Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-06-30

lCINdN l. GON liiAo 1AOAli -hA''1 II OAS,NeN'
As he spoke he handed me n ragged
piece of paper covered with faint pen
ell lines, crossed and recrossed.
"You can't make it out easily and
there isn't time to puzzle over it. The
substance is this: Miss Folgate has in
voluntarily overheard what passed at
one of those meetings. The cOnspirators
discovered her, and she is a prisoner
in Derby Square. If she makes any
disturbance, they will kill her. If they
are betrayed they will kill her mother,
who is no longer in the house. To-
day between and 8 o'clock there will
be no one in the house but my dis
tracted girl. 1 am going to try to
snatch her from the knives of those
murderous ruffians. -
"And 1 will go with you, if l may. "
He seized my hand and for moment
could not speak.
eff you will help me to-day you may
count Oh my devotion for life, he said
at length.
"Will you go ormed?'
"Armed? No. fit comes to weap-
ons we are lost-w we are dead men and
she-but will not think Of her. 1t
would paralyzed me, and the time for
action is almost at hand
Glow do You intend getting into the
house?"
81 must break iu You now know
how doubly dangerous is the enterprise.
1t is not too late for you to draw back. y
81 am with you heart and soul, said
], taking his arm.
He set rapid pace west
"My poor girl, )" he said ''is locked
in an upper room, no doubt. intend
getting in through the fanlight. lean
stand on your shoulders. Once III, l
will open the front door. This fog IS
ali in our favor.
1t was long walk, during which he
never could see across the street. He
seemed to find his way by instinct. He
never paused or hesitated.
AT last he drew up. owe are in
Derby Square," he whispered. The
house is on the sonth side, No. 81. We
will cross the roadway and stand with
our backs against the railing OF the en-
closure. We have twenty minutes to
wait.
'Now, " whispered he, when he drew
up, I'VE are directly opposite the house.
[ know the spot by this dropping ash
tree He took off his hat and wiped
his forehead.
Those we're the longest twenty min
utes / ever endured. TO him they
must have been hours During the
whole time he never said a word. He
leaned motionless against the ratings,
watch in hand, his eyes fixed upon the
dial. We could not see even the mid
die of the roadway.
At five minutes to one heard door
omen and shut softly, then cautious
footsteps stealing away. ! looked at
Crane. He didn't look at me. He did
not move. He kept his eyes liked on
the dial like one hypnotized. I Igazed
at the watch myself; l found / could
not now take my eyes off it. 1 saw the
hand pass the hour; saw it creep one,
two three minutes beyond the hour.
Had he forgotten, or was he really
bvpnotized by too intent thought and
gaze?
When the hand touched the fourth
minute, he put the watch in his poe
ket. and catching me by the shoulder
moved across the roadway and up to
the door OF 81.
"How will you break the glass? VIII
there not be a great noise?' ] WHISPERED
"No; the fanlight is stained glass IN
lead. Give me back. "
In an instant he was up, standing on
NV shoulders and working at the fan
light. could not see, but he must
have wrenched out the pieces with
amazing celebrity and care, for in few
miutes he whispered: 81 am going tc
hang on by my elbows. Take hold oi
nv feet and push me up.
seized his feet and pushed them NJ
with all my might. In another minutf
he had scrambled through and dropped
into the hall
He opened the door. "Cone inside
Close the door and wait for me. Il
any Of these men are here and l fall
/ ay. All will ther be lost. Save your
own isfe."