The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-11-15

! trench before the house. He made for
this.
: Sitting on a pile Of lumber outside
was a man wearing leather jacket
and slouch hat. He carried a stout
club in his hand. 1t was the watch
man.
! The watchman, seeing Buckford
emerging from the cellar he was sup
posed to be guardian over, rushed to
him.
1 "Well. we'll! Who are you? What
do you want? p
Hush. my friendw whispered Buck
ford quickly. 81 am pursued by enc
mics. Is there police officer near?"
mo; they passed ten minutes ago"
81 must escape. Can you not help
me?"
Help! Me help? What can do?"
At that moment there was q shout
up the street. and Buckford saw Ian
terms. The party under Reber or the
other had turned the corner.
"Too laten' groaned Buckford. "Stay!
There is one chance. Here is franc
piece. Lend me your hat, jacket and
club. I will watch your buildings
while you go drink my health"
"Le Diable! I may get into trouble.
But 5 franc piece! Here! Give it to
me! Quick! Get into the jacket! The
hat! Pull it down over your eyes.
Speak as little as possible. Ahw
A stolid watchman sat on the lum-
ber pile and bareheaded Frenchman
was starting off to drink on the
| franc piece.
"Ho! My kcysr he exclaimed. 81
must take my keys"
Leave them: they will be safe. IT
any one suspects, the keys will prove
| that am the watchman."
Good, But do not use the large
| brass one 1t is to the floor in the end
building. There NJ. de Bullion has his
Office. He is there now. He must not
know"
II will not disturb him. Now co.
The watchUan went numbering off,
| none TOO soon. The searching party
in the cellar came out on to the street
and met the other that had gone half
way round the square. A short dis
tance away the third party was seen
approaching.
Here NJ. lie Never Sleep" said one
leader. Have you seen a man come
out of these cellars?"
Mon. Dieu! l just saw a score" re-
piled Buckford, almost in a tremor lest
his French should not be such as to
pass muster. But the man hunters
We're too excited to notice just then a
little thing like the accent of Il watch
man in a leather jacket and slouch hat.
1T is strange, devilish strange" said
one. How could he vanish so COM
pletely? Was he magician?"
You! With your magicians" said
another. "He was flesh and blood
man, but a quick one. Did we not see
his blood on the broken Window"
Buckford trembled. He had wiped
the blood from his hands and face with
his handkerchief. but now kept his
hands concealed and his face screened
from the light lest a show of blood
should betray him.
"Well, are we to stand here till he
comes and asks us to kill him?" asked
police will be here. And then what,
eh?'
Very WELL" said man owning the
voice Buckford had heard in the door.
"Have some one wait here to watch.
We will continue"
"Have you any objection, stay awake,
to our company"
"None. l shall be pleased" replied
Buckford.
Four men were told off to remain
there on watch. The others separated
into groups and went in various direc-
tions.
Buckford was in an agony of appre-
hension. If the real watchman return
ed while these fellows were there,
what might not happen. and especially
If the watchman was drunk?
The American thought over every
possible method of defeating his foes
that came into his head. Nothing prom
ised success, If the police came that
| way, he would certainly call for assist
ance. but to call for the police when
there was no police In sight would be
folly. He would simply be pounced
upon and slain before the police could
arrive.
An hour passed while he was thus
wild with apprehension, and then a
drunken whistle was heard coming.
Here comes some one. We must
question him." said one of the watch
ers.
Buckford looked toward the ap-
preaching man. AS he passed under q
street light Wallace noted that he wore
no hat
Horrors! 1t was the watchman, and
he was far from sober.
And now, with certain destruction
staring him in the face, Buckford Wal
lace thought as he had never thought
before.
To wait there till the drunken watch.
man came and demanded his keys, his
jacket, his slouch hat, would be to sit
silently inviting death.
He rose, stretched himself, yawned
and said:
"My friends, should have been re-
lieved an hour ago. My assistant some
times stops at NJ. Jacques. | leave
the place in your care while go to see
if he is there. l request, however, that
you allow no one to enter the build
ings."