Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-15
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The Midnight Message.

look round again until Silvas back was
turned and the Italian returned to the
mouse. Even then II would have been
impolitic to make a sign, for there might
be prying. suspicious eyes looking from
other windows who would understand,
and then the whole of Venabes in
Ing Sideways, Walter glanced up again.
1t seemed to him that he could still catch
the outline of VarG's figure. Then das-
perate idea occurred to him. He stopped
down and went through all the motions
Of rafting and caressing some favorit =
animal. There was just the outside
chance that Vera might take this as an
aliuSon to Bruno, and the knowled dye
that the dog had put her friends en- her
track The girl was sharp and quick
enough. and she might easily, In the light
of events, guess the identity of the trio
on the lawn. Be ore Walter could speak
Venables glanced in his direction and
smiled.
Well did you see ito" the former
asked.
Did you see it. too?'' Walter ex-
claimed II am glad of that because now
L know | was not mistak ,n."
See WHAT" Ravenspur asked. ap-
parently busy with his not book Il
didn't notice anything
1T was Vera" Walter whispered
wv hatever you do, don't Look up now.
daresay you happened to notice dormer
window in the roof, with bars in front OF
IL. Well, a moment ago. I saw Vera
face there. What fortunate thing 1t
was that we thought of the dog last
night knew he would not lead US
astray."
so far so good Venables murmured.
AND now. don't let us forget what we
are here for. The next thing is to go to
the back of the house and go through the
same pantomine there. What | want to
DO is to find the easiest way OF getting
INTO the place, and to ascertain how many
people there are In the house and where
they sleep. For that purpose it is neces-
sary TO be as near the back door as pos
slbie. L shall want you two to keep up
the masquerade while | pump the sery-
ants. With any luck We shall have got
al! we want to know by lunch time"
Venabies was as good as his word By
CLOCK the survey was complete and
the trio were trudging off to their hotel to
taik the matter over. 1t was in a little
arbor in the garden, over cigars and
coffee. that Venables unbosomed himself
1t is like this" he explained. Il told
you before that those servants war,
quite innocent of anything going wrong
IN the house. and so it turns out The
tenant is Silva and his sister, the coun-
tess O. something or another. whose name
ooesn I matter. though 1t will be neces-
sary to see the lady later on There is
no basement, and, as far as 1 could see
there would be very little difficulty in
obtaining entrance to the house by means
OF small window that gives light and
air to the larder. On the ground floor
are four living rooms. which we need not
trouole about There are four bedrooms
on the first floor and four on the second
to say nothing Of the room in the roof
l didn't dare to be too curious about this
rQof room. but l am told that Silva US .s
IT himself for certain experiments, and
that, as his experiments are dangerous,
ne Keeps the key In his pocket. The ex
PLANTATION sounds simple, and quite SUI
hces for the servants, but 1 think we
nave got pretty fair idea Of what is go
ing on In that roof room. 1 have man
aged to make rough sort of plan O the
bedrooms, so that we shall be fairly safe
when We come to break into the house
as we shall have to do. soon after mid
night. if you are agreeable"
isn't that rather a dangerous proceed
ing?' Walter asked. Il didn't know that
you added housebreaking to your other
Being amateurs we
are certain to make a noise, and YOU NAV
be pretty sure that Silva only sleeps on
one ear"
oh. that part will be managed for us
all right" Venables said cooIly. The
be carried out by Perks. The rascal
knows he is quite safe in our handi. and
he Will do all that is necessary for about
a ten-pound note. Once his work is ac-
complished we will send him about his
business. The rest We can manage our
selves. 1t will go hard. indeed, with US
If Miss Rayne is not back in our hands
again before daylight"
walter could think of no better scheme
to offer. SO that Venables was allowed
10 nave his own way. There was moth
Ing for it now but to pass the time as
mi nj <yhf
stole slowly on. The darkness deepened
and night came at length. Dinner had
been thing of the past for soma time
and 1t was getting near IL o'clock before
the trio. accompanied by Perks, made
their way in the direction o. the common
They lay quietly on the turf there till a
distant church clock struck twelve. then
Venables jumped to his feet and de-
clared that the time for action had ar
rived.
ter was wishing it well over There was
no trouble In getting into the garden, and
round to the back Of the house, to the
point hxed upon by Venables as being the
most likely for their purpose. They had all
been provided with silent shoes by Perks,
whence they came. Now that the pinch.
mad come Perks was by far the most
confident OF the party. Probably his pre-
v1ous experiences in this line were stand
Ing MIN IN good stead.
Coolly enough he produced a dark lam
tern and turned the disc of flame down.
so that 1t shone alone upon the bag of
tools which lay upon the grass He picked
out one presently, and proceeded, in per
fectly noiseless fashion, to cut out disc
or glass. to which he had previously af-
nXed a sheet of brown paper by the aid
OF the talloW from a candle. Once the
instrument had severed the glass the por-
tlon cut away fell noiselessly into Perks
hand, so that he had no difficulty in plac-
Ing his arm inside and pulling back the
eaten. The window was now open. but
IL was sufficiently small to make entry
INTO the house matter of some difficulty.
i think you had better try first" Ven
ables whispered to Walter You are tha
most agile. Just work your wav thronph
and go round to the front door and let us
In. / don't think you need stay any
longer, Perks"
am not quite so sure about that, sir"
Perks grinned. 1T is very common
practice with. people to fa5ten their soul
lery and kitchen doors. 1 think l had
better stay here till the gentleman has
made sure"
A grim, silent moment or two followed
Then. surely enough, Walter came back
with the whispered information that the
kitchen door was locked. Perks chuckled
70 hlmself as he snatched up another In
strument and squeezed through the win
dow. He set to work in business-likL
fashion, so that the kitchen door was
forced at length without the slightest
noise. and the way to the hall was clear
IN the strange unfamiliar darkness
w AFTER stood for moment until his eyes
should become accustomed to the objects
all about him. One by one they began tc