Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-16

and thumb. he threw himself down up
on his bunk.
Hour after hour passed. and the
steady stentorian breathing of his com
panions told him that they all slept.
| Presently no raised himself gently to
o sitting posture. and I'm doing so no
made the wooden bunk creak. lie
| listened for some seconds. No-the
men were undisturbed. Gradually he
reached the floor holding his breath
lest the slightest noise on his part
should awaken one OF his companions.
Then he fclt his way In his stocklngcd
feet softly TO the door. which was Sc
cured by n common wooden latch. Ho
managed TO open the door without a
sound. and. when outside. he let tho
latch fall slowly into It's place with tho
string attached to It from without.
lie paused and listened but they all
slept on
The moon was nearly ne tho quarter.
and the shadows from the Ranges lay
broad and dark upon the lower ground
beneath. Beyond the cry OF night
hawk or owl. the whr of bat. or tho
croaking Of frogs In the stagnant pools
near the creek there was not a sound
to he heard.
Luke walked along In the direction
OF Bayncs' hut. which. lying In the
shadow OF the hill would have been
difficult for one not knowing the local
ity To discover but Robert Luke knew
his way we'll
In few minutes he stood outside
the door. There was no sign Of life 10
be- seen within. He tried the handle
and found that the door was locked.
Then he crept round 10 the window.
which was unglazcd and had coarse
calico nailed across In lieu OF glass.
After peerlng about for some minutes.
hc detected n spcck OF light shining
dlmly through an inner curtain.
Probably there was n moth hole In tho
blanket which had been hung inside TO
prevent the Hight from being seen from
without. The koyhole ana every chink
seemed stopped securely.
How easily he might slit tho calico
across with his knife and effect IN
entrance! bat then. suppose his sur
misses were to prove wrong. what ox-
cusc could he make for thus disturb
Ing the woman IN the middle of tho
night?
l.nlkc's heart beat fast. n seemed To
him as II he were on the very brink
OF making some discovery. and yet
was To be baked.
lie stood still and thought while.
Then Il occurred 20 him that he might
knock, pretend he was III. and asl, for
brandy. The men ON the station had
mono. he know. Yes. there could be no
harm In that
He knocked on the panels OF tho
door. but no answer came. lie knocked
again. and spoke
Mira. Bayncs, would YOU kindly glvo
mo drop of brandy II you have such
u thing. am sorry to trouble you at
this time of night. but | am not very
we'll. am Lukc-Bob l.uRe."
StIll not n word came In reply. lIe
called ont again more loudly
Mrs. Baynes d'yc hear, Mrs. Bay
nes?"
Growing holder, he determined 10 try
the strength of the door
Placing his shoulder against Il. he
turned the handle and leaned upon II
with his whole weight.
Suddenly the door gave way. and no
was precipltated into tho room. Re-
covering himself 1t was yet several |
seconds before he could distinguish |
any objects around him-the sudden |
transition from the darkness without |
to the glare Of u lamp had dazzlcd hll |
eyes. When he recovered from tho |
first confusing effects OF the light, he |
saw sight that sent him staggering |
ment deprived him of the power OF
speech. He was bewlldered. and could |
not find breath to say the words which |
were upon his lips.
A sound Of horses hoofs approach
ing the hut made him suddenly look
round. and then he knew no more. A
fearful crash upon his skull deprived
him OF his senses, and he fell heavily
to the floor
Ito be Continued.)