Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-07-28

credit and handed out the rest.
Ned put the money In his pocket ana
turned to go out, as he did so man
and woman, strangers In the town. en-
tered the bank. and asked to have
So bill changed. With just glance
AT the couple and at the bill, the oDlig-
ing cashier handed the change, and
after they had taken "A hasty glance
al the interior of the bank they wen'
out and wendell their way to the hotel
Il do not like the looks OF those
two persons" said Ned 10 himself as
he watched them go toward the hotel
II seems to me as IL ! had seen them
somewhere. but cannot think where.
Half a dozen times during the az
ternoon. Ned found himself speculat-
ing i'm regard TO the strangers he had
seen at the bank. The faces impress
sed him so familiarly. Later in the
day he saw the two again walking up
street by the bank. and he noticed
they appeared quite interested in the
building or its surroundings
who can they be- and what can
their business be-" said Ned again TO
himself II have seen them. bat
can't place them TO save myself.
After Ned was through work that
night he sat down to supper with his
parents lie was unusually uncom-
muuicatye i'm fact, he was making
che two faces "a study lie suddenly
soupcd his knife and fork gave pro
onred whistle and left The table ana
the house
What is the matter with Ned. SAID
Mrs Jackson 10 her husband
81 que : he has worked ont another
1f his ere I problems. said Mr.. Jack
son. die YOU notice how intently ne
was thinking during supper time:
yes. ne hardly knew what he was
ahout. replied Mrs. Jackson.
Ned went at once down 10 the hotel
ud made an examination OF the reg S
.er lie cared nothing for tho names
Of the TWO strangers but he did de-
ire TO know where they room, q.
No. on second floor. said Ned
chat is good. | will see now what ]
can find out
lie glanced into the dining-room and
noticed that the two were sin eating
their supper
That is good also said Ned
20 NftN4AA liin 4 iNftAAN - NtANA n li'liA
n0 cue YVES looking ho went into tho
barn. FASTENED mp the stairway. passed
nto tle grain chamber. where he hac
been several times before in play al
hide and 20 seek" Ilc remembered
about little door that hc had seen
e,cfal times. which led into darl,
c,cot over room S.
EFT mav be mean thing 10 do
said Ned and may get into scra.e
hy DONG il. but ,hc end viii usett
Jho means. II ut suspicious are true
there is 700 much at stake for scruples
Perhaps ] ought 10 tell some one at
.e. but if it should prove ima-ina
ton on my part ] should be the laugh
inc stock. so here goes.
j he dark closet had floor over only a
part of il. and Ned was obliged 10
move very carefully. There was
stove funnel extending up from The
room below and passing into a chin
ncy over head Ned placed his baud
unon il. and found that there was no
so below
THAT is good unused Ned. Il wish
I could get it out so as to hear better
when they come in but that would
not be a safe thing to do Perhaps |
can break of a little piece OF plaster
a i'm that way get better listening
re'
Then a bright idea struck Ned He
Gully lifted off the stove funnel
IN the dark closet and laughed
This exploit. saying
There. / now have a speaking
r. upet from below What is said IA
front of the stove will come no through
the pipe and can be heard almost "a
well as If in the room
But now Ned was obliged 10 keep
i'ent for the strangers had come up
-tairs and were in the roum
Ned took of his coat. and threw il
over his hcad that it might aid him in
hearing the sounds and placed his ear
over the end of the pipe.
For "A long time he listened there
his neck and arms and limbs ached
rom the constrained position in which
he stood but still he listened, as II
his life depended upon II.
At last he silently made his way out
VI the dark closet. II took him long
line. as IL was necessary TO work his
way inch by inch. that no noise should
be made lie reached the grain room
AZ last. and then made his way down
nto the barn. The doors were now
ockcd but Ned knew OF window
hat ne could unfastcn. which he did
and was again outside
Il thought So, said Ned when h.
was fairly out in the street. Take
nd put mans clothes on that woman.
nd IT is the person who fooled me go
ne 70 Portland. and put woman's
!othes on that man. and it is the wo
ran who kept the boarding house
rom which | escapcd "
IN the next chapter II will be shown
low Ned saved the bank