The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-06-04
"He got away through there the mo.
ment he heard you coming.
The varder looked at him in consterna-

land, and he's got some sort of tools with
him that he s managed to make; and, as
you have got plenty Of stuff to steal, Eli
be sworn he's having shot at it. -
''W-w-w-whatr' 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 everything
Goodness only knows how. Else why
should he have come straight here? It's
miles from the prison, your house is, and
there many place he might have took
on his way, instead of making straight for
herel 1t 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 at the door
which led into the basement, and as Sir
Jasper turned the handle he said:
''We'd better have the butler with us,
had we not?'
The warder smiled, and raised his car
bine
| II think this will be protection enough
| for Us both, Sir Jasper; and | wouldn call
/ the man if was you You re never quite
/ sure, with men servants, whether they Il
be a help or hindrance.
SO the two descended together into the
! basement, looking and listening, but with
out coming upon any trace Of the escaped
convict until they reached the strong room
door
Sir Jasper turned up the electric light in
the opposite wall, aud heayed a sigh Of re
lief as he saw that there was no sign Of
any attempt having been made TO tamper
with the lock. The warder, however, was
STOPPING to listen at the tiny keyhole, and
making a sign to the baronet to keep quiet
/ Then he nodded and came toward him.
I "W1l You listen at that door, sir, and
I tell me if You hear anything; he asked
Trembling. and sick with alarm, Sir Jas
/ per took his place at the keyhole
( IL fancy | hear a kind Of seratc;.
iug, whispered he at last.
The warier nodded
That's it, sir That's our man at
wcrk
Sir jasper stood up.
But hos did be get in2 said be, with
/ white lips
The warder shook his head
/ The barcnet took his little key from his
watch chain, aud proceeded to fit it in the
lock
Have care, sir
4 Sir jasper, thus warned, opened the
door most cautiously, and flung it wide.
Then. hastily pressing the button just in-
side. he flooded the small apartment al
once with light He drew long 81 sh Of
relief-there was no one there,
"And the jewelry-is that all right,
Sir Jasper
The barouet advanced into the room,
and opened safe at the farther end Lady
Peter emeralds and diamonds were al
u.ost world famous, and a sadden momen.
tary doubt flashed through the barouet .
mind a. TO the wisdom Of letting even the
prison wsrder know the exact place WHERE
they we're kept when her ladyship hat
them for use in the country.
But a glance At the warder reassuree
him. The stalwaTt guardian had his
watchful eye, not on the safe where the bar
onet was busy, but on the dark corners in,
side and outside the room, aud even as be
looked about hin he held his earbine read,
1 in case Of a surprise from unseen enemies,
/ Its ali right cried Sir Jasper, witt
relief. as he came to the snug velvet nes
where the Jewels we're sparkling.
But even as he uttered the words, the
warler' cry broke upon his ear:
All, would you?
And. looking round, Sir Jasper saw tht
eouvic, rush past the warder from some
unseen corner outside, and, jerking up tn,
arm which held the carbine, make dash
Tor the Jewels. The next moment, beior,
the barOuet had time to make all safe, ht
perceived that the warder's weapon had
fallen to the ground. and that his right
arm hung limp, while he cried out, ex,
citedly
Seize him, Sir Jasper; seize him!
The convict. even as these words were
uttered, was springing upon the baronet,
who, good man, living an easy life, was no
in condition to grapple on equal terms viii
the 1.-THE, spare frame Of his assailant. II
another moment both were ON the floor
the convict on the top
There was a short, sharp struggle, dur
ING which the baronet felt himself for somt
moments blinded, choking. Then the mai
was pulled from off him by the superior
force of the warder, who, even with ont
arm disabled, knew trick or two which
made him more than j. match for his man
Now. sir, up with YOU, and help mi
with him. cried the warder, while tn,
convict muttered curses on them both, auC
vaiuly struggled to get free
Ii was some seconds even then befor,
the warder was able to clap the handeuff
on the desperate prisoner, at the cost o
much pain to himself from his wounde,
arm. But with the baronet asSiStanc,
he at last oyerpowered the why rascal an,
dragged him upstairs, where, with the hell
of the men servants, who now, hearing tn
noise of the seutfie, joined their aid to tht
master 5, the convict, still fierce, still de
fant and sullen, was led out Of the hous
and hoisted up into a hght cart whieI
happened to be within hail.
ITO Portland, cried the warder, as
barely remaining long enough to receiv
the congratulations of the baronet, h
sprang up in the cart and laid powerful
OBTAINING hand on the rascal shoulder
Then Sir Jasper, who was somewha
dazed as a result of these unwonted exer
tions and excitements, turned back to tn
mansion, with sigh of relief and distinc
consciousness that he was considerabl
bruised.
He could not, however, wait to atten,
to his wounds, or even to ascertain the ex
tent of them, as he suddenly remembers
that he had left the door of the strong
room open, and that even the safe wher
his wife's jewels were kept was still un
: locked.
As the lights were burning both insid
and outside the strong-room, however,
was a matter of a few seconds only to re
trace his steps and to regain the velvet mes
where the gems lay.