Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-30

i"iiA cellars. fine two thieves would secure it against one another. 1 admit that entertIinel little hope of cutting out the treasure ult.rT the noses of the en- emy. On the other hand. it would be difficult to say what 1 really did an tiCipate or aim at in this nocturnal eX- petition l think We all felt that we could not compose our minds to rest and an iin3erturbable indifference We must be upon our legs and bustliMg about some business. even though it should prove the veriest moonshine and I believe, too. that a notion was current among Us that We might by soine felicitous chance or by some hero ic effort accomplish something under the cover of darkness, if We might not actually wreSt from it's abominable holders the gold and jewels of the treasure. At 10 o'clock we three were gathered within the shelter of the deep thicket before the Woodman. Mont gomery had taken up his position there by light, but reported that there had been no movement in the inn.
 Within our coign of vantage we rest ed, peeping through the interstices of the foliage upon the Woodman. The windows gleamed with light but be- yond that there was no mark of life. Half an hour went by i'll this way, and then sound of voices rose from the inn. and presently there emerged from the doorway two men, who stood in conversation for q few minutes be- fore the house. 1t was too dark to make them out distinctly, but one l set down as Hood. After time they separated, Hood. as I supposed him to be, returning into the inn and his com panion walking down the road away from us. If we were to effect anything this man must be followed, and 1 whispered as much to the others. deter mining to take the duty O.. myself Slipping through the cOpse, therefore, 1 struck downward through the fringe of wood that bordered the road. My progress was naturally slower than that of the man I was tracking. and soon l was surprised to lose the sound of his feet. But q moments reflection convinced me that he had turned off the roadway and was proceeding, like myself, through the forest. This con viction became certainty q little later, when, pausing to resolve upon my di- rertior. i heard the noise of breaking st:~ls ahead of me and a brushing among the foiinge Guided by these soum.s. shifted ny path and wont forWSlri. imagine HOW that the man must have heard me just as had news of him ill the wood ;ind that he knew he Was being followed. .At the time l thought myself undiscovered, for I nlovo'l with slight noise. Yet what happened Was this: l suddenly ceased once more to get tidings of him. 1 paused and waited. but the valley (for we were now winding into the bot tonO Was stagnant with silence. save for the purling stream ill the distance. Slowly and cautiously pushed on and came out into more open space, where l stood silent, waiting again. l must have remained there. still and at tentive to all the tiny raptures of the nocturnal quietude, for more than half an hour. But 1 heard nothing of my man. and so in some disgust l resolved to abandon the pursuit Retracing my steps, climbed up to the road and re- joined my companions in the thicket. found Sheppard in what for him was a bad temper.
 Our sport is being spoiled" he said mpatiently, and to my questions add cd, Jones'
 What is he about?" I asked.
 Apparently on the same errand as ourselves" he observed.
 I considered. Wed better go back" I said. "The less Jones sees of us the better, and, besides, he'll do our work for us''
 think we all welcomed the sugges- tion, for we were all nightly weary of the game, but we retreated to the cas- tie i'll some chagrin. Sheppard pulled at his pipe for some time in silence.
 "Well, what do you think of it?' he queried after time.
 I shook my head. II felt better this afternoon.
 ''So did l." he returned.
 "You're not going to give up?" asked Montgomery.
 We both laughed "Not yet said. '"Ihere.s pln:lty os time for despair"
 "Well, we'll consider the position to- morrow" said Sheppard. yaWning. With which we got to bed. and I for one slept like the graveyard dead.
 I rode into Raymond next morning with Montgomery, taking the road upon the south side of Che valley, away from the Woodman upon which Shep- pard promised to keep his eyes. was anxious to discover what progress Jones had made in his investigations, and, moreover 1 felt slightly uneasy as to our own posture in the affair. Had the law got wind of ue7 And were we connected in Jones' mind with the mysterious transactions of the GweOt?
 (To Be Continued)