Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-04-07

back to arrest our friend here. APP
parently it's he they want, not me,
whom they still appear to look upon
az a reputable member of society. |
think our friends outside are propping
the ladder against the wall, in which
case it will be time to adjourn to un-
der the table"
Before very long we heard the sound
OF some one clambering from ladder
to the roof. and cautiously picking his
way, apparently on hands and knees,
towards the top. By-and-by the
sound of moving body ceased, and
then we heard the working and
wrenching, which told us that the new
conner was engaged in removing some
tiles. Meanwhile we LAY low en-
csonced ANONYMOUSLY. as lubbock
phrased it, well out of sight under the
billiard table The position was so
Cramped that | was, if anything, re.
lieved to know. by an exclamation of
establishment from the extractor of
tiles overhead that the secret cham
ber of Heath cottage was a secret 10
longer.
Hi. Stockers! are you there?"
called an excited voice which | recog
nized as the sergeants.
I'm here sir" came the reply from
below.
81 always did think that Hall was
a bad lot for all his seeming so quiet
and respectable" said the sergeant.
It's always the Quietest ones as is the
worst. What dye think he's got UP
here?'
"FOwls?" suggested Stocker lamely.
He was not a man of many ideas, and,
having lately covered himself with
glory by the brilliant arrest and con-
viction of two small boys who were
robbing a henroost-the prevention OF
poultry pilfering filled a very impor-
tant place in his conception of the
duties of a constable. Yes, fowls. !
expect" he added more confidently:
'leastway, stolen ones that he's kept
up there to be out of the way. II
sounded like fowls when we heard
that noise just now"
Fowls" retorted his superior of.
flcer contemptuOusly; fowls, you fool!
You've got fowls on the brain since
you got those boys convicted. No, ita
sonnet thing worse than fowls, | can tell
you. | always did think that Hall
wasn't all he should be- And him SO
quiet too, Well! well! there's no
knowing what any ones character is
till he's found out. It's harem, that's
what it is I've seen Il picture Of one
III the Windsor Magazine, and recog-
LlZe it easy. There's hanging lamps
that don't look as If they was meant
to burn respectable oil in decent
houses. And there's couches without
any legs, like a bed made up on the
foOr-diyans. don't they call 'em ?
all in stripes and gaudy colors. and
heaped mp with soft pillows. Down
right heathenish, | call it. There's q
big table in the NEEDLE that's got big
white cloth flung over it as if there
vas something on it that was too
wicked even for Hall to look at long
We shall find something pretty there
I'll promise you, when we get down
Well, well, it's wicked world we live
in"
rs there any women there?" in
Quired the Intelligent Stocker. with
more interest than he had previously
manifested. "A harem's place where
they keep a lot of lovely women, ain't
it? I've seen one at the 'Quariuu
when ! went to London. They had
golden hair, and wore trousers made
Of gold and stuff. and lay about or
couches and looked cross"
No, that's what / cant make out
replied his chief. There amt no wo.
men, but there soon will be you mari
my words Hall and lubbock have
gone to fetch EN- now they have goN
it all ready Taat's why there's nc
one at home to-day. a pretty pair Of
rascals they are, a bringing their Ro.
mand Catholic ways into a Christian
! country. III harem 'Cn before I've
done. You so and see ii you can fine
! me a bit OF rope so as ! can faaten il
to the chimney stack and let mysell
| down into the room. I'm going to Sc,
what's on that table, harem or Nc
| harem."
The search for a rope was appar.
| emily successful. and as the sergeant
| had in the meanwhile been wOrkins
hard TO make the h9le in the roo
| large enough to admit his body, he
bade StOclier come UP and hold ON tC
| the end which was hitched to the chin.
ney stack, while he lowered himself
| into the room.
Curiosity getting the better of dis.
/ cretion, | very guardcdly inclined my
head outward an inch or two beyond
| the projecting rim Of the table, ant
| twisting my neck round, looked up.
The sergeant, hanging on to the rope
! had just got clear of the hole in The
roof, and was preparing to lower him.
self down hand-over-h hand. Through
| the opening over his head, the rec
and bovine face of Srocker was star.
| ing. He was watching the sergeant'e
| progress with eager interest, but the
movement of my Withdrawing head
apparently attracting his attention, he
craned through the aperture, ans
catching sight of me. pointed dowr
with an excited yell to where | was
lying.