Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-02-21

Of no captain, but l wouldn't let on"
Joe continued. THE boss ere had only
tod me to watch. saying ii vas cross
job, but he mentioned no names. So
UPS and asks. is that Mr.. Wood?' and
I could "a sworn that the bundle
moved, and there WAS struggling IKE
\ inside"
Gagged. of course put In the Amer
lean.
Joe went on. Anyway. l am his
friend she says. L don't mean h.
shall come to harm. And | want him
the bundle moved aeain-'him and
others to know that, and I'd like you
to tell EN- so when YOU get out of this
| mess. Mhenll that be?' | asks a lit
tie bit on the hump. you know. Now,
IT you're game to hop out, I'm not a.
! going to stop YOU. and She was for
turning of the handle then and there.
But [ considered q bit. and the
| thought came in my head that now I'd
got ere had ought TO stick ere. There
/ was the gentleman opposite meas |
| judged-and if WAS TO do amy service
to him wasn't by cutting away. I'd
got to see the thing right through
where they took him, what they did to
him, who and what they were.
You're a brave lad" i said, stretch
Ing out and Shaking hands With him,
hl!d indeed l Should have liked to hug
] him. dusty aud dirty as he was.
Thank you kindly, miss" he an
swered slyly. and Went on. The only
way out of 1t was to say | was afeard
to jump. The cove on the box was
| II watching me. says, and a lot more.
Then the carriage settled 1t by turning
Into some yard, a private place it
looked like, but they gave me no time
to spy, for the Teller from the box CAM
down directly we stopped and had me
out in IL jiffy.
Ere, he says. we've got first to
do With you. Lay hold on him Then
two other chaps grabs me by the arms
and rushes me head down, jam, ram,
straight into dark hole that snel,el
of moldy straw and garbage-some
sort of cellar-wferc they locked o
door Oh me. and l was laid up in limbo
! like n rat in trap.
ut took ME half ain hour or so to
shake myself together. First thing
that gave me heart was streak of
daylight up atop of the calabooSe, and
when | struck q match l found 1t
coined through an old iron grating,
which | soon overfaulcd. '1'worn't set
SO tight that l couldn't soon loosen a
brick. although 1 tore my hands a bit
before got the thing right out. Then
| ia a job to lift myself up by my arms,
but I'm strong in the arms, and by and
by scrambled through that grating
that's what tore my ciothes-and out
on to the yard above. 1t was the one
as we'd druv into--a stable yard at
the back of tall house ali shut up.
| windows suffered. Blinds down. No
one at home, you'd say. The stables
4 was empty--no horses helpers, no
traps. l couldn't find that the stables
\ Joined on to the house neither, but
Judged 1t was better not to hang about
tool ong or they'd be coping me again.
SO makes for the yard doors. They
was only barred on the inside, and /
got out right enough into the back
then straight to you, sir, to make my
report"
'You We're In monstrous hurry"
said Colonel Bannister. why didn't
you mark down the house. the neigh
borhood, the exact spot?"
Mr.. snuyzer took his part. Joe
knows his business; yes, sir, as we'll
as the best professionals. Tell us,
joe"
The stable was in Featherstone
news No. I. To make sure chalked
something on the doors. The stables
was at the back of Teatherstone gar
dens and belonged, 1 should say, to
No. ~
In Il few minutes more we had
started in cabs--I in hanson with
Sir Charles-straight for Featherstone
gardens. Roy came with us. We were
4 the first to arrive, but the others had
gone round, escorted by Joe, to the
back of the house so as to verify the
news and the situation exactly. When
they joined us at the entrance of the
gardens, Colonel Bannister, Who now
| took the lead. dismissed the cabs and
said in his brief. ordering sort of way:
We can't all go up to the house. 1t
might create a scandal. The whole
thing may be a mistake. III take this
lad first. He may perhaps identify
somebody. and then we shall be emil
tied to act
and me, please" / added. "Oh. yes,
indeed, Colonel Bannister, / shall go,
too"
/ He shrugged his shoulders, and we
three, with Roy close at my heels, soon
stood on the doorstep of No. l. The
house was all shut up, the chain was
on the door. and we waited long time
while some one inside fumbed with 1t
and several bolts
We'll. what is it?" asked an old man
who at last opened the door, but held
II ajar. He was of very respectable
appearance, with white hair under a
black skullcap. and Wore decent blue
and white striped Jacket, the type Of
an old servant In a good family. May
l Inquire
We wish to see your MASTER" said
the colonel promptly
II am afraid that is impossible SIR"
replied the man civilly. THE family
have gone out of town. The duke left
yesterday for SPAIN
THE duke?"
THE duke of Tierc. Sagrada. He
is my master, sir. nc you will leave
your card l will see that it is sent on
to him, or any letter. / have his adj
dress"
I'm Spain?"
Certainly. sir Casa Iuerta Her
mosa. st. Sebastian. They have gone
to the seaside. No, pleaseH-this was
to me, for l was quietly trying to get
Roy past him into the house-..that
dog mustn't come In. My orders are
Strict against dogs"
Call him back, Miss Fairholme, at
once" said the colonel In a tone which
resented, but he cut me quite short.
This farce has gone far enough. L
wash my hands of 1t. Good night
this to the old manservant as we
walked away. and If you will be
guided by me. Miss Far,olnle, you
will do the same. It's all hunbug from
first TO last, l give you my word I do
not believe one syllable of this story,
except perhaps about the papers, and
even then i am not quite satisfied, fo,.
they We're sent to Captain Wood in the
dispatch box. That we know
] But not at Captain Woods re-
quest" l said hurriedly.
His man thinks not, and ! admit