Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-02

But that's foolish risk" insisted
Raridan. There may be a dozen men In
side
That's all right. Wary. 1t takes only a
minute to cross the hall and unbar the
front doors There's no risk about 1t. III
be out in half minute
Raridan felt that SaXton was taking al
the hazards, but he yielded, as he usually
did. when Saxton was decisive, as now.
Good luck to you, old man!' he said
Shaping Saxton on the back. He patrolleo
the grass plot before the house, while Sax
ton went to the rear.
The door opened easily, and John stepped
into the lower hall. The place was pitch
dark He remembered the position of the
articles of furniture as he had left them on
his last visit. and started across the hall
toward the stairway, using his lantern
warily. When half way, he heard the
whinny of horse which he could not see.
from him in the darkness and was still
again. Then another horse whinnied by the
window whose broken glass he had found
On the outside There were, them two
horses, from which he argued that there
were at least two persons in the house. lie
found the doors and lifted the heavy bar
that held them and drew the bolts at top
and bottom. AS the doors swung open
slowly Rartdan ran UP to see If anything
was wanted.
"All right" said Saxton In a low tone
They're mighty quiet If they're here. But
there's no doubt about the horses. You
stay where you are and I'll explore q lit
tle"
Raridan started to follow him, but Sax
ton pushed him back.
Watch the door, he said and walked
guardedly into the house again. The horses
stamped fretfully as he went toward the
stairway, but all was quiet above. He felt
his way slowly up the stair rail, whose
heavy dust stuck to his fingers. Having
gained the upper hail. he paused to take
fresh bearings. His memory brought back
gradually the position of the rooms. In
putting out his hand he touched picture
which swung slightly on it's wire and
grated harshly against the rough plaster
of the wall. AT the same instant he heard
noise directly in front of him as of some
one moving about in the chamber at the
head of the stairs. The knob of a door was
suddenly grasped from within. John wait
ed, crouched down. and drew his revolver
from the side pocket Of his coat. The door
stuck in the frame, but being violently
shaken. suddenly pulled free. The person
who had opened the door stepped back into
the room and scratched a match.
Wake up there, called voice within
the room.
Saxton crept softly across the hall, set
Ting the revolver into his hand ready for
use. A man could be heard mumbling and
cursng.
Hurry up, boy. it's time we were out OF
this
the door holding a lantern, he was pushing
some one in front of him. The crisis had
come quickly; John Saxton knew that he
had found Grant Porter; and he remember
ed that he was there to get the boy whether
he caught his abductor or not.
The man was carrying his lantern in his
right hand and pushing the boy toward the
staircase with his left. As he came well out
Of the door, Saxton sprang up and kicked
the lantern from the mans hand. At the
same moment he grabbed the boy by the
collar, drew him back and stepped in front
of him. The lantern crashed against the
wall opposite and went rolling down the
stairway with its light extinguished. Sax
ton had dropped his own lantern and the
hall was In darkness.
"Stop where you are, Snyder" said SAX
ton, "or I'll shoot. I'm John Saxton; you
may remember me-" He spoke in steady,
even tones.
The lantern. rolling down the stair
way. startled the horses. which stamped
Srestlessy on the floor. The wind whis-
tied dsmally outside. He heard Snyder. as
he assumed the man to be. cautiously feel
ing his way toward the staircase.
You may as well stop there" Saxton
said, without moving, and holding the boy
to the floor with his left hand He spoke
in sharp. even tones. TITS all right.