Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-02-14


now"
"Stay here a moment with the boy,
Holbrook," said Tom. He sought the
chief and found him. Hurriedly telling
him what he had learned from the boy,
he told him to send the Shadow and two
men to follow Holbrook and himself,
and asked him to guard the passage to
the house in which Annie was confined.
Hurrying back, the five were con-
voyed by the boy to the attic. The
youngster showed them how he mounted
to the roof, and in a moment they were
or it.
The passage over the roof was perilous,
for it was an old fashioned high roof,
sloping at precipitous angle from a
peak in the middle, both ways.
The boy, who ran over the roof like a
cat, and with the agility and confidence
of one familiar with the feat, showed
them the skylight.
Tom put his mouth to the broken pane
and made sound.
Hist! hist"
He heard a movement beneath.
"Hist, Miss Templetonf"
"Who's that?" was the answer in fe-
male voice.
"Be quiet; help is near" he said.
A cry of joy was heard.
Are you alone?" asked Tom.
Eyes, quite alone"
"Stand fast, then; you'll be quickly
freed"
He pulled at the frame of the skylight.
1t was fast.
Two of the men drew "jimmies" from
their pockets, fitted them together, and
inserted them under one side. "Crick,
crack!' in twinkling it was pried off.
"Eh, Ell, oh, golly!" laughed the boy.
The moment the skylight flew off, a
light flashed up from below.
Annie had lit a candle.
Holbrook attempted to descend
"Wait," she cried. 1.-The distance is
too great to jump"
They heard a noise of something being
dragged.
Now you can jump" she said.
Holbrook let himself drop, and he fell
on the bed Annie had dragged under the
skylight.
He caught the girl, who was trembling
with excitement, in his arms and COW
cred her face with kisses. He muir
INJURED and moaned over her; he laughed
and cried and embraced her again and
again.
In the meantime the others were tum-
bling down one after the other.
1t was not until long after, when Tom
was in his bed the next morning, that
he realized that no one, not even Annie
herself, seemed to think it strange that
Holbrook should have Rugged and kissed
her in the frantic manner he did.
AT the time he was too busy. His
mind was working with abnormal ac-
tivitv.
eve must get the girl out at once, -
he said Here, Holbrook. stop that
nonsense and take the girl away"
"How?" asked Holbrook, ready for
action, now that the first excitement was
over.
Cup through the skylight Quick,
now"
But how can we get her up there?'
asked the Shadow.
II know" broke in Annie. Take
| that bed away.
The bed was tossed on one side, while
Annie ran into the next room and began
to drag the table toward the room.
One of the men took it from her and
carried it in, and as she directed placed
it under the skylight.
"There's chair in there she said
"bring that"
They comprehended her purpose, and
it was placed on the table.
Sup you go, Holbrook," cried Tom.
Quick"
Holbrook climbed like a cat and was
on the roof in twinkling.
Tom lifted Annie by main force to the
top of the table and then on to the chair
springing up on the table after her.
He lifted the girl up by the waist SC
that Holbrook could get firm grasp Of
her arms.
She was then drawn up on the roof,
NOW, Holbrook," cried Tom, "away
with you. Quick! Get the girl out Of
harms way as soon as you can. One Of
you," he continued, turning to the chief
men, Ego with them to protect them
Shadow, run down to the chief and tel
him to come up here the way we came
with the rest Of his men. / have an
idea"