There was a sound of blundering footfalls across the bare kitchen floor. The next instant, a man staggered out of the back door, toppled down the steps, and pitched headlong to the ground, in the full glare of the headlights. Blood was issuing from his mouth.
Then, while Dot and Lex gazed horrified at the prostrate form, a shriveled-up little figure appeared in the kitchen door, clutching a revolver in one bony hand. It was Tinnemaha Pete.
“That you, Spangaree?” he cackled excitedly at the roadster. “Son of a gun! Got ’em both—first pop. They was goin’ to drill Mr. Lummox, an’ I dropped ’em. Poorty as ye please. First pop. Son of a gun! Ain’t killed a man afore, either. That’s one of ’em. First pop, Spangaree. Agatha! Looket, Agatha——” He went trotting through the house, calling to Mrs. Liggs.
Dot, staring at the dead man, shivered.
Lex got the roadster under way. It sped out of the driveway and into the road, gathering speed; plunging and swaying along, the sand rattling like machine-gun fire against the under side of the fenders. The girl, wide-eyed, her face bloodless, drawn with fear, watched in awful suspense for sight of the mob.
“We’d better drive to camp, Miss Huntington, and get out the constable—have him lead a posse after them. It’s the safest course, all around,” said Lex presently.
A sob broke from her. “Oh, what terrible thing are they going to do!” she cried in anguish. “We’ll have to save him. Can’t you see? We can’t leave him. It’ll take time to get help. Oh, Mr. Sangerly——”
“It’s a terrible situation, I know,” he interrupted gently; “but you must understand that these ruffians will hesitate at nothing. When they would plan to murder poor Lennox, lying in bed, unable to defend himself, what consideration would they give us?”
“Oh, I don’t know! I don’t know!” she moaned. “Perhaps you’re right. I can’t think clearly. Merciful Father, have pity on——” She broke off, glaring intently ahead. “There they are! There they are!”
As she spoke, the galloping mass of the night riders came into view. The roadster bore down on it rapidly, and the powerful rays of the headlights growing brighter and brighter, startled the horses. Those in the rear began bolting in fright, swerving sharply, unmanageable for the instant. But that instant proved sufficient in which to throw the entire body into confusion. It split, scattering to either side of the road, and Lex, a cold hand clutching his heart, steered the car into the breach, stepping on the gas as he did so.