Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-21

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BILE might begin again. Besides, he preferred
to remain where he was SO that he could hear
something OF what was going on in the store.
-, However strong the nerves Of Mr.. Alonzoo
name, may have been, he could not very well
help being startled by the noise of the fall
of his companion. The sounds were peculiar,
and not at all such as were likely to be
produced by an accident like the fall on the
floor of the iron mace.
What was that noise. Peach? You are
more used to this place than 1 am" said Lon,
after he had listened moment.
| Il don't know; something fell down., re-
piled Peach, YEARLY.
'It was not like that other noise. If Morl
found anything wrong about the sPooney. me
ought to have come back to me. We must go
to the front of the store and see what is up,
continued Lon.
"You 60, and I will rest myself; | begin
to- feel faint and 1 shouldn't wonder if |
dropped on the floor at any minute" answer
ed Peach, languidly;
as he took from the pocket of his coat on
the counter flat bottle. "This will set you
all right again"
He poured out quantity of the liquor,
which was brandy, and Peach drank it off.
though it was so strong that it nearly stran-
| gled him in its state.
"Now, come with me- for I don't know the
way about the place." said Lon.
The chief operator led the way, and Peach
hind the counter, and soon came to Bryan's
berth. 1t was empty, and upon the bed lay
the broken cord which had bound the pris-
oner..
'That's what's the matter" said Lon, in a
whisper, as he glanced toward the front door.
Peach"
II didn't say so,.' replied Peach, promptly.
| smart, and 1 only said he was goody-good
| kind of chap-honest, and fond of giving good
advice"
| 'That's all the same as saying he was a
break that Manila cord" said Lon. IF he
hasn't got out of the store. are all right,
and the delay is all the mischief he can do
u.s."
"But where is Morl?" asked Peach, as he
! looked about the front of the store.
"He is here somewhere. He missed the
boy, and he is looking for him. We must
find them both" responded Lon, as he led
the way out from behind the counter.
=, The gaslight near the front door enabled
of the store Peach looked in every place
he could think of, but neither the burglar
nor his fellowwatchman was to be seen. :
The front door was still locked and barred,
and they could not have gone into the street.
What has become of them p asked Lon.
'That is more than 1 can tell" answered
Peach, whose astonishment was vastly great
er than that of his companion, for he was
better acquainted with the locality.
Though he knew there was a trap-door in
the floor, the fact never occurred to him. If
Morl had met Bryan, there must have been
war between them; not that the professors
son would open hostilities, but the burglar
would certainly have captured him. Even If
he had thought of the trap-door. he would
not have supposed that the burglar and
Bryan had gone down to the basement in
this way.
But it was patent to the recreant watch
man and to his companion that neither Morl
nor Bryan could be found in that part of
the premises. The searchers had examined
every nook and corner in that part of the
store, and their absence could be properly
regarded as mysterious disappearance.
T don't understand it." said Peach, more
talkative than usual under the influence Of
have gone to the back of the store without
our seeing or hearing them. Morl would not
have done thing Of that sort"
"It is very strange" said Lon, sharply.
''The game is UP if we don't find them with
in the next ten minutes, for we shall not
have time to finish the job"
T am sure l don't know where to, look
for them, replied Peach, who was thor
oughly bewildered by the situation for r.
looked as though the missing burglar and
the object of his search had been caught I'm
in whirlwind or been swallowed up by the
earth.
"We needn't fool here any longer snar,ed
Lon, who was heartily disgusted by this time
eve must search the store from one end to
the other" w
whats the use of doing that?" objected
Peach You can see for yourself that they
could not have passed the safe without our
seeing them" o'A
whats the use of arguing the matter2
They are not in this part of the stora a.j