Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-04-05

uvur.
ut is better that l should leave YOU
now" he said h%urriedly. I'VE can set
tie this tomorrow morning." And,
showing clear signs of discomposure.
he left the barn.
AS for me. l sat with the key in my
hand, considering. 1 thought l could
put a name on the owner Of those steps.
CHAPTER XVI.
~ERCOMBE was not so good as
VI his word. So far from complet-
~ ing the bargain on the morrow,
he never came near me, and l
passed the day quite alone, save for
the occasional visits of one of The
Greeks bringing my food. l began to
have a very Ineligible view of the
situation. Sercombc had been fright
ened of the arrangement he had con-
templated by the fear of his compan-
ion. or if that We're not SO. though |
was now quite prepared to credit it. he
deemed it wiser 10 postpone the ad-
venture still further. in which case l
might still keep my hopes alive and
nourish an ambition Of final success.
But the truth was that each day lost
was so much gained toward the ac-
compliShment of Hoods object. and
even as l sat and gnawed my iingers
and reelected in this doleful mood the
treasure Was fast leaving the castle.
passing into the possession Of alien
and bloody hands.
There was yet another alternative,
about which l could not make up my
mind. Hood might have bought the
allegiance of his traitorous associate.
and. if so. l wished them both joy Of
their bargain together. l would trust
neither scoundrel beyond the reach Of
my arms or the audit of my ears, and
l was pretty sure that neither would
trust the other. Their whole ~associa-
ton rested upon q mutual compact of
greed, and it was odds but. the gold
once under their hards. they would
fall out in some mortal strife, accord
ing to the ancient proverb. If that
should happen, perhaps. according to
the ancient proverb. we, as represent
ing honest men as nearly as possible
IN the circumstances. might come by
our own, or. speaking more properly,
some n else's own.
For the present l had gained nothing,
and lay. a d%isconsolate prisoner. in that
airy cell, guarded by watches Of the
Greeks. So far as I could determine,
we. the defenders of the castle and the
treasure, We're in a bad position, and
there was nothing for it on my part
but resignation with IS civil a grace as
might be. l had already taken account
of the defenses of my prison and saw
little prospect Of escape. but l will con-
fess that throughout the first day of
my captivity l vas somewhat under
the influence of hope and hourly eX-
pected a conference with Sercomhe.
This. as YOU may imagine. drew my
attention from the Immediate scrutiny
of my surroundings. but upon the
morning Of the second day. when Ser
combe still failed to visit me, I cast
about for other means of escape.
First of all. l examined the barn
very carefully. 1t was a huge building
and rose at the apex to a height of IF
teen feet " more. The sides were OF
wood, but the top was composed Of q
skeleton Of %rafters, th;ckly coated With
thatch. Two windows shone in the
room. i at the back part and away
from the door. the other inserted in
one Of the remaining walls. The door
was. OF course. k<et locked, but by
screwiEg my face against the side Win
dow n cranlng my neck l could see
the figure Of a man on guard, evidently
at the foot Of the ladder. There was
little chance of breaking out this way.
b second window gave on q low ~
ing stable at the back. and beyond that
there were the great trees and cool
deeps Of the forest. 1t was securely
barred and fastened, and that. from
all appearances, quite newly. The
second exploration seemed to offer no
more encouragement thar the first. but
was not yet resigned to defeat. and,
sitting down upon the floor, I fell to
thinking. mechanically opening Il small
penkEife which was in my pocket. ana
pairing my nails.
l do rot know if l We're conscious of
the act, but | remember that It was
quite a long time, and when I had
grown almost desperate in my coun-
sells. that the advantage Of this tiny
weapon occurred to me. The wooden
walls We're not higher than six or
seven feet. and above them. as l have
explained. rose the superstructure Of
thatch to the pinnacle of the roof. I
paused in my occupation and rose
quickly. by standing on a chair 1
n 8EBH!