Chapter Xvii

IT HAD ÜONE FRO11 ME. I coala have ernshed hiia, even as I ernshed the oaken table, but a slight pressure of tho forefinger on tho trigger of the leveled revolver would have ended my career as quickly as a bolt froni heaven. "Inasmuch ;;s I have no pistol and ycu have the advantageof me, I snrrender. " "Umph, 110 pittol! Whatdoyou want of anything exeept your strength?" "I give yon my word that I will go with vori peaceably. Do you accept the pledge?" "I de, "replied the officer, sheving his weapon into his hip pocket. "The nest thing is to get Mr. Direoe out of this and down to the boat. " "l'll answer for him. " Without cutting the ropeimprisoing his anides I snapped it apart and jerked him to his f eet. "Youcan't trust this sconndrel. I will fasten his hands behind him." The moment the handcuffs were removed he made a sudden, fieree efïort to break away. I knew he would do it and hurled liim against tlie side of the hoiisu with a forcé that caused him to drop to the floor partly stunned. By the time he fully regained his sonsos bis wrists were secnred behind his back. That woiihl prevent his nsing the manacles as a weapon and dealing me a , treacherous blow wheu off my miard. Grasping one of his arms, Í tr.ld the marshal to lead the He did so, Covey Cone bringing up the rear, while the last seen of Steph hc was staring in open luouthed wonder at the stranse procession. Thu depxity had done his dnty faithfully. Jaleo Huke was standing in the middle of the highway with his guard at his post when we joined him. A minute later we were on our way to the Palisades, scrar.ibling and tumbling down the steep path to where Captaiu Green was awuiting us with his boat. Our two prisoners- leaving myself out of account - were through all thonght of resistance. They muttered a few words to each other, but were familiar enough with scènes of violence to attempt the impossible. On the other shore Captain Green mi.stook the point at which he intended to touch, and tho boat grounded several feet from land. He was about to back off_ szhen I said_: (To be continué-I). Lütlc Miss Liliian Bierman, daughter oí Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bierman, of Ann Arbor, is her granimother, Mrs? Mary Stoll of Ypsilanti.