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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (May 31, 1919)
PAGE EIGHT. ft GREEN FANCY GEORGE BARR i "CRAUSTARK.-THE I .r-f v, HOLLOW OF HER HAND."THE I . , it: aprjnce of craustarjc," etc I Then he M!d : "Yon are not dressed for flight May I suggest that while I tn euuide you slip on a dark skirt ad coat J You eanoot go far In that dressing fown. It would be In shreds before you had gone a hundred feet tkroogh the brush. If I do not return fx this room Inside of fifteen minutes, or If you hoar sounds of struggle, trawl through the window and go down the vines. Barnes will took out for you," "You must not full, Theodore Sprouse," she whispered. "I must re gain the Jewels and the state papers. 1 cannot go without" "- "1 shall do my bent," he aald simply. Silently be drew a chair tp the door, Mounted It and, drawing himself up by Mft hand, poked his head through the peo. transom. An Instant later he was a the floor again. She heard him In serting a key la the lock. Almost be fore she could realize that It had ac tually happened, the door opened slow ly, wuUouNly, and his thin wiry figure, ltd through what seemed to her no more than a crack. As softly the door Was cloned. for a long time she stood, dazed and tshelieving, In the center of the room, taring at the dour. She held her breath, listening for the shout that wss no sure to come and the shot, perhaps ! A prayer formed on her Hps end went volcelessly up to Clod, Suddenly she rousted herself from the aiupofactlou (hat held her. With leverfsh haute she snatched up gar ment frmn the chair on which she had tarrfully pluced them In anticipation W the emergency that now presented ItWtf. A bloune (which she neglected to buttou), a short uklrt of some dark material, a Jacket, end pair of stout walking shoea (which she failed to bee), completed the swift transforma tion. As she glided to the window, she Jammed the pins Into small black hat of felt Then she peered over the ledge She started back, stifling a cry with tier band. A man's head had almost come In contact with her own as she leaned out. A man's hand reached ever and grasped the Inner ledge of the casement, and then a man's fnce was dimly revealed to' her startled CHAPTER XIV. A night, 6tone-Cutter's 8hed, and Voice Outside. "Why have yuu come up here!" She tame swiftly to his side. Thank the Lord, I made It," he hlapered, breathlessly. "I came up kwmise them was nowhere else to go. I thought I heard voice a man and II Woman speuklng. They Seemed to be quite clone to me. Don't be alarmed. Miss Cameron. I am confi dent tli at I c"ti " "And now that you aro here, trapped a I am, what do you purpose to do? Yoa cannot escape. Go back before It la too Inte." "la Sprouse where Is he?" "lie is somewhere In the house. I was to wait until hoOh, Mr. Barnes, I I am terrified. You will never know til " "Trust him," he said, "lie Is mar ket We'll be safely out of here In a little while, ami then It will all look simple to you. You are ready to go? Goodl Sit down, dot If he doesn't return In a minute or two, I'll take a ktok about the house myself. I don't Intend to desert him. I know this floor pretty well, and the lower one. The irtatrs are" "Rut the stairway Is closed at the, fcottwn by a solid steel curtain. It In tad to look like a panel In the wnll. Yim him nt to venture outside this Swmii, Mr. Humes. I furlild it. You " "Ifw did Surmise rot out? You said joar door was locked." "lie had a key. I do not know kws li obtained " "Skeleton key, such as burglars use. Ty Jove, hut a wi.ndc.-ful burglar he Would make I Courage, Mlsa Cameron I lie will be here soon. Then comes the real adventure my part of It, I didn't emne bi-re tonight to get any flashy old crown jewels. I came to take you out a-" You you know etiout the crown Jewels? she murmured. Her body emucd to stiffen. "Then you know yibo I anil . To. You will tell me tomorrow." ' "Tos, yes tomorrow," she whls- !!Vd. t'or ftmt time there wss silence. Muilh were listening Intently for sounds In the 1m f I. hlie leaned closer to whls jT la Mi car. Their shoulders 1..:,, hi ll. lie wondered If she expcrl-t-, t i! e Mine dillh'hiful thrill that r-!,! ' - " ',li his body. She told him of j'.i. t!Mn v !:0 wnt. died across the hall tvurn ti! room sum-fwed to be occupied r j . i it,e n ii tiiiy, and of ' ! ' ii-iU'k!lit,Rj:. THE DAILY CAPITAL JOURNAL, SALEM. 7l "Where Is Mr. Curtis T' heasked. Her breath fanned his cheek, her Hps were close to his ear. "There Is no Mr. Curtis here. He died four months ago In Florida." "I suspected as much." He did not press her for further revelations. "Sprouse should be here by this time. ' 1 must go out there and see If be re quires any" She clutched his arm frantically. "You shall do nothing of the kind. You shall not" "Shi What do yoa take me for. Miss Cameron? He may be sorely In need of help. Do you think that I would leave hint to God knowa what sort of fate?" "But he said positively that I was to go In case he did not return In In fif teen mlniftes," she begged. "He may have been cut off and was compelled to escape from another1" "Just the same, I've got to see what has become of" "Noi No!" She arose with him, dragging at bis arm. "Do not be fool hardy. You are not skilled at" "There la only one way to stop me, Miss Cameron. If yoa will come with me now" "Hut I must know whether ha se cured the" "Then let me (to. I will find out whether he has succeeded." He was rougher than he realized In wrenching his arm free. She uttered a low moan and covered her fnce with her hands. Undeterred, he crossed to (he door. His hand was on the knob when a door slammed violently some where In a distant part of the house. A bourse shout of alarm rung out, and then the rush of heavy feet over thickly carpeted floors. Barnes acted with lightning swift ness. He sprang to the open window, half-carrying, half-dragging the girt with him. "Now for It!" he whispered. "Not a second to lose. Climb npon my back, quick, and hang on for dear life." He hud scrambled through the window and was lying flat across the sill. "Hurry 1 Don't be afraid. I am strong enmii;li to carry you If the vines do their part," With surprising alacrity and sure ness she crawled out beside bltn and then over upon his broad bncK, clasp- run - f.iHf I ih'U 1 1 Aim Holding to the Ledge With One Hand, He Felt for and Clutched the Thick I Vine With the Other, , Ins her arms around Ms neck. Hold Unsr to the ledge with one hand he felt I for and clutched the thick vine with :fhe other. Slowly he slid his body off of the slit and swung free by one arm. An Instant later he found the lattice with the other hand and the hurried ! descent began. I nis feet touched the ground. In the twinkling of an eye he picked her up In his arms and bolted across the lit tle grass plot Into the shrubbery. She did not utter sound. Presently he set her down, nis breath was gone, his strength ex hausted. "Cn you manage to walk a little way?" he gasped, "tilve me your band, and follow as close to my heels as you cnn. Better that I should bump Into thin? than you." Shouts were now heard, and shrill blasts on a police whistle split the air. On they stumbled, blindly, luckless ly, lie spared her many an Injury by taking It himself. More than once she murmured Synijiathy when he crashed Into a tree or floundered ovft a log. Utterly at ea, he was now guessing at ti mi csfi-Uu et taUiui. Xikvhi't M 'Ml, m, r r i Im1UVw---4 I in-Uieia J thrir fraodc2aS-waa leading them toward the Tavern, or whether they were circling back to Green Taney, he knew not Panting, he forged onward. At last she cried out, qusveringly: "Oh, I I can go no farther I Can't we Is It not safe to stop for mo ment? My breath la "God bless yon, yes," he exclaimed, and came to an abrupt stop. She leaned heavily against htm, gasping for breath. "I haven't the faintest Idea where we are. but we most be some distance from the bouse. We will rest few minutes and then take It easier, more cautiously. I am sorry, but It was the only thog to do, rough as It was. 1 know, I understand. I am not complaining, Mr. Barnes. Yoa will find me ready and strong and" "Let me think. I must try t t my bearings. Good Lord, I wish Spronse were here. He can see la the dark. W are off the path, that's sure." "Do yoa think he escaped?" "I am sure of It Those whistles were sounding the alarm. He may come this way. The chances are that your flight has not been discovered. Do you feel like going on? We must beat them to the Tavern. They" "I am all right now," she said, and they were off again. Barnea now picked his way carefully and with the great est caution. He could only pray that he was going In the right direction. An hour but what seemed thrice as long passed and they had not come to the edge of the forest Her feet were beginning to drag ; he could tell that by the effort she made to keep up with him. From time to time be paused to allow her to rest "Too are plucky," he ones said to her. "I am afraid I could not be so plucky If yoa were not so strong," she sighed, ind he loved the tired, whimsical little twist she put Into her reply. To his dismay they came abruptly upon a region abounding In huge rocks. This was new territory to him. His heart sank. "By Jove, I I believe we sre farther away from the road than when we started. We must huve been going up the alope Instead of down." "In any case, Mr. Barnea," she mur mured, "we have fotlnd something to sit down upon." He chuckled. "If yoa can bs as cheerful as all that, we shn'n't mlsa the cushions," he said, and, for the first time, risked a flash of the electric torch. The survey was brief. Ho led her forward a few paces to s flat boul der, and there they seated themselves. "I wonder where we are," she said. "I am Inclined to suspect that we are above Oreen Fancy, but a long way off to the right of It Admitting that to be the case, I am afraid to re trace our steps. The Lord only knows what we might blunder Into." ' "I think the only sensible thing to do, Mr. Barnes, Is to make ourselves as snug and comfortable as we can snd wait for the first signs of day break." He scowled and was glad that It was too dark for her to see his fnce. lie wondered If she fully appreciated what would happen to him If the pur suers came upon hltn In this forbid ding spot. He could almost picture his own body lying there among the rocks and rotting, while she well, she would merely go back t Green Fancy. "I fear yoa do not realize the ex treme gravity of the situation. Ws niUHt get out of these woods If I have to carry yon In my arms." "I shall try to keep going," she said quickly. "Forgive me If I seemed to falter a little. I I am ready to go on when you say Uie word." "You poor girl! Hang It all, per haps you are right and not L Sit still and I will reeonnoltor a bit. If I can tltul a place where wo can hide among these rocks, we'll stay here till the sky begins to lighten. Bit" "No I I shall not let yon leave me for a second. Where you go, I go." She struggled to her feet, suppressing a groan, and thrust a determined arm through his. "That's worth remembering," said he, and whether It was a muscular necessity or an emotional exaction that caused his arm to tighten on hers, none save he would ever know. After a few minutes prowling among the rocks they came to the face of what subsequently proved to be a sheer wall of stone. He flashed the light, and, with an exclamation, start ed back. Not six feet ahead of them the earth seemed to end; a yawning black gulf lay beyond. Apparently they were on the very edge of a clllT. "(!il Lord, that was a close call," he gasped. He explained In a few words and then, commanding her to stand perfectly still, dropped to the ground and carefully felt his way for ward. Again he flushed the light In an Instant he understood. They were on the brink of a shallow quarry. Lying there, he made swift calcula tions. The quarry, no longer of use to the builder, was reasonably sure to be abandoned. In "all probability some sort of a stone-cutter's shed would be found nearby. It would provide shelter from Uie fine ruin that was falling and from the chill night air. He remem bered that O'Dowd. In discussing ihe erection of Green Fancy the night be fore, had said that the stone came from a pit two miles away, where a fine quality of granite had been fonnd. Two mile, according to Barnes' quick calculations, would bring the pit close to the northern boundary of the Curtis property and almost directly on a line with the point where he and Sprouse entered the meadow at the beginning of fJJeJr. AslyjWte, l1??. l0.m Fancy. I OREGON, THURSDAY, Tb,aT"b!ni the case, they were now J quite dose to the stake and rider fence separating the Curtis land from that of the farmer on the north. "Good," he said, more to himself than to her, "I begin to see light Are yoa afraid to remain here while I go down there for a look around? I ahs'nt be gont mora than a couple of minutes." "The way I feel at present" sho said. Jerkily, "I shall never, never from tbla Instant till the hour tn which I 'die, let go ? your coat-tails, Mr. I Barnes." Suiting the action to tho I word, her fingers -resolutely fastened. I not npon the tall of bla coat but upon his sturdy arm, T wouldn't stay her alone for anything In the world." "Heaven bleea you," he exclaimed. suddenly exalted. "And, slace yoa pot , It that way, I shall always contrive to I be within arm's length." I And so, together, they ventured ' along the edge of the pit until they j reached the wagon road at the bottom. As be had expected, there was a ram shackle shed hard by. It was not much of a place, but It was deserted and a safe shelter for the moment. A workman's bench lay on Its side In the middle of the earthen floor. He righted It and drew It over to the boarding. . . . She laid her head against his shoulder and sighed deeply. . . . He kept his eyes glued on the door and listened for the first ominous sound outside. A long time afterward she stirred. "Are yoa cold? You are wet "It was the excitement the nervous ness, Mr. Barnes," she said, drawing slightly away from him. "Isn't It near ly daybreak?" Ha looked at his watch. "Three o'clock," he said. There ensued another period of si lence. She remained slightly aloof. "Yon'd better lean against me," he said at last. "I am softer than the beastly boards, yoa know, and quite as harmless." "Thank you," she said, and promptly settled herself against his shoulder. "It Is better," she sighed. "Would yoa mind telling me some thing shout yourself, Miss Cameron? I should like to know whether I am to address you as princess, duchess, or Just plain Miss." ' "I am more accustomed to plain Mlsa, Mr. Barnes, than to either of Ihe titles you would give me." "Don't you feel that I am deserving f a little enlightenment r he asked. "I tin working literally as well as fig uratively In the dark. Who are you? Why were you a prisoner at Green Fancy? Where and what la your na tive land?" "Mr. Barnes, I cannot answer any ne of your questions without Jeopar dizing a cause that Is dearer to me hiin snythlng else In all the world. I am sorry. I pray God a day may soon come when I can reveal everything to you and to the world. I am of a stricken country; I, am trying to serve the unhappy hnusthnt has ruled It for centuries and Is now In the direst peril. The man you know as Loeb is a prince of that house. I may say this to you, and It will serve to explain my position at Oreen Fancy: he Is not tho prince I was led to believe awaited me there. He Is the cousin of the man I expected to meet, a2d he Is the enemy of the branch of the house that I would serve. Do not ask me to say more." "Your sympathies are with the en tente allies, the prince's are opposed? Is that part of Sprouse's story true?" "Yes." "And O'Dowdr "O'Dowd is anti-English, Mr. Barnes, It that conveys anything, to you. He Is not pro-German." "Wasn't it pretty risky for you to carry the crown Jewels around In a traveling bag, Miss Cameron?" "I suppose so. It turned out, how. ever, that It was the safest, surest way. I had them In my possession for three days before coming to Green Fancy. No one suspected. I was to deliver them to one of their rightful owners, Mr, Barnes a loyal prince of the blood." "But why here?" he Insisted. "He was to take them Into Canada, and thence, In good time, to the palace of his ancestors," "I am to understand, then, thut not only you but the committee you speak I of, fell Into a cnrefully prepared trap. : The treachery, therefore, bad Its In I ceptlon In the loyal nest. You were be ! trayed by a friend." , j "I am sure of It," she said bitterly. I "If this man Sprouse does not suc- ceed In restoring the oh, I believe 1 shall kill myself, Mr. Barnes." The wall of anjiiHh In her voice went straight to his heart j "lie has succeeded, take my word ! for It. They will be In your hands be fore many hours have passed." I "Is he to come to the Tavern with : them? Or am I to meet him" "Good Lord !" he gulped. Here was a contingency he had not considered. Where and when would Sprouse ap pear with his booty? "I I fancy we ll find him waiting for ns at the Tavern," 1 "But had you no understanding?" "Kr tentatively." The perspiration ' started on his brow. n was thinking 'of something else: his smazlng stu- pldlty in not foreseeing the very sltua I tin that now presented Itself. Why had be neglected to settle upon a meeting place with SproiiK In the event that circumstances forced them to part company In flight? Fearing that she would pursue the subject, be made haste to branch off onto another i line, J "What Is the real obJe-t of the con spiracy up there. Miss Cameron?", "Ton must bear with me a little i longer, Mr. Barnes." she said, appeal , lnly. "Lfttnnpt faj anything now." MAY 29. 1919. foa mUI that" tomorrow night would be too late. What did yoa mean by tbatr She waited a few seconds and then removed her head from his shoulder. He heard the sharp intake of her breath and felt the convulsive move ment of the arm that rested against his. There was no mistaking her sud den agitation. "I will tell yoa," she said, and he was surprised by the harshness that came Into her voice. "Tomorrow morn ing was the time set for my marriage to that wretch op there. I could have avoided It only by destroying myself. If yoa had come tomorrow night In stead of tonight yoa would have found me dead, that Is alt Now yoa understand." "Good God 1 You were to be forced Into a marriage with why, It Is the most damnable" "O'Dowd God bless him I was my only champion. He knew my father. He-" "Listen 1" he hissed, starting to his feet. "Doot move!" came from the dark ness outiilde. "I have me gun leveled. I heard me name taken in vain. j nam n 'n r v n. i. ,. ' "Don't Movel" Csms From the Dark, ness Outside. Thanks for the blessing. I was won dering whether you would say some thing pleasant about me and, thank the good Lord, I was patient. But I'd advise yoa both to sit still Just the same." A chuckle rounded out the gentle admonition of the invisible Irishman. CHAPTER XV. Largs Bodies Move Slowly But Mr. Sprouse Was Smaller Than the Average. There was not a sound for many seconds. She was the first to speak. "I sm ready to return with you, Mr. O'Dowd," she said distinctly. "There must be no struggle, no bloodshed. Anything but that." O'Dowd spoke out of the darkness: "You forget that I have your own word for It that yeil be a dead woman be fore the day Is over. Wouldn't It bs better for me to begin shooting at once and spare your soul the everlasting torture that would begin ImmeJIately after your self-produced decease?" A Uttlo cry of relief greeted this quaint sally. "You have my word that I will return with you quietly if " "Thunderation I" exclulmed Barnes wrathfully. "What do you think I am? A worm that " "Easy, easy, me dear man," cau tioned O'Dowd. "Keep your seat Don't be deceived by my Infernal Irish humor. It Is my Way to be always po lite, agreeable and prompt. Til shoot In u second If ye move one step out side that cabin." "O'Dowd, you haven't the heart to drag her back to that beast of a " "Hold hard I We'll come to the point without further palavering. Where are ye dragging her yourself, ye ras cal r "To a place where she will he safe from Insult, Injury, degradation " "Well, I have no fnult to find with ye for that," said O'Dowd. "Bedad, I didn't , believe you had the nerve to tackle the Job. Yon mny be Interested to know that up to thotmoment I left the house your absence had Pot been noticed, my dear Miss Cameron. And as for you, my dear Barnes, your visit Is not even suspected. How the dlvll did ye do It. Barnes?" "Are you disposed to bo friendly. O'Dowd?" demanded Barnes. "If you are not we mny Just as well fight It out now ss later on." "You sre not to fight !" she cried In great agitation. "What are you doing? But It away! Don't shoot!" "Is It a glm he Is pulling?" Inquired O'Dowd calmly. "And what the deuce are you going to aim at me hearty? I have a bull's-eye lantern with me. From the luxurious seat behind this rock I could spot ye In a second. Hav ing said as much I now rropose arbi tration. Would ye mind handing over that tin box In exchange for my po lite thanks and a courteous goodby to both of ye?" "We have no box of any description, Mr. O'Dowd," cried she triumphantly. "Thank heaven, he got safely away!" "Do yoa mean to tell me yon came away without the your belongings. Miss Cameron T exclaimed O'Dowd. "They are not with me," she replied. Ilrr gnsa 1R Barnes" rtn tLr'Mcned. saa"- r CnTKnT irspTe3T2 rT&TiM HO Catchalls. HeW TOll yon both Iwear FB ySCT safrfd honor that ye havent the Jewels In youj possession?" -Unhesitatingly." said Barnes. "I swear. Mr. O'Dowd." "Then," said he, "I have no time to waste here. I am looking for a tin box. I beg your pardon for dlsturb ! lng yon." "Oh. Mr. O'Dowd, I shall never for get all that you have" "Whist now I There Is one thing I most Insist on your forgetting com pletely: all that has happened in the last five mlnotes. What I am doing. Mr. Barnes, would be my death sen tence it It ever became known." "It shall never be known through me, O'Dowd, I'd like to shake your hand, old man." "God bless you, Mr. O'Dowd." said the girl In a low, small voice, singular ly suggestive of tears. "Some day 1 may be In a position to" "Don't say It! You'll spoil every thing If you let me think you are In my debt Bedad, dont be so sure 1 Sha'n't see yoa again, and soon." "Tell me how to find Bart's Tavern, old man. Til" "No, I'm dashed If I do. Too ought to be grateful to me for not stopping you entirely, without asking me tc give yon a helping hand. Good-by, and God bless you. I'm praying that ye get away safely. Miss Cameron. Sc long, Barnes. If you were a crow and wanted to roost on that big tree Id front of Hurt's Tavern, I dare say you'd take the shortest way there by flying as straight as a bullet from tht mouth of this pit, following your ex tremely good-looking nose." They did not wait for the break oi day. Taking O'Dowd's hint, Barnes directed bis steps straight out from the mouth of the quarry and pressed confidently onward. In answer to a question she Informed him that then were no fewer than twenty-five men in Green Fancy, all of them shrewd, reso lute and formidable. "I cannot for the life of me, sec why they took chances on Inviting me to the house, Miss Cameron." She was silent for a moment and when she spoke It was with great In tensity. "Mr. Barnes, I had your life tn my hands all the time you were at Green Fancy. I shudder now when I think of what might have happened. Before you were asked to the house, 1 was coolly informed that you would not leave it alive if I so much as breathed a word to you concerning my unhappy plight The first word of an appeal to you would have been the signal for for your death. That is what they held over me. When J spoke to you on the couch thut night, I oh, don't you see? Don't you see that I wantonly, cruelly, selfishly risked your life not my own when I" "There, there, now 1" he cried, con solingly, as she put her hands to her face and gave way to sobs. "Forgive me," she murmured. "I didn't mean to be so silly." "It helps, to cry sometimes," he said lamely. The first faint signs of day were struggling out of the night when they stole across the road above Hurt's Tavern and made their way through the stoble yard to the rear of the ! house. His one thought was to get I her safely Inside the Tavern. . I The door wss locked. . He delivered a series of resounding kicks npon its stout face. Kevolver in hand, he faced 'about and waited for the asault of the men who, he was sure, would come plunging around the corner of the building In response to the racket. But there was no attack, j At last there were sounds from within. A key grated In the lock and a bolt was shot. The door flew open. Mr. Clarence Dllllngford appeared In ! the opening1, partially dressed, his hair sadly tumbled, his eyes blinking In the light of the lautern he held aloft j "Well, what the" Then his gaze alighted on the lady. "For the iove of" began the embarrassed Dllllng ford. "What the dev I any, can't you see that I'm not dressed? What the" I "Give me that lantern," said Barnes, and snatched the article out of the un resisting hand. "Show me the way to Miss Thackeray's room, Dllllngford. No time for explanations." i "Well, for the love of" "I will take you to Miss Thackeray's room," said Bnrnes, leading her swift ly through the narrow passage. "She will make you comfortable for the that Is until I am able to secure a room for yon. Come on, Dllllngford." i MIrs Thackeray was awake. Through the closed door she asked 'what on earth was the matter. j I "I have a friend here a lady. 'Will ; you dress as quickly as possible and lake her In with you for a little ' while?" I There was no Immediate response from the Inside. Then Miss Thackeray 'observed, quite coldly: "I think I'd like to hear the lady's voice. It yoa don't mind. I recognize yours per fectly, Mr. Barnes, but I am not in the habit of opening my " j "I guess I don't need to dress" said Miss Thackeray, and opened her door. "Come In, please, I don't know who fou are or what you've been up to, but there are times when women ught to stand together. And what's more, I sha'n't ask sly questions," She closed the door behind the nn fxpected guest and Barnes gave a great sigh of relief. "Say, Mr. Barnes," said Miss Thack tray, several hours later, coming npon him In the hall, "I guess I'll have to isk youMovfiPlBimoMittie, sun's, Ice,"pwty girTTand afl" that, tot shi wont open her lira aboat anything. X Vj ';;; mm '. h: i ill sm w j 'How la She? la She Resting? Doe She Seem' Bhe says yoa will do the talking. I'm a good sport, you know, and not espe cially finicky, but I'd hate to "How Is she? Is she resting? Does she seem " "Well, Bhe's stretched out on my bed with my best nightie on, and she seems to be doing as well ss could be expect ed," said Miss Thackeray dryly. "nas she had coffee and " "1 am going after It now. It seems that she Is In the habit of having It In bed. I wish I bud her Imagination. It would be great to Imagine that all you have to do Is to say, 'I think I'll have coffee and rolls and one egg' sent up, and then go on believing your wish would come true. Still, I don't mind. She seems so nice and pathetic, and la trouble, and I "Thank you, Miss Thackeray. If you will see that she has her coffee I'll I'll wait for you here In the hall and try to explain. I can't tell you everything at present not without her consent but whnt I do tell will be sufficient to make yea think you are listening to a chapter of a dime novel." He had already taken Futmun Jones Into his confidence. He snw no other way out of the new and somewhat extraordinary situation. His uneasiness Increased to conster- nation when he discovered thai Sprouse had not yet put In nn appear ance. Whnt had become of the mujil He could not help feeling, however, that somehow the little agent would suddenly pop out of the chimney In his room, or sneak In through a crnck under the door and laugh at his fears. Shortly before the noon hour, Peter Ames halted the old automobile from Green Fancy In front of the Tavern and out stepped O'Dowd, followed by no less a personage than the pneudo Mr. LoeB. There were a number of traveling bags in the tonneau of tho car. Catching sight of Barnes, the Irlnh man shouted a genial greeting. "The top of the morning to ye. You remember Mr. Loeb, don't you? Mr. Curtis' secretary. Mr. Loeb Is leaving us for a few days on business. Good morning, Mr. Boneface," he called out to Putnam Jones who approached at that Juncture. "We are sadly In want of gasoline." Enrncs caught the look that tho Irishman shot at him out of the cor ner of his eye. , "Perhaps you'd better See that the scoundrels don't give us short meas ure, Mr. Loeb," en id O'Dowd. Loeb hesitated for a second, and then, evi dently In obedience to a command from the speuker's eye, moved off to where Peter was opening the Intnke. O'Dowd lowered his voice. "Barnes, I let you off last night, and I let her off as well. In return, I ask you to hold your tongue until the man down there gets a fair start A day's start and" "Are you In danger, too, O'Dowd?" "To he sure but I love It I can always squirm out of tight places." "I would not deliberately put you In jeopardy, O'Dowd," "See here, I am going back td that house up yonder. There Is still work for me there. What I'm after now Is to get hlra on the train at nornvllle. I'll be here again at four o'clock, obj me word of honor. Trust me, Barnes," "Do you mean to say that you are coming back here to run the risk of being " "We've had word that the govern ment has men on the way. Why, hang It all, Barnes, don't you know who It was that engineered that whole business last night?" Bnrnes smiled. "I do. He Is a se cret agent from the embassy" "Secret granny P almost shouted O'Dowd. "He Is the slickest cleverest crook that ever drew the breath of life. And he's got away with the Jewels, for which you can whistle In vain, I'm thinking." "For heaven's sake, O'Dowd' be gun Barnes, his blood like Ice la his veins. "But don't take my word for It Ask ker upstairs there, God bless her! ask her if she knows Chester Nnlsmltb. Shell tell ye, my bucko. He's been standing guard outside her window for the past three nights, no's" ' (Continocd next Saturday.)