The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-09-03

his quarry.
Sir Jasper beckoned to him quickly.
"Warder!" cried he. "warjerl This
way"
The man turned and came rapidly
toward him. He was tall. strong,
fine looking man, with shrewd eyes
and clear cut features; and, even
as Sir Jasper called him, he was smit-
ten by sense of the inequality of the
contest between this stalwart, we'll
fed, handsome pursuer and the under
sized, lean, grizzled rascal of whom
he was in pursuit.
Saluting as he came. the warder
was under the window in a moment.
You are looking for a convict who
has escaped?" said the baronet.
"Yes, Sir Jasper"
'You know me. them"
Why. yes, TO be sure. we all know
Sir Jasper Peters," said the warder
with a smile. Have you seen any.
thing of the man. sir?"
Yes. yes; he's in my house at tnis
moment" answered Sir Jasper, in
sort of fear of retribution at the hands
OF the hunted man If he were to learn
he was betrayed
Where. sir. where?"
Even before the baronet had finished
the sentence the warder had put his
hand on the window sill and sprang
into the room. Sir Jasper pointed to
the door.
HE got away through there the mo-
ment he heard you coming"
The warder looked at him in con-
sternation as he crossed the room.
Then I'll be bound he's rifling your
sti ong room, sir" said he. The mans
one of the cleverest safe thieves in
England, and he's got some sort of
tools with him he's managed to make;
and as you have got plenty of stuff
to steal, I'll be sworn he's having a
shot at it."
"W-w-w-what," stammered the
startled baronet. How can he know"
Already he was leading the warder
out of the room and across the hall,
in the direction of the strong room.
These chaps know most every
thing. Goodness only knows how.
Else why should he come straight
here? It's miles from the prison, your
house is, and there's many a place he
might have took in on his way in
stead of making straight for here!
It was my guess to come this way, the
only one of the lot to believe he'd got
so far"
The baronet was hunting for his
keys. They were standing together
ment and as Sir Jasper turned the
handle ne said,--
Wed better have the butler with
us, had we not?"
The warder smiled and raised his
carbine.
81 think this will be protection
enough for us both, Sir Jasper; and
wouldn't call the man IL | was you.
You're never quite sure. with men SER
wants, whether they'll be a help or a
hindrance."
So the two descended together into
the basement, looking and listening.
but without coming upon any trace
of tho escaped cclvict until they
reached the strong room door.
Sir Jasper turned up the electric
light in the opposite wall, and heaved
a sigh of relief as he saw that there
was no sign of any attempt having
been made to tamper with the lock.
hA etA 10,
to listen at the tiny keyhole and max
ing sign to the baronet to keep
quiet. Then he nodded and came to-
ward him.
'Will you listen at that door, sir,
and tell me If you hear anything?" he
asked.
Trembling, and sick with alarm, Sir
Jasper took his place at the keyhole.
''I-I fancy hear kind Of scratch
ing whispered he at last.
The warder nodded.
That's it, sir. That's our man at
work."
Sir Jasper stood uD.
But how did he get in?" said he,
with white lips.
The warder shook his head.
The baronet took his little key from
his watch chain and proceeded to At 1t
in the lock.
Have a care, sir"
Sir Jasper thus warned. opened the
door most cautiously, and flung IL
wide. Then. hastily pressing the but
ton just inside, he flooded the small
apartment at once with light. He
drew long sigh of relief-there was
no one there.
"And the jewelry-is that all right,
Sir Jasper?"
The baronet advanced into the room
and opened safe at the father end.
Lady Peters emeralds and diamonds
were almost world famous. and a sud-
den momentary doubt flashed through
the baronet's mind as to the wisdom
of letting even the prison warder
know the exact place where they were
kept when her ladyship had them for
use in the country.
But a glance at the warder reas-