
vised "jimmy" beneath the lower
frame and the jam, lie gave his in-
strument a savage downward push.
Before the leverage of the steel tool
the catch burst and the window no
longer barred their way. I.ifting it
hastily they crawled within and stood
listening. No sound met their ears,
and with soundless feet they crept up
the stairs, halting before a door
through the keyhole of which a slen-
der fan of light streamed. John plac-
ing his ear to the crevice, drew his
breath and listened. Plainly to his
hearing came the words of the min-
ister.
"Is this your wish, my child?" Faint-
ly came the answer of Ethel.
"It is."
"Then if any man can show just
cause why this couple muy not law-
fully be joined together "
Snapping himself erect like a re-
leased rubber band, John tried the
knob. The door was locked, but with
a savage cry bursting from his lips he
placed one shoulder against it and
gave a mighty heave. As though It
had been made of pasteboard It
crumpled before him and fell crashing
into the room. Chest heaving and
with fists clenvhed, Davis stood before
the assemblage wyhln.
"John! John !" cried the girl, start-
ing back as though she saw a ghost.
Half unbelievingly she turned her
eyes to the one beneath the covers.
"Then who Is this "
But Morgan did not wait to answer.
One jump and he was out of bed, and
with the Spider nnd the two "physi-
cians" leaping at his heels he bolted
from the room, tumbled down the
stairs and streamed from the front
•door. The next moment those left be-
hind heard the motor car go whir-
ring Into the night.
Releasing Ethel from his arms,
Davis turned threateningly upon the
minister, but the girl interposed her-
self between them.
"Don't, John. He was deceived even
as 1 was. The doctor said It was you
—and I was marrying him thinking it
would save your life." Explanations
having been made all around, they
parted, the crestfallen minister to his
home and Ethel, John and Ruinfuce
for their hotel.
At their entrance Morgan and the
Spider arose and came forward ques-
tioning them rapidly. The Hawk
thrust out his hand?
"We're sure glad to see you. When
you did not turn up at that temple,
John, nnd we did not find you here,
Mtu Ethel nnd I nearly went wild
from anxiety. How did you escape
the Hindus, and where have you been
—where have all of you been, If I
may ask?"
Davis gave a short laugh,
"It's a long story, but I suppose I
might as well begin." Ordering re-
freshments, they seated themselves
while John briefly told his adventures.
As be finished Morgan frowned.
"Who could that chap have been
that pretended to be you?" John's
head slowly waved.
"That's what gets me. Do you sup-
pose it was that hermit chap or one
of his agents?" Morgan's hand fell
upon his knee with a resounding slap.
"That's it exactly. But thank good-
ness he failed. For one, I've had
enough of this town and am hungry
for the mountains again. Let's go back
in the morning and fight him in the
open. Meanwhile " The voice of
Ethel quickly arose.
"Yes, let us leave this horrible
hotel where such things are always
happening. Cannot we go to some
quiet place near the sea, or "
John's hand, finding her own, gave
it a squeeze.
"I know just the spot. The Sea Cliff
Inn down the bay. We'll pack our bags
and motor down at once." With this
understanding, they separated for the
purpose of getting ready.
Within their own room, Morgan
turned to the Spider.
"You stay behind as if to make prep-
arations for an early start. Here's the
list of stuff you are to get. Be off the
Sea Cliff dock Ut midnight, tie up the
launch and join me. I'll hang a towel
out of my room and be on the watch
for you."
They secured their auto and left the
hotel of horrors, the Spider waving
them good-by from the curb. In the
front seat with the chauffeur rode
Morgan; Ethel and John sat behind
them, with Rainface mounted on the
auxiliary seat In ]',§!§» rear, Scarcely
bad they turned t|SHprst corner, how-
ever, than the Indian, suspicious that
the one left behind was up to sqpie
deviltry, slipped from his seat unno-
ticed by his companions. Arriving at
the hotel, John secured three rooms
for them, the supposition being that
Rainface had preferred to come on
foot, and Indian-like had dropped oft
saying nothing. Joh^ and Ethel start-
ing for their rooms, saw that Morgan
was missing and supposed he hud pre-
ceded them.
But the Hawk had not. Secreting
himself until they had retired he re-
turned to the desk and engaged two
additional rooms above those taken by
John, his excuse to the clerk being
that he expected two friends to arrive
later on. This done, he mounted the
stairs and threw himself upon the
bed without undressing.
Out in the hay in a motor boat, the
Spider cruising slowly along with eyes
upon the Sea Cliff Inn, gave an ex-
clamation of satisfaction. From out
of a window of that hostelry a towel
hung, and guiding his boat to the dock
he made it secure and approached the
building. Inquiring of the sleepy clerk
for the room that his friend had en-
gaged for hitu, he was shown to it,
to be joined shortly thereafter by Mor-
gan. The Spider opened the grip he*
hud been carrying, taking from It •
nail-puller and a number of other ob-»
jects.
"Davis' room is just beneath this,
the girl's beneath the adjoining one,
which I also engaged. I happened to
remember that it would be easy for
us to pull up a few floor bourds in
this old seaside shack, and that's what
put the Idea In my head," whispered
the Hawk, as they began their task.
Ten minutes of silent work had re-
moved a plank from the flooring of
each room, showing them the man and
girl lying asleep lu their rooms be-
low. Because of the warmth of the
weather neither was fully dressed,
and each was lying without* covering.
From the contents, of the grip, Mor-
gan selected two long, telescoped cones
which he drew to their full length and
than handed one to the Spider.
"You etherize Davis while I do the
same for the girl," he whispered.
With a nod of assent Belins passed
Into the adjoining room, while Mor-
gan kent over the opening in the floor
of his chamber. A moment later the
cones slowly descended until they were
close over the faces of the sleeping
ones, and the etherizing process be-
gan. Within five minutes the victims
lay wholly unconscious.
Quickly Morgan and his accomplice
descended to the floor below, and open-
ing the doors leading to the slumber-
ing dupes, bound them securely. Then
raising them in their arms they car-
ried them to the window, from whence
they were lowered to the ground by
means of ropes which the Spider had
brought for the purpose, and from
there conveyed them to the dock. The
Spider pointed to the launch with its
skiff in tow.
"That skiff has steel water-tight
compartments both fore and aft, and
in each of the compartments is an in-
fernal machine," he said.
"Good," returned Morgan. "When
we get out a safe distance we'll cut
loose and let them go to glory together
—the way they were bound to live."
Stowing the bound and helpless pair
in the skiff, the villains entered the
launch and went chugging out to sea.
An hour later Morgan looked at his
watch.
"One-thirty," he said. "The bombs
are set for 1:45. We're far enough out.
Let go." A swift pass by a lcnlfe
and the towing painter was severed,
the launch shooting ahead and leaving
the skiff with its death-dealing freight
rocking idly on the low waves of its
wake.
John had regained his senses some
five minutes before the cutting loose
of the little craft. Hearing the words
of Morgan, "the bombs are set for
1:45," but not recognizing the voice, he
bad lain quiet, knowing that to speak
would mean the death of both himself
and thp girl. No sooner hud the launch
disappeared, however, than he begau
making violent efforts to free himself.
Finding this impossible, he rolled to
the side of the girl, who was now be-
ginning to revive.
"Keep quiet, nnd I think I can get
you loose," he said. Sinking his sharp
teeth Into the light rope which bound
her wrists lie began tearing it apart
fiber by fiber, until at last she snapped
the bonds and sat up.
"My sheath knife—you will see its
handle sticking up under my coat," he
told her, and quickly finding it, she
severed his fastenings. In the still-
ness each could hear the ominous tick-
ings of the clocks of the infernal con-
trivances locked in their steel compart-
ments and beyond their reach. The
man lifted the girl to her feet.
"This craft is going to.be blown to
flinders lu about five minutes," he said
as he slipped one arm about her waist.
"It's going to be a long swim and a
hard one, but there is no help for it.
Hang on tight und keep your courage
up." Raising her, lie leaped into the
sea.
Barely had they covered the dis-
tance of a hundred yards than pthe
twin explosions came. Such was the
power of the devilish Inventions that
they were showered with flying splint-
ers nnd buried beneath spray, but the
distance was great enough to save
them from hurt.
Attracted (by the noise and flash of
the explosion, a fishing craft drew
aside from its course, to see what had
cuused It. Hearing the shouts of the
man in the wart>r, they dragged hltn
and the girl aboard and landed them
at a village a few miles further down
the bench. There Duvis learned thut-i
the next trolley would leave for the
Sen Cliff Inn nt 5 a. m., and at once
called Morgan on the telephone.
Returning to the wharf and satis-
fied that their victims had died In the
explosion which they had witnessed
from nfar, Morgan and the Spider
found themselves confronted by Rain-
face, gun In hand, who hud Keen un-
able to follow them out into the buy.
"Hermit! Hell I Where is Missy
nnd Mr. Duvis?" demanded the Indian,
with a deadly glare in his black eyes.
Knowing that they were caught, the
Spider made a grab for his gun, and
seeing the movement, the Indian pulled
his trigger. Down came the hammer
with a dull thud upon a faulty cart-
ridge, and b9fore the red man could
pull again, the pair were upon him.
Kicking and striking hlin over the
head with the butts of their weapons,
they laid him prostrate and uncon-
scious upon the boards of the wharf.
"Whnt'Il we do with him—knifa
him?" punted the Spider with n last vi-
cious kick. The other man pushed him
aside.
"No. Bve got a better scheme. He's
onto us and we may need hirn as a
ransom offering to save our own
necks." Gagging and pinioning the un-
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inn, and the Spider, going up to
his room, lowered a rope. This Mor-
gan mnde fust to the inanimate form,
and rejoining his companion the pair
hauled the other Into the room. There
they stowed him uway in a closet, and
sat down to plan what they should do
upon the approaching day now close
at hand.
A rap at the door startled them, and
Morgan cried out, asking who it was.
"It's me—the clerk. Telephone call
for you down In the office," was the re-
sponse. Wondering whom the person
might be, the Hawk descended and!
with rage, he was forced to contain
himself us he listened to the words of
Davis as they came over the wire.
"Ethel and I were drugged whiles
asleep and taken out on the bay in a
skiff towed by a launch. When miles
from shore, the rascals cut us loose,,
leaving us in the skiff, in which were
Infernal mnehlnes. We munaged to
free ourselves nnd leap overboard just
before the explosion. We were res-
cued by a fishing boot and landed here
ut Seadrift. We will leave for the
inn on the trolley, which goes at five
o'clock."
"nell's furies!" gritted the Hawk be-
neath his breath. Then he cried anx-
iously :
"Was Ethel hurt—or you?"
"No. But it wn3 a close call."
"Thank Heaven," he called back as
he hung up-»the Instrument. Still rag-
ing, he rushed to the room of his fel-
low scoundrel.
"They've escaped again, curse them,"
he swore, as he jerked the other man
to his feetr. "They are coming on the
five o'clock trolley, but If we move
fast enough, maybe we can get them
on the route." Hurriedly he began
throwing things Into their grips.
"Get them; how?" demanded the
Spider as he followed the other's ac-
tions in gathering up the Incriminat-
ing evidence that lay ubout.
"Bring that box of T. N. T., and I'll
show you," returned the Hawk. Thrust-
ing the package of high explosive into
tne grip, tne pair hurriedly left the
house.
They hurried to a nearby garage and
secured a light machine. Getting into
it and giving It full power, they went
racing down the rond in the direction
of the approaching trolley, while Mor-
gan rehearsed to his confederate the
details of the fresh dastardly plot
which hud flashed through his mind
as he heard the words of Davis that he
and the giri were coming on the elec-
tric road. Some miles out in the
country the eyes of Morgan fell upon
the branch of a tree that crossed the
rails, and he brought the machine to a
sudden stop.
"This place will do. We'll throw this
rope over that limb, tie the T. N. T. to
the end of It and then haul the box
containing It up to the branch. Then
we'll run this light line through the
grass and across the rails. When the
cur comes along, of course the wheels
will cut the rope, and down will come
the explosive on top of the car. And
when that happens, down will go rock*
a-by, baby and all. Get me?"
"Sure," returned the Spider as he be-
gan whirling the rope, preparatory to a
cast over the limb. "You've got a great
head on you for jokes, Morgan. You're
sure some humorist."
"Cut out thut stuff and gvt down to
business," swore his companion, as he
took out the explosive. Five minutes
inter the trap was set, nnd entering
their machine, they drove it to the
top of a nearby hill, from whence they
could survey the scene which was to
follow.
Within the approaching car, John
was standing upon the front platform,
smoking his morning cigar, Ethel
standing ut his side with one urm
slipped lovingly through his own. Be-
ing somewhut behind time, the motor-
man had nil power turned on nnd they
were slipping over the rails nt the rate
of nearly a mile a minute. Suddenly
John gave a shout
"See that rope across the track 1
That means—"
But so great was the speed of the
car thut the wheels had passed over
the object before he could finish his
sentence, severing It and releasing the
hell box from above. Down It dropped
ns n plummet, und hud it not been for
the speed nt which the car was go-
ing, must have landed fairly upon the
roof of the car. As It was, it struck
upon the track Immediately behind the
rear platform and exploded with a tre-
mendous roar.
The car, rearing in the air like a
frightened horse, burst apart and fell
a mass of wreckage.
(END OF TWELFTH EPISODE.)
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Dismukes, J. W. Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 11, No. 39, Ed. 1 Friday, October 17, 1919, newspaper, October 17, 1919; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth411569/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Palacios Library.