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


lowed.
| remember that as the lamp fell.
licking tongue of fire ran-like a
monkey running up u rope-along the
drapery, and that before had time to
get ont from under the table, almost
before the gaping face of Stocker had
disappeared from the hole overhead,
the entire roof was one sheet of flame.
learnt afterwards from Number Two
that he had the house rctiled before
he and lubbock had set about con-
structing the secret chamber. The in
telligent British workman to whom the
task was entrusted had made heavy
additional charge in the bill for what
he called "weather-proofng" the roof,
by method of his own inventing,
upon which he greatly plumed himself.
In the matter of keeping rain out, this
system of weather proofing gave Hall
every satisfaction. but, viewed from
another standpoint, it caused him con-
siderable uneasiness, for he had re-
Gently discovered that the material
used for wadding the interstices pe-
tween the tiles, was a kind Of skein
oaklr1n which, being saturated with
tar, was highly inflammable. Like
every wise man, Number Two had
horror of fire, and he at once decided
TO substitute an asbestos preparation
for the oakum The asbestos had been
procured and the work of substitution
commenced, when the unexpected ad-
vent of the conspiratOrs, and their in
stallment at Heath cottage, put a stop
To a work which the fates had de-
creed should never be finished, for
within three minutes from the falling
of the lamp. the upper part of Heath
cottage was a royal roaring furnace.
Warm work, that" gasped Number
Two, breathlessly. when he, lubbock,
the silent councillor, Number Six,
and myself-coughing and choking and
not all unsinged-found ourselves out
side. Warm for the hobbies. too,
poor devils The man on the roof was
in the thick of the fire. and must be
cinder by now. | think the other chap
hurt himself when he fell; anyhow,
he hasn't got out, and never will now.
We'd better be off, and by separate
ways. The neighbors will be here ia
no time. But we must settle some
place of meeting first. Where shall
it be. and when? Tomorrow morning
at 10, by the bookstall at ST. Pancras
station. I'll secure a carriage to our
selves by the Southend train, and we
can talk things over going down. No
one will notice us there, and if they
do they'll only think we are going
to bean-feast party. So we are, for
We're going to give some OF them
beans before we've done with them
aren't we? Now I'm Off and you'd
better do The same
As the other four struck across the
field | made for the high road | had
snatched up my hat when leaving the
cottage, and as there was nothing ih
my dress to attract attention, and |
had no reason To believe that | was
known personally to, or wanted by. the
police, thought my safest plan would
be to go boldly ahead
After | had walked mile or so, |
met black-bearded man dressed as if
for bicycling and wearing cloth cap
Can you tell me" he said, politely
(which is the shortest way TO a house
called Heath cottage, in the occupation
of a Mr.. Hall?"
NO" | replied, Il can't"
Then you are a stranger in this
peighborhood?' he asked.
I'm a stranger to you | said curt
ly, resenting his inquisitiveness.
81 see. Then when you said Just
now that you couldn't tell me my way
TO Heath cottage. you meant that you
| didn't want tor"
III you like" 1 answered. Take it
either way. It's none OF your bust
ness"
"Oh, yes, il is" was his off-hand re-
ply. II happen TO be q police officer,
you see, and l shall have 10 trouble
you to return with me as far as Tar
| borough"
Then he burst into laugh. Don't
upset yourself. Number Seven | only
wanted to satisfy myself that the dis
guise was all right, and it certainly
seems to be so, since you didn't reco2-
niZe your chief and late host"
"Ytn took me by surprise" ! said.
feeling and looking rather foolish
bargain. | recognize you now easily
enough. But to meet you coming in
| this direction and in disguise was
enough TO deceive any one. How on
earth did you manage ii in the time?
You haven't been into the cottage
again, surely?"
Easiest thing in the world, my dear
fellow" he said, lightly. My motto
is, Always be prepared for an emer-
Sency. When you saw me last. some
20 minutes ago, | was wearing d pep
| per-and-salt coat and trousers. But
my clothes are all made with two sides
to them. There's nothing unusual
about this coat is there, except that it
is buttonei close. as all my coats are.
| But if you turn it inside out. it would
be pepper-and-salt again instead of
blue serge. | always wear stockings
instead of socks, and the arrangement
OF my own by which ] can change
trousers into lnickerbockers is simple,
and works so we'll, that / think Of pat