The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-10-12

uhlcluSu PelpSi'
Good thing you brought this Ian
term" remarked Van Nesten, leading
swiftly on. They encountered another
hallway and more smoke, then flight
of stairs, which they mounted two steps
at time.
Can you open door," asked Van
Nesten when a locked one barred their
way. The burglar grunted and applied
himself, while Van Nesten held the light.
Neither spoke, but hot clouds of smoke
| were coming up faster and faster, and
the sound of a cracking roar was be
meath them. The fire was coming on
with a rush.
The door opened, and they burst into
Greddin's paper-box factory, full of COM
! bustibles.
This way cried Van Nestcn, taking
the burglars hand again. They ran
through tangled aislcs of machinery,
tables. and benches, the thick smoke all
about them. Then Van Nesten reached
a window and ne and the burglar seized
it together and threw it up Shouts and
the sounds of confusion in the street came
up to them now, and in the distance
changed the gong of an approaching fire.
engine. But there was no tire to lose.
go ahead" said Van Nestcn. ITS
one at time now"
Then the burglar, with his head and
shoulders through the window, drew
back, white and shaking.
"My God!' he exclaimed, 'have we got
to jump across there?"
1t was perfectly easy leap of five fectto
the roof of the next building with a
twenty-four inch drop to makeit certain.
81 can't do itl' the burglar groaned.
Van Nesten stared at him. appalled, at
his sudden flight. You're crazy he
cried. ITS perfectly easy. Go on, man!
Be quick"
The burglar clutched the window.sin,
looking out with wild eyes.
81 can't he mutteIcd despairinglv.
II was always this way. can't do it,"
You've got to-" said Van Nesien,
IN throw you uver'
But the burglar shrank away. His
nerve was utterly gone
Save yourself" he said. ITS no use.
I'll never make it,"
Van Nesten glared about him. Then
he cried:
Quick, man, your knife! Some belt
ing He leaped to the top of an en-
bossing- machine which stood near the
window and seized hold of the two inch
leather belt which connected with its
overhead shafting. The burglar had his
knife ready and thrust it up to him Van
Nesten slashei at the belt, and it fell in
twain. He leaped to the floor, bearing
an end of it with him.
"Fasten it here-quick!' Van Nesten
said, circling projecting piece of the
heavy machine. when l Jump across
throw me the other end of it. You can
cross on that"
Van Nesten clambered to the window.
frame and made his leap. His feet
- AhShNA ga Liz IbOl vi lHC HeNL
building.
Come onr' That belt" he cried,
rushing back to the edge of the roof.
Come on"
The burglar had already thrown it.
1t curled in a twisted mass at Van
Nesten's feet, and he seized it up ard re-
treated back on the root with the end of
it. In vain he looked for place to fasten
it-hither and thither he darted, and the
burglar, his white face showing through
the smoke, his crouching body pressed
down upon the window-frame watched
him.
Van Nesten wrapped the belt around
his body and stretched it taut There
were twenty feet or more of it, and
though the leverage would be against
him, he could, by keeping to the far end
of it, easily sustain the burglars weight
for distance of five feet from the Win
dow-frame on which it rested
GIVE got YOU" cried Van Nesten.
Come ont"
The burglar crept up on the window
SILL his feet curled beneath him. Slowly,
slowly his hand led out along the piece
of belting-he reached to the center and
part of the space that lay between him
and safety, but still, distressing, despair
ing, he chung to the windo w-ledge. Then
he lurched suddenly forward. and swung
by his hands over the abyss.
Van Nesten, braced as he was, took n
step forward under the quick strain. The
belt sagged, and the burglar sunk to a
level with the roof Its cornice was
almost in his face. Terror was upon
him as he hung, and he could not move.
Then the belt slipped: Van Nesten could
not hold it. The burglar gasped and
clutched at the edge of the roof. Van
Nesten tangled in the betting, thought
that he had fallen, and he hurried tor
ward. The white face was beneath and
his own wild eyes stared into it.
Van Nesten, breathing heavily, bent
over and took the burglar by the wrists.
Terror now was upon them both. Slowly
Van Nesten drew up the burglar who
hung inert. 1t was not till his waist
had passed the point OF safety that the
burglar exerted himself Then he made
a sudden frantic effort, and. wrenching
himself free from Van Nesten, he crawled
out upon the roof.
He lay fiat for a moment from sheer
exhaustion, then he sat up.
"By Cod" said the burglar, passing
his hand over his face, Il don't want
nothing more like that
Van Nesten, feeling suddenly weak, had
sat down also. Now he turned toward
the burglar and burst out laughing.
The burglar gave Van Nesten quick
look
whats to do with you and me ?" he
asked.
Van Nesten remained cheerful
Don't know" he said. Say" lie im-
mediately added, got anything you
want to burn up? The fremen'll he here
in about a minute, you know.
The burglar took the hint. He stood
up and cast certain things through the
window to the room they had just left.
Chuck that gun over there, too"
said Van Nesten, with Just an authorita-
tive twang to his voice. The burglar.
giving him another Quick look complied,