Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-02-01
boots, but never scoundreIs.,

more theoretically than
ever:
Paul! Paul! what in the world arc
you thinking Of? Put your boots in
your pocket! What if the scoundrals
should discover us, and give chase2
We don't want to lose orr boots Won
know, and of course we couldn't stop
to pick them up.'
MISS Judlth's foresight was COM
mendable; but, unfortunately, was
unduiy impressed by the ludicrous side
OF 1T, and was seized with a violent fit
of laughter which, in spite of all NV
efforts, would burst the bounds of
prudence
With a smothered ejaculation Miss
judith seized me by the arm Just as I
crushed the boots into my pocket and
hurried me off the porch and into the
very midst of thicket of shrubbery
near by.
II thought you had more sense,
Paul. she whispered, half angrily,
with something very much like an ad-
nfonltory shake. How do you know
the Williams are not on the watch?"
But somehow could not settle into
the gravity suitable to the occasion.
laugh L had to, and laugh I did, i'm
spite OF every consideration. But sud-
denly my mirth was silenced by a low,
vehement:
Paul, you're fool! See there!''
And with no gentle hand Miss
judith jerked my head toward the
proper quarter.
"A man" I whispered, sententiously.
mo ghostr' Miss Judith returned, as
sententiously.
Yes, it was man, and my first IT.
doubt drawn him forth. I saw him
distinctly, as he stepped from the
dimly lighted hall to the porch. He
closed the door and traversed the
porch from end to end. Suddenly his
footsteps ceased, and before we sus-
pected his approch we deserted his
form dimly visible within three feet
of our hiding place.
Down." whispered Miss Judith.
And as we dropped a heavy blow from
a cane snRote the bushes over our
heads.
Nobody there groWled a gruff
voice. II knew there wasn't, without
coming. Just as if anybody would
want to traipse up to this haunted old
place in such a storm! But Tins al
ways a-fancyin' somethingw And
with an added oath he strobe back to
the house.
Miss Judith drew a deep breath of
relief.
'That was "a narrow escape, Paul"
she said, Strengthening herself. But
won't scold you, since the fruitless
search may result in giving the rascal
a greater sense of security. You see
there are rascals here" she added;
land we may congratulate ourselves
| that the suspicious Tim did not make
a search here in person. But come, 1
know of another anW more secret en-
| trance-we won't risk this side of the
house again, and neither will we be
driven off>by fear. I'm determined to
| know what the wretches are about. -
1 wanted to think, and did not inn
mediately reply. AS we reached the
| door-a low basement one, completely
concealed by a tangle of dead vines
and shrubbery, which had been allow
ed to eneroach upon it, / turned and
said:
Miss Judith, did the name he men
toned impress you at air
No. answ cred Miss Judith, an as
tonished inquiry in her voice. Tim S
Il common name"
$50 it isl 1 replied: "but it belongs
h to one uncommon man.
| l felt her start, and then she whisp-
sered:
''Tim Dawson?"
"The same - returned. '''This place
is exactly suited to his operations, is
lit not?'
"Exactlyr' she answered, emphati-
.cally. "But, come, let us decide the
doubt. and woe be to the bold forger
| if here!'
The door opened readily and we en-
tered. We waited for some sound to
guide us. 1t soon came, in the shape
of a voice from above. Miss judith
clutched my arm
,"This way she whispered, excited
| Nv. 1.-THE room to the right has
dumb waiter opening into the one
! from which the voices come If the
upper door should fortuna tely be a1ar
| we shall, at least, hear something. BE
careful-slide your steps slowly. But
hark,.' she suddenly added.
And she .clenched my arm much
more firmly than I found comfortable,
AS a door closed and heavy step re-
sounded on the stairs above. My
breath came fast.
The adventure was quite to my
taste. so far as it had gone, but | did
not relish the idea of meeting one or
more of the villains assembled above.
But fortunately the steps came from
an upper fight of stairs and on de
scending to the hall retreated to the
room over the one for which we were