The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-09
Copyright, 1908, by Bobbs-Merrill Co.

windows were deeply embrasured all
over the house, and he could not de-
termine where the glass had FALLEN
FROM The windows were all intact
when he left, he was sure. he drew
off his glove and tiptoed to the near
est panes, ran his fingers over the
smooth glass, and instantly touched
broken edge. AS he was feeling the
frame to discover the size OF the open
ing, the low whinny of horse came
distinctly from within.
He stood perfectly quiet, listening.
and in q, moment heard the stamp OF
hoof on the wooden floor of the hall.
He backed off toward the drive way.
which swept around in front OF the
| house, and waited, but all remained as
silent and as dark as before. He ran
| back thru the corral to the other men,
who stood talking beside the blan-
keted ponies.
''There's something or somebody in
the house, he said. He told them Of
the broken window and of the sounds
he had heard. 'Whoever's there has
| no business there and we may as well
turn him out. I'VE thought of good
many schemes for utilizing that house,
but the idea Of making barn of it
| hadn't occurred to me-.
He threw off his overcoat and tossed
! it into the blackboard.
ct guess that's good idea. John,''
said Raridan, following his example,.
Wheaton stood muffled in his coat.
His teeth were chattering, and he fun
bled at the buttons but. kept his coat
on, walking toward the house with the
others.
1--WE may have horse thief or we
may have kidnapper," said Saxton,
who had taken charge Of the party;
! "but in either case we may as we'll
| take him with his live stock"
] LET us not be rash," said the bish-
op, following the others. He may
prove an unruly customer"
| He's probably a dude tramp who
rides a horse>and has taken a fancy to
Poindexter architecture" said Wary.
/ Quiet" admonished Saxton, who
! had lighted lantern, which he con-
| cealed under his coat.
/ ''You two watch the corners of the
house" he said, indicating Raridan
/ and Wheaton,; "and you, Bishop, can
stand off here, if you will, and watch
for signs Of light in the upper win
! dows. The big front doors are barred
on the inside, and my key opens only
the back door,
It'll go with YOU" said Raridan.
| mot yet, old man. You. stay right
i here and watch until throw open the
front DOORS
But that's foolish risk" insisted
Raridan. There may be a dozen men
inside
| IndL all TlSII, Wary. IL taxes
only minute to cross the hall and un-
/ bar the front doors. There's no risk
about it. I'll be out in half minute
Il Raridan felt that Saxton was taking
all the hazards, but he yielded, as he
usually did, when Saxton was decisive,
as now.
"Good luck to you, old mani" he
said, slapptng Saxton on the back. He
patrolled the grass-plot before the
house, while Saxton went to the rear
The door opened easily, and John
, stepped into the lower hall. The
4 place was pitch dark. He remem-
bered 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. A moment later an animal
shrank away from him in the dark
| ness and was still again. Then an
, other horse whinnied by the window
7 whose broken glass he had found on
the outside. There were, then, two
horses, from which he argued that
there We're at least two persons in the
. house. He 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 Raridan ran
5 up to see if anything was wanted.
, To be continued Monday,