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.)