Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-06-08


"What do you mean?"
81 mean the police are sharp after us.
"Come, comel what have we done that
they should copper us2" l said, moro to
draw him out than anything else
His face danced with strange light;
It shone frcm his dark eyes like elec'
tricitv, and l realized that when workc1
IN this man must be bad customer to
tackle.
~ reckon it's me they're after; but as
YOU are in my company they'll run you
in at the same time. It's the same old
story of dog Tray again.
"But, see here, Colonel didn't know
YOU were wanted bad for anything"
He didn't take the hint, but smi!e1
grimly.
"You see am, Joslyn. ] had got the
liquor, and was on the way back, when
saw bluectat hiding behind a pile Of
boxes that stood on the curb.
"'Hallor said to myself, I'll watch
you, my fine fellow, and see what is up
$50 did: and it took me just about
one minute to learn that he was watch
ing the upper story Of this old house.
"That meant me. knew it just as
well as did the a, b, c of my profession
What was / to do? l could easily have
slipped away, and they be none the wiser.
"But l remembered that you were up
here, and You were my friend. I've done
some tough things in my day, but lnever
yet went back on friend.
$50, at the risk of my neck, | have
come back here to get you out.
l silently shook his hand. My MIND
was dwelling upon his words
At the risk of his neck. What could
that mean but murder?
The expression had done more to revive
a feeling of hope in my breast than any
thing that had yet occurred
1--WE must get out of this Joslyn. Tie
officers will be up here soon, for they
must have seen me enter, and believe
their bird is safely Gagged"
"Then We must get out, Colonel"
"Words of wisdom, my friend, and the
sooner we put them into execution the
better for US.
"How shall we levant?"
He looked upward. !, too, turned my
owes toward the scuttle, with the ready
box beneath it.
"lndtS our lay, JOSll H.
had determined to accompany the
other, believing that my time was ap-
proaching for the truth to be made
known.
The chase might be hot one; but II
I intended to carry out my plans ] could
only look for revelation from Colone
Cain: so must not lose track of him.
had an idea that whatever the police
really wanted him for his guilty con
science made him believe it was for TIT
murder of old DR.. Seabury.
as there nothing here you mean tC
take with you in your fiight?" | asked.
He quickly cast his eye around Then
springing forward, he snatched the ol(
creese from its position on the wall.
"That may prove trusty weapon
Anyhow they won't lay hold of it as evi
dence against me-" he muttercd almos
savagely.
Better and better. I came nea
chucklng, and rubbed my hands tcgetA
or in silent glee.
BY degrees tho man was giving him
self away, and, at this rate, | would soo
be in possession of the whole truth.
Having secured the knife he nov
sprang upon the box and unfastened tn
scuttle.. When this was pushed back al
opening was revealed plenty larg
enough for man to pass through.
could see the stars beyond
Colonel Cain did not hesitate an In
slant. but, Selling hold of the edges, wit
muscular effort he drew himself hal
way through.
1t was now an easy task to finish, an
presently he was looking down upon mi
from the roof.
cCome on, Joslyn," he hoarsely whis
pered.
did not need any urging, for m
sharp ears had caught the sound o
heavy steps upon the stairway, as
men cropping their way upward.
There could be little doubt but tha
they were the hounds of the police fore
closing in upon the jackal of a cracks
man whom they had succeeded in COY
ering.
As these sounds were on the first high
of steps, realized that the officers ha
stolen march upon Us, and came nea
reaching the door in time to cut off on
escape.
was ED IutdH itu'iO uV Vhi' SNA
work, and managed to climb throug
the hole in the roof with as much agilit
I as the burglar had shown.
"They're coming" said, quickly.
-sYes, bear them, the hounds. Come
well battle them yet.
-He was terribly excited, although
could not sec his face in the darkness
watch its fluctuations.
What did this signify? Was there tn
dark frame of the gibbet looming up q
his mental horizon?
The scuttle having been closed, "
began to make our way across the roo
This was my first experience in sue
peculiar work If the reader has new
clambered over the roofs Of block
city houses, row up and now down,
can have no appreciation OF the situ
ton.
II is additionally enhanced when the
IS hot pursuit mado.
The same feeling came over me thaS
had experienced when discovered u
three officers entering the house on Ma
ison avenue where l was concealed
consciousness of innocence maze a
rebel against being pursucd like crli
inal. and vet when l realized that III
taken this yoke voluntarily upon me-
felt that there was no use compia'hin
OF course the Colonel led. -.
He knew the way, ant that IN ltS'
was sufficient to make him gulde'
We left the roof of the tenement IN
rather singular method. Reaching u
edge at its lowest corner the bnrgl
turned to me.