The suburban citizen., 1902-01-11

blachness. He saw deeper shadow
than those about and took Frye's hand
and slowly skated toward it. When
very near they heard loud, angry
voices.
You're a dandy, you arew cried out
a man in very savage tones. "Said
you knew the whole country, and get
lost same's If you were in an African
desertl You're q nice one to put trust
inr'
How could 1 know this eclipse was
going to leave us in this blackness"
well, all know is, If we don't get
over to the sloop soon and make all
sail for New York, Van SchalS will
catch us like mice. bet they're after
us now, and this snow, confound it,
leaves tracks. Ye gods, man, can't you
tell which way to turnT
II can't, If we so straight on for all
all l know We'll run right into Van
Schalll and the police
Joel listened and froze with some
thing else than cold At once the
words Of his mother, which he had
paid little attention to at the time, re-
cured to him, about a diamond rob-
berry at Van Schalk's great country
house, full OF guests for a Christmas
house party.
"Frye" he whispered. Lets go!
They're bur-"
Two big hands fell on the boys
necks.
"What do you want here?" a great
voice growled, and in a second the
breathless boys were pushed to the
spot where the two men were talking.
A light road wagon with one horse
stood on the ice. Two men were at
the horses head.
did you find any look of shore"
,one cried, as the boys captor led them
up.
Not a bit! It's as black as ink! But
here's two kids oundnosing around"
One man lit a match and examined
the boys faces.
"What's up?" said he.
1--WE were skating and got lost" said
Joel.
Belong round these parts"
ayes, sir"
"We're lost, too. Look here IL you
want to earn a dollar apiece will you
guide us to the coast shore? Surely
you can tell which direction that is
imp
Joel looked around in perpleXity ana
fear, and, as he did so, his keen bright
eyes, familiar with every light on the
bay, detected what none of the others
did-a faint twinkle in the rear. He
knew the light in the tower Of the bis
hotel near his home. He was about
to speak, when, for he was a sharp
boy and a brave one, he remembered
what his mother had said about q re.
ward for those lost diamonds. He re-
membered, too, the ring dropped on
the ice. He had no doubt these were
the thieves. Frye was shaking with
cold and crying, He could not even
nudge Frye.
"I'm almost sure, sir" he said, II
know the way"
"Which?"
Joe pointed to the rear.
II knew you We're wrong" cried the
man to his comrade-villain. "There's
no time to waste. Skate on, boys and
Wen follow. Two dollars when you
show us the shore"
On went Joel. white but firm in a
sudden determination, gripping the
weaker Fryes hand. Plots and plans
were whirllng through his excited
head. 1t was still pitch dark and they
could easily have skated away from
the robbers, but that was not Joel's
wish. He skated just in front of the
horse.
"It seems long way| the man
shouted.
mot far noww Joel ans ,Sered as
cheerily as he could.
They moved swiftly. The light in
the hotel came nearer-grew bigger.
The night lifted; the moonlight came
creeping back. Joel increased his
speed; the man whipped his horse.
ITS a long way" yelled the man
with a note Of sudden suspicion in his
voice.
Not far now" Joel screamed back,
and dashed ahead. "Come on, Fryer
The moon shone out again, and the
robbers howled with rage, for Joel had
led them straight to the town, and
right before them, among the trees,
stood the house they had robbed.
"Trappedw screamed one.
"Turn round and go backW
They tried to, but they were close in
among rushes where the ice was thin.
Squish, crish, splash! The horse and
wagon went through the ice into three
feet of water, while the boys were run
ming along the beach yelling at the ex.'
treme height of theiE. shPilr voices:
Help! MURDER Police! Diamonds!
ThieYes!'
. They reused the town; men rushed
from the houses; the burglars were
caught; the diamonds were recovered,
and tba bova xvpra raUardnd h,1t-fhov